Tips for Simple Waste Recycling

Article by Christine Harrell

There are a good number of waste recycling programs that are started in towns and municipalities every year with homeowners and business owners trying to adjust their waste management to the new programs. Often times, sorting waste into different categories for processing is the one big area where people have difficulty. With the proper recycling bins, however, it becomes easier and more convenient to meet the requirements for curbside or haul it yourself programs.

The right containers will help to save time and money for residents and businesses alike.

Determining Sizing Needs

Sizing for recycling containers is the first step for developing a convenient routine for handling recyclables. Recycling receptacles that are too large will be inconvenient to drag or haul and overflowing bins don’t serve much purpose if waste gets all over the ground. For homeowners, every household will be different, but the average size family would probably generate enough recyclable waste in a week to fill a 30 gallon container.

For business needs, the amount of employees will dictate exactly how much waste is generated. The best method for handling office waste is to have recycling bins at each desk along with 10 gallon containers in common areas. Each of these bins would then be emptied into heavy duty units of at least 90 gallons for pickup by the city, or even full sized dumpsters for large companies.

Making Waste Sorting More Convenient

The sizes cited above are for total waste streams, but nearly all programs require waste to be sorted out prior to pickup or drop off at a recycling center. So while the overall waste might fit into one container, handling the different materials requires some specialized recycling containers.

For use in the home, duo bins are perfect; they are dual compartment totes with separate hinged lids to allow quick and easy sorting and hauling. Inside the home, plastic rider containers can be snapped directly to the regular garbage bin to keep recyclables out of the trash with a little advanced separation. When organizing garbage for the curb, homeowners are best suited to purchase a set of recycling bins, usually four at a 10-gallon size, that can clip together or stack within each other to make hauling easier.

The situation is a little different in the office. Having a separate recyclables container in every office is ideal with desk-sized bins and this can be achieved with the same type of riders or duo totes. Common areas should have larger recycling containers and a dedicated paper receptacle should be placed next to every copier, printer, and fax machine. For high traffic areas, like outdoor picnic areas or a company cafeteria, all-in-one units can be placed to handle every stream in one location with separate compartments and a 90 gallon capacity.

Recycling containers today are designed with the needs of many different municipal and business programs in mind. With the right capacity and sorting capability, the right receptacles will make programs more convenient and help increase resident participation.

 

Starting A Waste Recycling Business

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established resources for individuals or groups looking to start a waste recycling business. These resources included everything from writing and refining business plans to securing funding through grants and investors to investigating the financial benefits in the various recycled good market.

Business opportunities exist in over 50 different manufacturing sectors using recycled glass, aluminum, wood, plastic, and other materials. The possibility exists for high demand in select local markets for recovered materials, and the savvy green-entrepreneur needs to conduct preliminary research to ensure their business plan will be greeted favorably and   result in success.

The EPA offers specific guides for different materials and manufacturing sectors and also provides literature about how recycling-focused businesses and industries can stimulate local economies. Not only can you help to improve the environment and reduce waste, but you can also earn a living and be a job-creator in the new, green, economy!

Visit the EPA website, http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/rmd/bizasst/bizplan.htm, for more information.

 

Waste Management and Recycling

Article by Holly Davis

Waste management is critical to the environment and our wellbeing. Improper disposal of waste may result in hazardous consequences. Our health would secure seriously affected if kinds of living conditions is not clean as this include the breeding grounds for viruses. The below article throws some light within the basics of waste supervision.

Waste management would begin from our homes. A lot of waste is generated each day from our homes. Proper segregation in this waste into recyclable and non-recyclable stuff will be of great help. Recycling bins for home can be obtained and placed in the kitchen. Separate bins should be applied to segregate the waste into recyclable as well as other non-recyclable stuff. If certain products including plastic are thrown away it would be very dangerous to the planet as this would generate huge availablility of toxic waste. Plastic can be recycled and reused as this is a non-degradable substance. It has got to be very good and convenient idea to make use of recycling bins at family homes to conveniently sort typically the waste.Recycling has been gaining awareness today and people are finally realizing the value of recycling. Things for instance plastic, paper, etc., need to be compulsorily recycled. Plastic is often a non-bio degradable substance not to mention would generate dangerous smells if burnt. Offices especially generate a large quantity of paper waste on a daily basis. At homes, the newspapers we buy everyday is separately segregated and recycled. This would also reduce the amount of tress from getting chopped.

Factories generate huge degrees of waste each day. This really needs to be properly disposed off. One main difference amongst factory and home waste is a quantity. Factory waste has also more of chronic components. There are many polices governing waste disposal along with treatment by factories. These are very strict and have to be strictly adhered to. Disposal of waste without treatment would have grave consequences. It could also result in outbreak of chronic diseases. Oil factories particularly have many chronic substances which must be properly disposed. Employees in work places must remain taught and made cognizant of the pros of these recycling. Recycling bins should be placed from each employee in work regions and cleaned up at regular intervals of one’s.

Children must be professional about discarding waste. They must be encouraged to segregate waste material and dispose them. It would be recommended that you use two kinds of bins at your home for segregating waste just before disposal. Each individual must make their own little bit in preserving and protecting the earth. The solution and remedy towards making our atmosphere a safer and better place to live in lies with all of us.

How to Recycle Waste

Every day Americans generate waste in their homes, businesses, and communities. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging all citizens to conserve natural resources by committing to reduce, reuse, and recycle at home, in your community, and at the office. Through our blog, WasteCare Corporation wants to help you learn the fundamentals of reducing waste, reusing materials, and recycling specific wastes, and access a variety of equipment to promote these practices. We hope our articles help you find new ways to approach waste recycling!

