SOME people in South Africa do not see the need to recycling. Probably most think that recycling is a tedious task that costs money, but little do they know that it plays a vital role in minimising the pollution caused by waste. Harmful chemicals and greenhouse gasses that can cause harm are released from rubbish in landfill sites. Recycling is very good for the environment, but in most scenarios people do not realise that that recycling can benefit their own community in a positive way. The saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” couldn’t be more true in the case of recycling. Communities can earn money by selling their recyclable material.
There are benefits to recycling. They are:
• Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators.
• Conserving natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.
• Increasing economic security by tapping a domestic source of materials.
• Preventing pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials.
• Saving energy.
• Helping to create jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries.
Here are the reasons why you should recycle:
• Try to reduce the amount you consume. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. In this way you’ll reduce the amount of waste you generate.
• When you do buy something, choose a brand that has the least amount of packaging or the kind that can be reused, recycled or composted. Look for products that are earth-friendly.
• Look for products that are made from recycled materials. If there’s a demand for recycled plastic products, for example, more plastic will be recycled and less will end up in landfill or polluting the oceans. Also less virgin material will have to be mined or grown. Remember, what you buy influences what’s made.
• Before you throw something away, think first if there’s any way it can be reused. Can you grow seedlings in it or use it to hold paper clips or wrap a birthday present? Can it be given to a charity shop or children’s home? This may sound obvious, but we’ve been living in a disposable culture for so long that some of us forget to ask these kinds of questions.
Where to take your recyclables?
• Organise yourself a kerbside or office collection service.
• Take your recyclables to a municipal drop-off point or a buy-back centre.
• Let informal recyclers take your recyclables to a buy-back centre.
The three basics of recycling are:
• Recycle your rubbish.
• Reduce your waste.
• Reuse items wherever possible.
