Recycling entails the collection, sorting, processing and converting of waste materials into new products as well as the repurposing of used products, and simultaneously reducing the waste footprint. Various materials are classified as recyclable including plastics, glass, paper, cardboard, electronics, metal and textiles. It is highly likely that most people work with one or multiple materials from aforementioned categories and discard them in an incorrect manner. Most of these materials, especially plastics do not only end up on landfills but also unpleasantly decorates our environment by hanging from fencing, cluttering on tree branches, spread across open fields and on sidewalks, blocks drainage systems, floats down rivers and ultimately ends up in the ocean. Various research and initiatives are focusing on biodegradable plastics to minimize these issues, but most plastics are still fossil fuel based and hence the importance of recycling of these materials, as they take many years to break down. Some benefits of recycling and general plastic recycling codes are listed below.
Benefits of recycling:
Energy conservation
Job creation
Positive economic impact
Reduction of CO2 emissions
Reduction of fossil fuel consumption
Saving landfill space
Conservation of natural resources
♺ Recycling codes ♺
PET Polyethylene terephthalate
HDPE High-density polyethylene
PVC Polyvinyl chloride
LDPE Low-density polyethylene
PP Polypropylene
PS Polystyrene
So before discarding the next recyclable material, think carefully, do the right thing, and dispose of it in the correct recycle bin. Let us all Reduce, Reuse and Recycle together !!
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