Why it’s important to recycle

Over the last few decades, governments, ecologists, and nature lovers have passionately urged people to take up recycling. While many people have heeded the call, there are still many skeptics out there. Some people see recycling as an unnecessary burden, when in fact it can help us in many ways. It is in everyone’s best interest to be a smart and eco-friendly consumer.

Here are just a few reasons why it’s important to recycle:

Save Energy

As the world population increases, so does the demand for products. As the demand for products goes up, more energy needs to be used to produce them. Though it does take some energy to recycle paper, plastic, and metal, it’s much less than the energy required to process virgin materials from the source.

Save Resources

Though trees are renewable, many of the resources used to create non-paper products aren’t. Petroleum, which is used to create most plastics, takes millions of years to form, and we’re quickly running out. In order to make sure we have enough resources in the future, it’s essential that we recycle as many materials as possible.

Save Money

If environmental concerns aren’t enough incentive to recycle, the financial benefits are harder to ignore. Since recycling materials is a lot less expensive than producing them from scratch, you can save a lot of money by buying products that are made from recycled products.

Save the Environment

Every paper product you recycle reduces the need for new paper. This saves trees from being cut down, which in turn makes the air a little fresher. Though it can be hard to see your own influence on the world at large, the simple act of recycling can make a huge difference.

How to tell if Something is recyclable

Since global climate change is becoming a more pressing concern, people all over the planet are doing whatever they can to reduce waste and pollution. Many have discovered that recycling is one way to help out the environment without much effort. However, some people have trouble determining what is recyclable and what should go in the trash.

Look for the recycling symbol

Even if you’ve never recycled before, you’re probably familiar with the universal recycling symbol: three arrows chasing each other in the shape of a triangle. Whenever a product’s packaging has this symbol, it generally means that it’s made of recyclable materials. Plastics usually have numbers that accompany the recycling symbol, which represent different polymers. Numbers one and two are generally accepted by all home pickup recycling services, while the others are recycled by other means.

Make Sure It’s Clean

Recycling services all across the country prefer their clients to wash all impurities off of recyclable materials. Though it may be difficult to wash all of the peanut butter off of a jar, doing so will make the recycling process go by a lot smoother. If you have recyclable materials that are too soiled, you may need to throw them in the trash.

Take it to a recycling center

When it doubt, find a local recycling center near you. You can always take your materials to a recycling center. You’ll be surprised what can be recycled—TVs, batteries, and old scrap metal are just a few recyclable items. Though fulfilling your recycling potential takes some effort, it could go a long way towards creating a cleaner, more efficient future.

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