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Top 10 recycling tips for Homeowners
Top 10 recycling tips for Homeowners
Tips on how recycling can be made easy
When most people think about recycling, the first things that come to mind are aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and newspapers. But many different materials can be recycled, from glass to metal to textiles. And recycling these materials not only helps the environment by keeping them out of landfills, but it can also save you money on your trash bills. Here are ten great recycling tips for homeowners if you’re looking for ways to reduce your environmental impact and trash bill.
Shop smart
Many products marketed as “green” or “Eco-friendly” are designed to be easier to recycle. As a result, you can feel good about reducing your environmental impact even further when you buy them. Another way to shop smart is to consider the durability of a product before purchasing it. If something will last for many years, there’s less need to replace it often, which means fewer products are winding up in landfills.
Recycle correctly
Recycling only works if it’s done correctly. Improperly recycled materials can contaminate entire batches of recyclable materials, making them difficult or impossible to process. It would help if you sorted out food waste, such as unconsumed food or food scraps, paper waste or boxes, like pizza boxes, and plastics, like bread bags. So it’s important to recycle correctly.
When items are recycled properly, it helps reduce the amount of waste in landfills and incinerators. This reduces the amount of pollution that is released into the air and water, which can have harmful effects on both people and animals.
Create a recycling scheme
The recycling process begins with sorting. First, all recyclable materials are sorted into designated bins based on their material type. The material is then cleaned and compacted into bales or pellets. The recycled materials are then sold to manufacturers who use them to create new products.
Creating a recycling scheme can help your community divert valuable resources from our ever-growing landfills while conserving energy and reducing pollution. It’s a win-win for everyone.
See recycling as a resource
Materials that are recycled become resources for new manufacturing products. For example, recycled paper can manufacture new paper products, cardboard boxes, tissue paper, and more. Recycled plastic can manufacture park benches, decking boards, fencing, and more. By recycling materials instead of sending them to landfills or incinerators, we are reducing our reliance on non-renewable resources and helping to preserve our environment for future generations.
Buy products that can be recycled
When you buy products that can be recycled, it makes it easier for the recycling process to take place. For example, when you purchase a product with a container made of a recyclable plastic or glass jars, you’re making it possible for the recycling plant to recycle that particular product more easily. Therefore, it’s essential to consider buying products made of recycled materials whenever possible to help reduce the amount of waste going into landfills.
Make an audit of recyclable materials at home
Identifying recyclable items around the house makes it easy to recycle them when you have a full bin. In addition, this reduces the chances of your recyclables being thrown away or incinerated because they can’t be processed at the local recycling center. So, by taking a few extra seconds to identify whether or not an item can be recycled, you’re helping make recycling easier.
Know how to recycle aerosol cans
Recycling aerosol cans is essential because they are made of aluminum, a valuable resource. Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy needed to create new aluminum from scratch and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. So by recycling aerosol cans, we can help conserve resources and protect the environment.
More bins, more items
One way to increase recycling rates is to provide more bins for people to use. People are more likely to recycle if there are more places to recycle. Another way to increase recycling rates is by making it easier for people to recycle. For example, some cities now have curbside pickup for recyclable materials, making it easier for people to recycle than taking their recyclables to a recycling center.
Keep recyclables loose
Yes, please keep recyclables loose. When recyclables are bagged or placed in tight containers, it is difficult for the machines that separate them to do their job correctly. Workers also have to spend more time handling and sorting recyclables, which can be a safety hazard. So please help out by keeping your recyclables loose.
Small things count
Small things do count when it comes to recycling! Every bit helps, and even if you can’t commit to doing a lot, every bit counts even a small act of posting reminders about recycling using your mobile phone counts.
Some easy ways to recycle on a smaller scale include recycling your plastic bags at the grocery store, recycling your paper products such as shredded paper or office paper, and recycling your glass bottles and jars. You can also recycle things like aluminum cans and steel cans.
FAQs
Should aluminum cans be crushed before recycling them?
Recycling aluminum cans is an easy way to help the environment and conserve resources. The cans can be recycled into new cans or other products made from aluminum.
The best way to recycle aluminum cans is to crush them before putting them in the recycling bin. This makes it easier for the recycler to sort and process the cans. It also takes up less space in the recycling container.
What should I do with the paint?
If you’re wondering what to do with old paint when recycling it, the best thing to do is check with your local municipality. In some cases, they may have a program where they will collect used or leftover paint and recycle it. If there’s no such program in your area, you can try contacting local hardware stores or home improvement centres, as they may be interested in taking the paint off your hands. You could also try posting an ad online or on a community bulletin board to find someone who might want it. Just take precautions before giving away any unused paint, like making sure the container is labeled correctly and that there’s no lead paint involved.
