Article by Ricky Addy

These days, PET bottles and containers have gained lots of attention. But it is helpful for consumers to know what PET is and what it stands for. PET plastic or polyethylene terephthalate plastic is a thermoplastic polymer resin. It belongs to the family of polyester. This plastic is best used as package material for food and non-food products. It is the most desirable material for the manufacturers because its characteristics of transparency, strength, and thermo-stability. Consumers like it because it is very lightweight, inexpensive, re-sealable, resistant to shattering, and recyclable.

You can identify the PET preform by the #1 code present at the bottom of containers and bottles.The first PET plastic bottle was launched in 1973 and since then it has grown in popularity every year. There are various benefits of PET plastic. It is very transparent and strong that can store water safely and easily. PET bottles can be refilled and re-used and is very safe to use. As an inert plastic, it does not leach any harmful substance into its contents even when the beverages are stored opened or when the bottles are refilled. You can re-use the PET plastic but make sure you sterilize and clean it properly to prevent bacteria growth.

Article by Lucy Pitt

If you have a company that produces waste then the chances are you employ someone to remove that waste. However, have you ever considered whether your waste removal could cost you less and be more efficient? All company owners will know that in order to adhere to the law there are certain rules and regulations which must be followed when it comes to the removal and recycling of waste.

Many waste management service providers have different ways of charging for different services. Getting a waste audit can remedy the problem of choosing the best provider for you. A company offering a waste audit will look at the details of your company and what your needs and expectations are. They will then use their knowledge of waste management service providers to find the company that is ideal for your needs. A waste audit will help to find not only the best value for money company, but also a company that is most likely to help you reduce the amount of waste you produce, making your company more environmentally friendly and reducing your carbon footprint.

In order to get a waste audit all you need to do is to find a waste audit company, enter a small amount of information on their website, such as the area you operate in and how much money you currently spend on waste removal. After this the waste audit website will generate a report which will find the best value for money and most efficient providers in your area. The audit will be able to offer your company an appraisal which will determine whether or not the best value for money has been achieved in terms of what the waste removal company offer and the costs incurred.

Environmental issues are becoming more and more important and this means that we all need to take as much interest in our effect on the environment as we can. In addition business owners need to take responsibility for the waste they produce and aim to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as they possibly can.The task of saving the environment can seem like a daunting one which is why a waste audit can be so helpful because it allows business owners to break their recycling and waste management tasks into manageable chunks.When recycling processes are made simple and easy it makes it much more likely that people will want to carry them out.So if you want to find out the most efficient and most cost effective way to get rid of your business waste then carry out your waste audit today.

by Office Paper Systems, www.opsus.com

Paper shredders are becoming a common household tool as people are using them to shred any documents containing information that someone could use to potentially steal another’s identity. Such documents that should be destroyed include personal checks, expired drivers licenses, bank statements, credit card statements, and paystubs. But what are these people doing with the remains of these shredded documents? Most people just throw them away, however there are many ways that these paper shreds can be recycled and used in beneficial ways.

Ways to reuse your paper shreds:

• If you own a pet, your old shredded documents would make great bedding for animals like guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters. Or you could use the shreds to fill your cat’s litter box.
• Paper shreds are also a great way to stuff gift baskets.
• Paper shreds are a great source for packing material. Not only will they keep any fragile materials you are sending safe, but they are also a better alternative for the environment compared to using the typically packing toxic Styrofoam peanuts.
• In addition to keeping fragile contents of your packages protected, paper shreds are also great to be used for storage. Whether you are storing priceless and valuable family heirlooms, or just putting the Christmas decorations away, paper shreds will keep your breakables safe from any potential damage.
• If you have a fireplace, or frequent the campground paper shred make a great tool to get a warm fire blazing!

With these five great tips your extra paper shredding will never go to waste!

Why is Recycling CFLs Important?

1. Recycling prevents the release of mercury into the environment. Fluorescent Light Bulbs often break when thrown into a dumpster, trash can or compactor, or when they end up in a landfill or incinerator.
2. Another reason to recycle is that other materials in the bulbs get reused. Recycling CFLs and other fluorescent bulbs allows the reuse of the glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights. Virtually all components of a fluorescent bulb can be recycled.
3. Your area may require recycling. Some states and local jurisdictions have more stringent regulations than U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does, and may require that you recycle CFLs and other mercury-containing light bulbs. California, Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Vermont and Massachusetts , for example, all prohibit mercury-containing lamps from being discarded into landfills. Visit Earth911.com to contact your local waste collection agency, which can tell you if such requirement exists in your state or locality.
4. What to do if your municipality doesn’t offer recycling for CFLs? Many hardware supply stores and other retailers offer in-store recycling. Visit Earth911.com to find stores in your area or check the list below. Make sure you check directly with the store before you go; not all stores in regional or nationwide chains may be equipped to recycle.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Mercury is an extremely dangerous substance for humans, animals, and the environment. CFLs are cost effective and reduce your energy consumption, but old bulbs must be disposed of properly.

