Are you trying to reduce your footprint? Are you looking for ways to avoid throwing things away? You might not realize it, but many things can actually be recycled instead of thrown out. Companies have started to see how recycling and reusing things can reduce chemicals and emissions from manufacturing more. Following these tips, you can start recycling more and help do your part.
1. Batteries
Most batteries can be recycled, but it’s important to check which kinds they accept before you drop them off with your local recycling center. To collect your spent batteries, simply place them into a baggie. As soon as the baggie is full, drop them off at the recycling center. Make sure that you never attempt to open the batteries yourself because they have acid inside them.
When you recycle batteries, the used ones are often turned into other batteries. The iron that is recovered from the batteries can be used to make a variety of different items, while the nickel that some batteries contain is used to make steel.
2. Electronics
You likely don’t have a shortage of electronics in your home. An average of 53.6 million tons of electronic waste is thrown into landfills each year. Now, instead of tossing your old electronics when they stop working, take them to a recycling center. The electronics that companies will take range from cell phones to CD players.
Before recycling electronics, be sure to remove all of your personal information. Don’t just simply delete the files, but follow the manufacturer’s directions to reset the item back to the original settings. Make sure that you do your research before you recycle your electronics. Many large companies offer gift cards or in-store credits for qualifying products, so it’s in your best interest to shop around a bit.
3. CDs
Are you tired of your stack of compact disks taking up space in your living room? Instead of relying on your old, scratched disks for music, it is all available online at the touch of a button. But, instead of throwing the CDs out, donate them to a company that will reuse them. The paper insert and plastic case can be recycled in your regular recycling bins.
Some companies will buy your used CDs, even if they have scratches on them. Other companies accept them as donations. The disks will be ground up and blended into a plastic that will be reused for things such as street lights or auto parts.
