5 Items You Didn’t Know You Could Recycle
As you go to lift the lids of your recycling and waste bins, you may hesitate over which one to put your “rubbish” in. In a world that’s focusing more on sustainability than ever before, it’s quite essential to consider what you can recycle and what you can’t.
Even though many recycling centres have a list of do’s and don’ts, that doesn’t mean that products not on that list won’t make the cut. Confused about what you can and can’t recycle? Here are a few things you can recycle, but may not have realised.
Aerosol Cans
Aerosol cans have always been a little tricky. They are covered in warning and hazard labels and don’t seem like the easiest thing to recycle. But those who throw them in their waste bin often have a little hesitation. Surely, they can’t be doing much good for the environment? You’d be right.
Fortunately, you can recycle aerosol cans, including the deodorant variety. Pop them in your home recycling bin and enjoy peace of mind at knowing they will not be destined for the landfill.
Batteries
Batteries are not something you can throw in your home’s recycling bin, but that doesn’t mean you can’t recycle them. Rechargeable and single-use batteries can both find a new life, but you just have to go a little out of your way to make it so. Do your homework and find a battery recycle centre near you.
Instead of ending up in landfills, leaching toxins into the environment, lead-acid batteries are turned into new batteries, with the acid converted into sodium sulphate.
Tin Foil
Many people can think that used aluminium foil is no good for anything, but it can be used again. As long as you screw it up into a ball that’s larger than a golf ball, recycling centres will happily take it. During the recycling process, those balls are melted down into sheets where they can be made into more foil products or even cans.
Pizza Boxes
Just because you’ve had food in your pizza box, doesn’t mean it’s not going to be any good for your local recycling centre. While particularly cheesy pizza boxes might not make the cut, those with a few spots of grease here and there can get that much-needed fresh start in life. You don’t have to feel so guilty about eating pizza after all. Well, at least not for sustainability reasons, anyway!
E-Waste
E-waste, such as old computers, can do a lot of damage to the environment. But for those who don’t think all that much about sustainability, they are more than happy to throw old computers and mobile phones in their waste bin. But you don’t have to. E-waste sites are set up across the country, with many components being reused in new electronics.
It’s not as hard as you might think to be sustainable and focus on the environment. The government makes it easy by providing recycling centres and home recycling bins. But there are so many items that people don’t know are recyclable. If you’re unsure, get in touch with your local recycling centre to find out more.