The agglomeration of garbage of various kinds entails a set of problems that, even today, most cities in the world cannot solve definitively, according to an article published in the journal University and Society. The most effective option so far seems to be recycling and in this note we tell you the most frequent mistakes when recycling.
The problem of waste leads to the formation of sources of air, aquatic and terrestrial pollution that, in addition to damaging the planet, end up affecting the food we eat and our health. Using the different recycling techniques we can not only reduce the magnitude of waste and pollution, but also optimize economic efficiency.
The concept of recycling is based, according to the thesis presented by Carina Magaly Álvarez Gomez de Coz to the Rafael Landívar University, on thinking and managing garbage as a resource instead of as mere waste. In this way, actions can be used to recover and transform waste.
Common mistakes when recycling
In a note cited by the Cuban media Ciencia en su PC, the feasibility of transforming waste into renewable energy is deepened. However, it is clarified that this method is very complex, due to the variety of conversion procedures and the diversity of the different materials available. For them, it is common for certain mistakes to be made when recycling.
1. Pollute with wet sanitary wipes and paper napkins
Hygienic wipes, although they contain paper cellulose, have fibers derived from fossil fuel. On the other hand, stained or moistened paper napkins are not recyclable. Both objects must be discarded as solids.
2. Incorporate food cartons at home
Meal delivery cartons, such as Chinese food, hamburgers, pizza or sushi, are often stained with oil or fat. This makes them unusable and unrecoverable. Therefore, they should go to the non-recyclable trash can.
3. Believe that all plastics can be recycled
One of the most common mistakes when recycling is believing that all plastics are recyclable. Cellophane wrappers cannot be recycled, as can bags that are not biodegradable, plastics marked with the acronym PLA, long-life packaging or used toothbrushes.
4. Waste organic waste
A good way to reduce organic waste is to use vegetables, eggshells and fruits to make compost at home. Once it has developed the necessary qualities, you can use it as a nutrient for the plants in your garden.
5. Think that all types of glass can be recycled
If you thought you could throw broken cups and cups into the recyclable waste can, that’s a huge mistake. These elements are not made of glass, but of glass, which has lead oxide in its composition.
Nor can car and window glass, light bulbs, medicine ampoules or mirrors be recycled.
You may also be interested: 7 things you should not throw away if you care about our planet
6. Mix used batteries with other recyclables
The best alternative, when it comes to batteries and you want to take care of the environment, is to use rechargeable batteries. If this possibility is not within our options and we are forced to use common batteries, we must remember that they should not be thrown away as recyclable or solid waste, but should be accumulated separately and carried to specific places.
7. Mix various dirty materials or food scraps
Materials such as plastic containers, cans and bottles must be perfectly washed and dry when deposited with other recyclable waste. Otherwise, not only would these be rendered useless in themselves, but they could also render the entire load useless.
8. Throwing industrial food wrappers
Although it seems counterintuitive and out of common sense, the papers that wrap products such as sweets, packet chips or cookies should not be thrown away as recyclable waste, but as solid waste, since it is usual for remains of the food they used to wrap to remain in them.
9. Consider expanded polystyrene as recyclable material
Last but not least, it is worth highlighting something that many people may not know. Expanded polystyrene, that material that is so useful for the creation of home delivery boxes, disposable cups for coffee or tea, trays for food and even for insulating fillers in buildings, is a derivative of petroleum and plastic. Therefore, it is not feasible to be recycled.
Importance of recycling and caring for our planet
Our planet and its habitable conditions have an expiration date. Air, land and water pollution, greenhouse effect, indiscriminate deforestation, global warming.
Recycling is a start and is in everyone’s hands. But, unfortunately, it is not enough with that alone. To achieve a more effective process and alleviate errors when recycling, the editorial of the Argentine Journal of Microbiology proposes a circular economy model.
This concept, which is based on the principles of the ecologist school, involves the idea of intelligent reuse of waste, whether organic or technological, to turn it into raw material that can nourish the cycles of nature or to transmute it into fragments of new products, with a minimum energy cost.
Recycling centres including alternative energy sources to compensate for recycling errors
The creation of such centres has been proposed as a categorical solution to the problem of recycling errors and poor waste management in general in the urban centres of countries.
The creation of a recycling center would imply the generation of an economic cluster that would allow, in addition to reducing, recycling and properly processing waste, to produce electricity at low cost, unlike conventional systems of generation and distribution of electricity.
Ideas are on the table. There is a lack of personal, social and political decisions to improve waste processing and, once and for all, to put an end to the possibility of ecological catastrophe.
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