Recycling is something that many of us should be doing as part of our routine. Whether you are out and about or at home, we are much more aware of what recycling is and how we can do our bit for the environment. But do we do enough?

Are we all taking responsibility for recycling daily? The truth is we probably aren’t doing as much as we could be. That being said, many of us are not sure why we should be recycling or even how we can do it more successfully. I wanted to share with you everything you need to know about recycling.

Why should we recycle more?

It is important that we recycle, and while we know what we should be doing, do we all know why? The truth is we probably don’t know the bigger picture. Yes we all know that recycling is good for the environment, and certain materials can be repurposed and reused, but recycling also reduces the need for new raw materials.

If we recycle enough, we then reduce the amount of extracting, refining, and processing of raw materials to take place. These things can cause water and air pollution and therefore reducing this helps the environment.

Recycling also saves energy, which reduces the number of greenhouse gases entering our environment. Just by throwing away your plastics in the correct bin, you are doing your part to reduce, and hopefully, at some point, eradicate these processes.

Credit: Unsplash

How can we recycle?

Recycling is much easier than it was years ago. These days we all get our dedicated bins. One for plastics and tins, one for paper, and then a garden waste bin that can be used for food peelings and garden waste.

We are not in a position to recycle everything just yet, but we are getting there. There are more options for recycling at your local waste management centre. So if you do want to get rid of electrical items, books, clothing as well as other raw materials, then taking them can help you to dispose of them correctly and avoid them heading to landfill.

What can you do to encourage more recycling?

So now that you know why and how to recycle how can you do more of it. Here are a couple of things to be aware of.

Have dedicated bins

Having dedicated bins outside can help you to ensure that the correct materials are recycled properly, but a great tip is to have dedicated bins inside your home as well. For example, you could have a box for papers, a bin for plastics, and an area to put waste food in the garden waste bin. This will encourage you to be more proactive in the home instead of adding some things to general waste.

Four colourful bins are lined up on a pavement — Credit: Unsplash

Are there things you can’t recycle?

Not all plastics can go in the plastic bin. For example, plastic wrap can’t be recycled, and certain processed plastics that some of your food may still arrive in cannot be recycled. A great tip is to check the labels as they will advise whether they can be recycled or not.

Anything else you can do?

You can actively avoid buying plastic items in the shop. Choose loose fruit and veg or even opt for options that come in paper or wood packaging. Things that are more easily recycled. You could also try fill-up shops where you can take your own containers for things like cereals, flours, wheat, and grains, and even things like washing soap and laundry products.

Hopefully, this has made you more aware of what recycling is and how you can do it. Take a look at your general waste the next time you start to put the bins out. Can you honestly say there’s nothing in there which could have been disposed of better?

This is not about feeling ashamed but becoming more aware and making enlightened choices in the future.