How to Recycle at Home
Do you want to be a recycling hero? Well recycling is easy, and we’re here to show you how to keep plastic out of the environment.
1.
Why Recycle?
- Separating kitchen waste from recyclable packaging allows the recyclables to be used again to make new products, reduces the amount of used packaging going to landfill and prevents items from littering our environment. You’ll be helping to control water and land pollution.
- Using recyclable materials in the production of new products reduces the amount of raw materials required in the process. This means that you help to save the earth’s resources and protect the environment.
- Recycling plastics creates thousands of income-earning opportunities, from the people and companies who collect the recyclable plastic packaging to the people who make new products from recycled material.
2.
What are the types of waste? What can I recycle?
Types of waste
- Biodegradable waste – This includes food, like potato peelings and leftovers that rot and decompose over time.
- Non-biodegradable waste – This waste doesn’t decompose and is a major cause of pollution. But much of it can be recycled – converted into something else and used again. Instead of throwing plastic, paper, glass and metals away into your normal black bin, place them into recycling bins so that they can be collected and recycled.
Is it recyclable?
- When shopping or when sorting your used plastic packaging, look for the recycling symbol – a triangle created with arrows – on your packaging, or check for whether the packaging says ‘recyclable’ or ‘not recyclable’.
3.
How do I start recycling in my home? 5 easy steps!
One: When you shop, choose items in packaging that shows that the packaging can be recycled. This can be in the form of a recycling symbol (a triangle created with an arrow) or it will say on the packaging ‘recyclable’ or ‘not recyclable’.
Two: The key to home recycling is your storage and bin setup. You’ll need one bin for general household waste and then a bin or space where you can place your recycling bag. Or you can divide your current bin in to two, place your normal household waste in one side, and your recyclable waste on the other side. Here’s a video to show you how.
Three: Rinse your used plastic packaging to remove food or drink from contaminating the recyclables. Remember to rinse them in used dishwashing water so that you don’t waste water.
Four: Put your recyclables into a clear refuse bags; general household waste goes into the black bag.
Five: Put your bags out on your curb on the days that your recycling service collects in your area or take your recyclables to the nearest recycling drop off point.
4.
Where can we take our recycling?
Check your local municipality’s website or use this these links:
https://sst.org.za/maps/recycling-and-waste-locations/
https://www.mywaste.co.za/web/mywaste-widgets.asp
Or you can ask neighbours or friends who recycle to tell you where they take their recycling.
Please tell us which company you decide to use so that we can share this information and other Million+ Recycling Heroes can also use their services. Let’s grow recycling together!
5.
Who will collect our recyclables?
Check your local municipality’s website or use this these links:
https://sst.org.za/maps/recycling-and-waste-locations/
https://www.mywaste.co.za/web/mywaste-widgets.asp
Please tell us which company you decide to use so that we can share this information and other Recycling Heroes can also use their services. Let’s grow recycling together!
6.
About the Million+ Plastic Recycling Revolution
The Million+ is a Polyco initiative that aims to get at least one million people in South Africa to commit to recycle their plastic packaging to put an end to plastic pollution in the environment. We believe that recycling is something that every person can do to make a positive impact on the earth.
How can we achieve this? The Million+ draws on the power of networks. If every person that recycles encourages just one more person to start recycling, the commitment to recycling in South Africa will spread from a small minority of people to mass action, and a cleaner environment for all. We want to see a South Africa where recycling is standard and where we no longer find plastic litter in the environment. This is going to take everyone in South Africa being responsible for the plastic packaging that they buy and to recycle it after use.
You can show your commitment to the cause by signing up below, and then encourage your colleagues, friends and family to join too.