How Is Water Cleaned In America is covered in the Absolute Rights newsletter, to reveal exactly what steps are taken to clean water. Most of the waste water treatment plants in America use the same principles outlined below, says the recent Absolute Rights newsletter.

First the water has to be screened, because it contains things that need to be removed like rocks, wood, dead animals and anything else that has fallen into the water, explains the newsletter. Next the water treatment plant uses the force of gravity for the sewage to move to the water treatment plant, reveals the Absolute Rights newsletter, since gravity is the primary force behind this part of the process, water treatment plants are typically located where the ground is lower.

There are parts of the country that it is not possible to place the water treatment on lower ground, so the water will be pumped up into aeration tanks, explains then recent newsletter. After the water has been pumped up, then gravity can be used to move the waste water through all the other processes that the water goes through in the treatment plant.

Then the water is shaken around during aeration, the dissolved gases that smell like rotten eggs, which actually are hydrogen sulfide will be released from the water, adds the Absolute Rights newsletter. Next the water will enter into a series of parallel, long concrete tanks, which are divided into a couple of sections, adds the newsletter.

The stuff in the water like sand, coffee grounds, and any other dense particles will be forced out of the water by the bubbling oxygen, while the organic matter is suspended, reveals the Absolute Rights newsletter. Next the dense stuff is forced out of the water, explains the newsletter, and is pumped into tanks where it is moved to landfills.

Next the water goes into the sedimentation tanks where the organic matter, or sewage called sludge, settles to the bottom of the water and is then pumped out of the sedimentation tanks, reveals the newsletter. While the sludge is going to the bottom of the tanks, there is lighter waste, like oil, soap, grease, plastics, along with other light stuff that floats to the top of the water, adds the Absolute Rights newsletter, and is then raked off the surface. Next, the newsletter reveals, the water goes into the chlorine tank, which is how to make clean water from dirty water because it kills the bacteria

To get more information on the topic how is water cleaned, plus other survival information, subscribe to the Absolute Rights newsletter. The Absolute Rights RSS newsfeed also contains articles that cover topics about how to clean water on the AbsoluteRights.com website.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Recycling and reuse of water is just as important as paper, metals, glass, and other everyday items.  Make a plan to cut back on your water usage and re-use overflow for yard, plants, and cleaning.

Article by Louise Longworth

Commercial waste recycling is not only important for businesses but also for the environment. Whatever business you’re involved in, dealing with company waste needs to be a priority.

Most office based businesses, no matter what they do, end up with a lot of waste, whether it be regular trash, like shredded documents and break room garbage, or outdated IT equipment, which is governed by special laws.

For construction sites, all kinds of waste is accumulated on a regular basis, and this also needs to be disposed of before it builds up. There are rules and regulations against letting construction waste build up, and these kinds of companies can be fined for letting it do so.

There are many different environmental laws now in place to prevent businesses from just throwing away their rubbish in land fills, and with good reason. Some waste materials don’t break down, and some of those that do, like batteries, leach toxins into the soil and ground water. Waste in the UK and surrounding areas, as well as across the globe, is controlled not only by local officials, but also by the Environmental Protection Agency. If a business is caught throw always hazardous waste of any kind, they can incur heavy fines, and possibly have their business shut down.

Luckily there is an easy answer to commercial waste recycling. There are specialist companies that come into your place of business and dispose of this waste properly. They are meticulous about coming in on a regular basis, taking out your rubbish, old furniture and IT products and disposing of or recycling these properly.

To put it simply they sort through everything. Products like furniture, if still usable, are donated to charitable organisations to sell or redistribute them. The same goes for your computers, printers, and other electronics. All memory cards, and mother boards are wiped clean, and what can’t be used again or put into other electronics is ground down and recycled into other products. Some companies can also provide businesses with tracking records so they know exactly where their commercial waste ends up.

Just as commercial waste recycling is important to you and the environment, it is also important to find a good recycling company. Choose one that has the relevant licences and experience in dealing with commercial waste, and that will recycle or reuse your waste as much as possible.

Find out how regularly they will collect, as well as what times or days they will do so. Another question you need to ask is what happens to information that may still be present on hard drives? A good recycling company will ensure that sensitive documents won’t end up in the wrong hands.

It is a good idea to shop around for the right commercial waste recycling services. No matter which one you decide to use, you need to check their references, and any agencies that monitor their activities, to make sure they are disposing of waste properly. Using a fly by night operation can not only cause you headaches in terms of reliability, but they could also cause your business to fall foul of the law.