Benefits of Copper Recycling

Copper is a metal which can be recycled number of times. Earlier copper was used to make things like jewelry, metallic pieces, coins, cookware, weapons etc. Today it is widely used in wiring and piping needed for constructions. Copper piping is prized for its insulation ability, as well as its ability to transfer heat. It is a very important tool for anyone involved in the building trades. When copper is recycled it has many economic and environmental benefits like:

1. Environment: During the mining and refining process of copper, dust and waste gases are produced which are harmful; recycling of copper limits the production and emission of these harmful gases.

2. Landfill Costs: The objects made from copper or its alloys which are not recycled are dumped in holes in the ground- this is called landfill. These holes are filled rapidly as they become limited. This option of landfill is very expensive.

3. Energy Saving: The energy used to extract copper from copper ore is 100GJ/tone whereas in recycling process only 10GJ/tone is used. This leads to conservation of valuable resources like oil, gas, coal etc. Less amount of CO2 is released during the recycling process compared to that of during the extraction.

4. Economics: It is cheaper to recycle old copper than to mine and extract new one. Recycled copper is worth up to 90% of the cost of the original copper. Recycling helps keep cost of copper products down.

Karen Adams is an environmentalist who contributes articles to metal recycling companies in Dubai.

Why Recycle Waste?

The United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants you to recycle!

Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. Collecting used bottles, cans, and newspapers and taking them to the curb or to a collection facility is just the first in a series of steps that generates a host of financial, environmental, and social returns. Some of these benefits accrue locally as well as globally.

What are the benefits of recycling?

  1. Recycling protects and expands US manufacturing jobs and increases US competitiveness.
  2. Recycling reduces the need for landfills and incineration.
  3. Recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials.
  4. Recycling saves energy.
  5. Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
  6. Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.
  7. Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations.

Everyone can find ways to to take care of their waste and recycle more of their garbage.

Trash Costs Cash

Garbage is big business. In fact, the money spent on “picking up” garbage left behind in public places such as parks, beaches, and forest land would pay for highway repairs, and benefit schools all over the country. America the Beautiful is fast becoming one of unprecedented garbage problems. Trash from car windows, in recreational places with garbage cans, but somehow the trash misses and lands anywhere but in the facilities provided, is still paid for with tax dollars.

Personal integrity is judged by more than the person themselves. It is also in the immediate surroundings of that individual. If you live with trash strewn all over your living area, then well, basically you need to clean up more than your back yard. Self-esteem reaches beyond who we are to our priorities.

Something as simple as tossing that Mickey D’s wrapper and cup right out the window displays a disregard for the highway used by millions of others, but also for the workers who have to clean it up. Their energy and pay check could be used in other vital areas to benefit mankind in ways that picking up after you just doesn’t “cut” it.

Forest lands are modern day garbage dumps. During the summer months, the scars on the land are not quite as visible, but come winter with the leaves down and trees bare, the degradation of humanity is glaring. Abandoned cars, kitchen appliances, and yes, even baby diapers that just aren’t “biodegrading” fast enough are not views that are displayed on travel brochures. Known as a “throw away society”, America was also known as America the Beautiful.

Scenic places and tranquil lakes are now plastic bag and water and pop bottle havens. Clean-up is more than a volunteer and community activitiy, it is expensive and time-consuming. Tax dollars are used and those who care enough to use trash barrels and con- tainers still pay just as much from their pay checks as those who toss and abuse and just don’t care.

If the environment doesn’t tear at your heart, then maybe your wallet will. Small steps such as garbage disposal could mean the difference between more community activities and better education, but it’s your choice. The next time you roll down that window and toss, look in the back seat where
your child is. Their future costs money and would you rather pay the salary to someone to clean up your disrespect or see that your child gets the best in a school or sport activity? It’s your call – but the heap is getting bigger.

Small steps for big results. One person can make a difference and three steps to a trash can may look like pennies, but pennies make dollars and dollars not only pay personal bills, but government bills as well. Something to think about.
©Arleen M. Kaptur

Arleen M. Kaptur has written many books and articles on everyday living and finding peace and joy in all we do.

Waste Recycling Equipment Update October 04 2011

Aim to burn only non-recyclables, says Commission
“We will only achieve these kinds of targets if we get to the stage where waste is considered as a valuable resource. That is our challenge, but I know that it is possible. Why, because it is already starting to happen. Recycling of municipal waste has
Read more on letsrecycle.com

Free e-waste recycling drive on Saturday
DENISON, TX – To kick off their fall festival Denison will be holding a free E-Waste recycling drive. From 9am to noon this Saturday, anyone harboring old and or unwanted e-waste like computer equipment and TV’s are encouraged to stop by the south side
Read more on KXII-TV

How do I research a method for recycling or repurposing a waste product from my company?

Question by cedorris: How do I research a method for recycling or repurposing a waste product from my company?
My company prints a type of plastic that is currently unable to be repurposed or recycled. We throw out tons of scrap plastic and would love to have a viable recycling option. Where would I go to research methods for recycling this scrap? Would a University or other organization be able to help with this? Who would I contact and how could I learn more?

Best answer:

Answer by jeffwaggoner
A University would be great. Get in touch with a local one (preferably a bigger one) and just talk to someone involved in biology. They’ll help you find who you need to talk to.

Add your own answer in the comments!