18
Jan, 2024
ElecRecycle1

The Circular Symphony: Unveiling the Intricate Dance of Electronics Recycling

In our rapidly advancing technological age, where innovation seems boundless and electronic devices are an integral part of our daily lives, the environmental impact of electronic waste (e-waste) is an ever-growing concern. As the mountains of discarded gadgets and appliances continue to rise, the importance of electronics recycling has never been more evident. In this blog, we will delve into the intricate process of how electronics are recycled, shedding light on the efforts to transform the linear lifecycle of electronic devices into a circular and sustainable one.

The Rise of Electronic Waste

The proliferation of electronic devices, from smartphones to laptops and household appliances, has led to a staggering increase in electronic waste worldwide. According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2020, approximately 53.6 million metric tons of electronic waste was generated in 2019, with only 17.4% being recycled. The rest often ends up in landfills, posing significant environmental and health risks due to the toxic materials contained in electronic components.

Understanding the Complexity of Electronics

Electronic devices are intricate assemblies of various materials, including metals, plastics, glass, and rare earth elements. Disassembling and separating these components is a complex task that requires specialized knowledge and technologies. Additionally, electronic devices often contain hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which pose environmental and health hazards if not properly managed during disposal.

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The Electronics Recycling Process

Collection: The journey of electronics recycling begins with collection. E-waste can be sourced from various channels, including consumers, businesses, and electronic manufacturers. Many countries have established collection points or recycling facilities to gather discarded electronics. Efforts are also made to raise awareness about the importance of recycling, encouraging individuals to responsibly dispose of their old devices.

Sorting and Transportation: Once collected, the e-waste is transported to specialized recycling facilities where the sorting process takes place. During sorting, the electronics are categorized based on their type, size, and composition. This step is crucial, as it determines the subsequent processing methods each component will undergo. Large and small electronics, as well as different materials, are sorted separately to optimize the recycling efficiency.

Disassembly: The disassembly stage involves breaking down electronic devices into their individual components. Skilled technicians carefully dismantle gadgets, separating reusable and recyclable parts from non-recyclable materials. This meticulous process requires precision to avoid damaging valuable components and to ensure the safe handling of hazardous materials.

Shredding: After disassembly, the recyclable components, such as metals and plastics, undergo shredding. Shredding breaks down materials into smaller pieces, facilitating further separation and processing. Metals like copper, aluminum, and gold are extracted from circuit boards and wiring, while plastics are shredded and cleaned for future use.

Separation and Recovery: Various separation techniques are employed to recover valuable materials from the shredded components. Advanced technologies, such as magnetic separation and eddy current separation, are used to isolate metals from other materials. This stage is critical for reclaiming precious metals like gold and silver, which are often used in electronic circuitry.

Refining: Recovered materials go through refining processes to meet the quality standards required for reuse in new electronic products. This may involve purifying metals to remove impurities and contaminants. The refined materials are then transformed into raw materials, ready to be reintegrated into the manufacturing process.

Responsible Disposal of Hazardous Materials: While valuable materials are recovered and recycled, hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, and brominated flame retardants must be handled with care. Specialized methods, such as high-temperature incineration or chemical treatments, are employed to neutralize or safely dispose of these toxic elements, preventing environmental contamination.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the advancements in electronics recycling, several challenges persist. One significant obstacle is the lack of standardized recycling practices globally. The absence of consistent regulations can result in improper disposal methods and contribute to the environmental burden of e-waste.

However, the challenges also present opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Researchers are exploring ways to improve the efficiency of recycling processes, develop alternative materials that are easier to recycle, and implement sustainable design practices in electronic manufacturing.

The journey of electronics recycling is a symphony of precision, innovation, and responsibility. As our dependence on electronic devices continues to grow, so does the imperative to manage their end-of-life in an environmentally conscious manner. Through the concerted efforts of individuals, businesses, and policymakers, we can transform the linear lifecycle of electronics into a circular and sustainable one, minimizing the environmental impact of e-waste and paving the way for a greener future.

26
Jan, 2023
recycle

Recycling Demolition Materials In France: What Do You Need To Know?

Many of these wastes contribute to environmental pollution. Among these are demolition materials. There are entities that are specialized in the recycling of these materials. Would you like to know how it goes? Find out everything you need to know about recycling demolition materials here. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the things you need to know about the subject at hand.

Some benefits of recycling demolition materials

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The rules in force require that inert waste that cannot go to landfill must be recycled by companies specializing in the collection and treatment of waste from inert demolition materials. Although inert waste presents no risk of pollution or danger to humans, illegal dumping is a source of visual pollution.

However, demolition materials after construction work constitute a potential source of raw materials, and as such, they must be valued more. Their recycling has the main objectives of preserving the environment, saving exhaustible resources from quarries, and increasing the competitiveness of recycling companies. In addition, this contributes to the reduction of surfaces for the storage of waste. This makes better use of the land.

Classification of recycled demolition materials

Demolition materials from recycling are generally waste. These are classified into several categories. First, there is inert waste which does not undergo any modification during storage. They do not burn and cause no chemical or physical reaction. In other words, these materials are not harmful to human health or the environment. These materials include tiles, glazing, concrete, earth, and other types of waste without hazardous substances.