What should I do with burnt-out light bulbs?
If you have a burnt-out light bulb, it’s best to recycle it. Many municipalities have recycling programs for light bulbs, and most hardware stores and home improvement centers will also recycle them.
Just be sure to remove the metal base from the glass globe before recycling, as the metal can contaminate the glass and make it difficult to recycle. The metal base can be disposed of in your regular trash.
What do the symbols on the bottom of plastic bottles and containers mean?
The symbols on the bottom of plastic bottles and containers indicate the type of plastic the container is made of. This code was created by the Society of Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) in 1988 to help recyclers identify which plastics they could recycle. There are seven types of codes, which are listed below from most recyclable to least recyclable.
#1 PETE or PET: Polyethylene terephthalate
A type of polyester plastic. It is made from the monomers terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, which are reacted together in the presence of a catalyst to form polyethylene terephthalate. PET is commonly used to make beverage bottles, food containers, and clothing fibers. The recycling symbol for PET is #1.
#2 HDPE: High-Density Polyethylene
A type of plastic commonly used in manufacturing food containers, grocery bags, and other packaging materials. It is durable, lightweight, and tear-resistant, making it an ideal material for these applications.
#3 PVC: Polyvinyl chloride
A type of plastic made from vinyl chloride. It is durable, versatile, and inexpensive, making it a popular choice for various applications, including construction materials, piping, and medical tubing.
#4 LDPE: Low-density polyethylene
A type of polyethylene made with traditional low-pressure methods, meaning it has lower density and is less stiff than other polyethylene. It is generally used for films and packaging and can be recycled into products such as garbage bags, grocery bags, and food storage containers.
#5 PP: Polypropylene
A type of plastic made from petroleum. It’s strong, versatile, and relatively inexpensive to produce, making it a popular choice for everything from water bottles to packaging materials. However, because it’s made from oil, polypropylene is far from environmentally friendly and can take hundreds of years to decompose.
#6 PS: Polystyrene
A type of plastic made from petrochemical styrene. It’s used to make foam cups, take-out containers, and other packaging materials.
#7 Other plastics
Stands for other plastics, which are not typically recyclable through curbside recycling programs. This type of plastic can be recycled, but it requires special processing facilities that are not available in all locations.
Conclusion
While some of these tips may seem common sense, it’s easy to forget the little things we can do to impact our environment significantly. So we hope you will find at least one or two ideas you can start implementing today to help reduce landfill waste. And if you want more ways to lessen your environmental impact, check out our other blog posts on the subject.
Why Skip Bins are Great When Moving
Why Skip Bins are Great When Moving
Moving is a hassle – there’s no way to get around it. There’s so much to do, and it often feels like there’s not enough time. If you’re relocating, you know there’s a lot to do. Packing up your belongings, finding a new place to live, and getting everything organized can be daunting. One way to make the process easier is to hire a skip bin. Skip bins are great for moving because they provide an easy way to get rid of unwanted items that build up when packing. You can easily find local skip bin hire companies which offer a range of sizes and different waste types.
They’re convenient and easy to use, plus you can save money on packing materials.
They help keep your move organized and streamlined.
In this article, we explore some of the reasons using a skip bin can help minimise stress when moving.
Here are three reasons why skip bins are great when moving:
1. Affordable
Compared to other methods of waste disposal, skip bins are relatively cheap. This makes them a cost-effective option for larger moves. Plus hiring a skip bin is much cheaper than hiring a rubbish removal company.
2. They’re Convenient
Firstly, you can have the bin delivered right to your doorstep without lifting a finger. Once you’ve filled up the skip bin, simply call the company and they’ll come and pick it up. This means you can dispose of your rubbish quickly and easily – no hassle involved!
They’re very easy to use too. All you need to do is load your rubbish into the skip bin, then let the
professionals take care of the rest. This makes moving house a breeze – no stress or mess involved.
3. Many Sizes Available
Skip bins are the perfect option for disposing of large amounts of waste. Whether you’re renovating your home or cleaning up after a party, skip bins provide an easy and convenient way to get rid of all your junk. Here are four reasons why skip bins are so convenient:
You can choose the size of bin that’s right for you. Skip bin dimensions range from 2m, 3m, 4m, 6m, 9m, and up to 10m cubic metres. That’s a lot of rubbish to hold. So no matter how much waste you need to dispose of, there is a skip bin size perfect for any job.
