Here at www.kwiksweep.co.uk we all know that we need to recycle more. As, whether it is landfills releasing harmful greenhouse gases into our environment, plastic in our oceans or a mix of everything – our planet is currently in a climate crisis. Which means it’s essential that we look to recycle more and more every day.
So, for those getting started in recycling, what are some top tips to make your life a little greener?
1: Don’t Overwhelm Yourself Too Soon
When you go from recycling very little to recycling a lot, it can feel like you’re overwhelming yourself with too much information at once. Which, more often than not, means that you can become stressed when you make mistakes.
So, instead, take recycling one step at a time, starting with recycling just a few things every day as you learn what can and cannot be recycled. By taking your time, you’ll soon find that recycling becomes second nature rather than a chore.
One of the biggest lessons you’ll learn when recycling is that everything should be washed out before adding to your rubbish. As that little bit of washing liquid in a bottle or small amount of sauce from a jar can contaminate large portions of recycling, meaning it will still end up in a landfill.
2: Not All Recycling is to Do with Waste
Often, when we think of recycling, we’re concerned with which bits of our rubbish can be recycled – such as tins and plastic bottles. Actually, though, a lot of recycling is also to do with using less of certain things and choosing to reuse others.
For instance, when it comes to coffee, rather than using those cups which are hard to recycle, use a reusable cup instead. Or, when it comes to furniture, rather than buying new, look to repurpose second hand furniture by upcycling them with a coat of pain. You’ll be saving yourself money and keeping waste away from landfill sites.
3: Technology Should Be Recycled Too
Many of us have a drawer that is filled with old mobile phones and other pieces of technology, which will eventually find its way into the rubbish bin along with items like batteries. Instead, you can actually send these items off to be recycled properly in an environmentally safe manner. Most people don’t know much about electronic recycling but you should definitely look into it if you have any unwanted tech!
The same goes for old appliances like fridges, so contact your local council for advice on the best ways to recycle your appliances.
4: Give Composting a Try
Whether you’re a keen gardener or not, composting is a wonderful way to use some food waste and garden waste to create compost for your garden. Simply get yourself a composting bin and fill with grass cuttings, leaves and weeds from your garden, rather than throwing in the bin. You can even add vegetable and fruit leftovers as well as animal hair from your house.
Just give your compost a mix every few weeks and it should be ready to use by the following year.
5: Purchased Recycled
Just as important as recycling rubbish, buying items that are recycled is another way to help the environment. For instance, buying recycled paper takes up much less energy, water and trees than it would to buy new. Even better, items made from recycled materials can be recycled again in future.