4. Environmentally friendly
It’s important to be aware of your environmental footprint. Your household’s footprint can be measured by looking at the amount and type of disposal for any waste products you produce. This includes using garbage bags. For example, a skip bin can hold up to 8 cubic meters of waste, which is the equivalent of approximately 80 garbage bags. This means that a single skip bin can replace hundreds of individual garbage bags, thereby reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
Skip bins are a very environmentally friendly way of disposing of waste. They allow for waste to be recycled and reused, as opposed to simply being thrown away. Materials like plastic, glass, and paper can all be recycled easily. This minimises waste that ends up in a landfill.
5. Different Waste Types
You can dispose of almost any type of waste in skip bins, apart from hazardous materials. These include green waste, leaves, grass clippings, branches, wood, plaster, tiles, bricks, concrete, soil, and even old appliances and white goods.
Conclusion
If you are planning on moving, one of the best decisions you can make is to hire a skip bin. Skip bins are not only convenient and eco-friendly, but they also offer a variety of sizes to choose from so that you can find the perfect fit for your needs. Plus, using a skip bin is much safer than trying to move heavy items yourself. So if you’re looking for an easy, affordable way to relocate, look no further than a skip bin.
10 Ways To Generate More Local Business
Businesses continue to bloom every day resulting in huge competitions for small businesses who find it hard to cope.
Most businesses find it difficult to survive not because there are not enough customers, but because they are not doing all it takes to get to the customers.
The following are some of the ways small businesses can attract local customers and survive in this highly competitive environment.
1. Get a website
Having a website is no longer a luxury for big corporations. Small businesses are now embracing online presence which has become the best way to reach the customers who cannot come to the store.
If your business is not yet taking advantage of the internet to reach more local customers them, it cannot compete in the current world.
A website is not only a way to reach the customers but also the best way to prove to them that your business is professional and reliable.
Your website should include the following information to make the customers find you easily:
- Contact information
- Physical address
- Email address
2. Leverage the social media
Through social media, your small business can get an easy and cheap platform to interact with the customers and create a long-lasting relationship.
Customers find it easy to express themselves through social media. This should create a good opportunity for you to interact with them and find out their interests and dislikes.
This way, you will be able to create trust in your brand and generate more leads to your local business. You can get to your customers on the social media through the following means:
- Facebook page
- Twitter profile
- LinkedIn company page
- YouTube page
- Pinterest account
3. Improve your local SEO
Your website will not be of great help to your small business if there is no traffic which leads to more sales leads.
The only solution to this is local SEO. Google is making emphasis on local search, and you need your website to float at the top of the local search results.
This may not be an easy task, but once your business gets there, you are guaranteed a huge return on investment. Here are what you should do to increase your local SEO:
- Register your business with Google or Bing
- Partner with local websites
- Optimize your website
4. Get the online reviews
Did you know that most customers who go online to search for your business are mainly looking for reviews? Online reviews have a great influence on customer’s purchasing decisions.
Don’t be afraid to ask for reviews from customers who have a positive experience because your business depends on it to make more sales.
5. Make use of email marketing
Email marketing makes it easy for small business to reach their customers. Email marketing is estimated to yield higher results than social media and lead to more conversion rates.
Not to mention that it’s very cheap and you can use free email marketing resources such as Constant Contact or MailChimp.
6. Focus on providing the best customer experience
The pride of every business is to get their customers to come back whenever they need the same products or services. The only way to achieve this is by ensuring your customers get the best experience every time they make a purchase.
This depends on the quality of your products and services and how you relate to your customers. You should ensure you provide the best customer service, create a friendly atmosphere and get customer opinions and feedback.
7. Embrace change
The world is continuing to evolve, and that means there are going to change which every small business must be prepared to embrace.
If you’re afraid to change then, that means your business cannot compete effectively in the local market. Find out what’s trending in the market and take immediate measures to adopt it in your business.
8. Participate in contests and giveaways
Customers like free stuff and the best way to get them to recognize your business is by doing contests and giveaways. This way, you will easily build brand loyalty and turn visitors into paying customers.
9. Create some blog posts
Creating some content and posting on your website is a great way to engage customers and also tell them more about your business. This is also a good way to improve your ranking in search engines. Quality content can easily engage visitors and turn them into customers.
10.Create a network
A good business person must understand the importance of networking to a business. Get to the community, interact with people and get to know as many people as you can.
You can also build networks with competitors to know how they are doing things and get influencers to give you some useful insights for your business.
Conclusion
Operating a business is not an easy thing. Every day you’re faced with decisions to make and a lot of pressure to handle.
Because you want to generate sales and get as many customers as you can, you need to do all it takes. The above are great ways to get your business into the right track in the local market.