Then, non-hazardous and non-inert wastes present no danger. These are non-toxic or explosive. They come from the packaging of all kinds, insulation, untreated wood, hardware, etc. Finally, hazardous waste represents 2% of waste. They pose a risk to health and the environment. Among these wastes, you have asbestos, electrical equipment, chemicals, etc.

Recovery of demolition materials

In many countries, there is no regulatory provision defining the acceptable conditions from an environmental and technical point of view relating to the use of waste as a secondary raw material in the construction of buildings or civil engineering works. However, certain regulatory texts have been created in order to supervise each project for the recovery of certain materials. These include foundry sand, bottom ash from the incineration of household waste, and ash from coal-fired power stations.

Then, certain wastes have been used for years given their particular technical characteristics and make it possible to bring a particular property to the building materials in which they are incorporated. For this, technical standards make it possible to control the technical suitability of some secondary raw materials for recovery.

These concern the use of demolition waste in road engineering and silica fume in the production of high-performance cements. It is also fly ash from coal in the production of cement and blast furnace slags.

Texts relating to the storage of demolition materials

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The storage of waste from demolition materials is governed by texts. Indeed, the decree of December 30, 2002, relating to the storage of hazardous waste, provides for the storage conditions of hazardous waste. The storage conditions for non-hazardous waste, in particular the storage of bound asbestos and plaster waste, is defined by the decree of 09/09/1997.

According to the decree of September 22, quarries in progress or at the end of operation can be backfilled with external materials. First, sorting must be done beforehand. With regard to the storage of inert waste, the decree of October 28, 2010, provided for the possibility of adapting the behavior of a precise quantity of waste in a given storage facility and the impact on the environment and health.

Sound off in the comments section below, and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about recycling building material.

24
Jan, 2023
recycle

Top 4 Things To Know About Recycling Plastic

We produce more and more waste. According to a World Bank report, the world generates 2.01 billion tons of waste per year. However, little of this waste is recycled today, which can create tensions between certain countries. This is the case of Malaysia, which recently decided to send back the tons of plastic waste that arrived illegally on its territory. So how can you contribute to more efficient recycling? So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the things you need to know about recycling plastic.

1. Mechanical recycling

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Sorting, grinding, and heating are the three stages of mechanical recycling, the technique used in 99% of cases worldwide. After being collected and sorted by a family of polymers with optical sorters or flotation systems, the plastics are washed and crushed into granules. And then melted down and reused. This technique does not rid the plastic of its additives (colors, etc.). Food packaging plastic cannot, therefore, return to a quality allowing it to come into contact with food.

Users are driven to make lower-quality products, such as garbage bags. The recycling loop is not complete. As a result, manufacturers prefer to use cheap new plastic rather than recycled. And a large part of the waste from developed countries is sent abroad, denounce the NGOs.

Under societal pressure, the processes are improving, especially for PET: thanks to poly-condensation, the degraded molecules are restored, and the impurities are evacuated by heating and under pressure. In recent months, water bottles made of recycled plastic have been found in Europe.

2. A molecule, a factory

Each molecule practically requires a specific type of factory and equipment. However, there are dozens of types of polymers. The most common polyethylene (PE) is used for shampoo bottles and plastic films surrounding a pack of water bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). As for their caps, they are made of polypropylene (PP)! Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used in construction for flooring or windows.

Polystyrene (PS) produces yogurt pots and, in its expanded form, trays, while polyamide (PA) is reserved for textiles and automobiles. Polyurethane (PU or PUR) is for foams and insulation. Hence the interest in investing upstream in quality sorting equipment to correctly separate plastics, as Japan does. This makes it possible to limit losses in nature, welcomes the WWF, which regrets, however, that this country does more incineration than recycling.

Since China closed its doors to Western waste at the end of 2018, some 70 big “plasticizers” (Dow, Exxon, Henkel, TotalEnergies, Mitsui Chemicals, etc.) united in the “Endplasticwaste” collective have supported collection and sorting projects in India and Thailand in particular, and recycling.

3. Europe, best student, but can do better

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Faced with a global recycling rate of 9% of plastic waste, often due to a lack of collection and sorting infrastructure, “just over a third (34.6%)” of the plastics collected in Europe were sent to the recycling in 2020, according to the OECD.

The northern countries (Germany, Sweden, Norway) are ahead, around 40%. The specialized ENF directory lists 161 factories in Germany, 173 in Poland, 132 in Italy, 89 in Spain, and 46 in France. But according to the European Patent Office (EPO), Europe and the United States between them concentrate 60% of global patents on plastic recycling or bioplastics. Even in Europe, there is still a huge step to climb; we should at least reach 50-60%.

4. Is Chemical recycling desirable or worse?

Chemical recycling makes it possible to “depolymerize” the plastic by returning to the basic molecules (monomers) or even to go back further by remanufacturing “naphtha”, an oily compound derived from petroleum and precursor of plastic. By adding a solvent to a cake, it’s as if we come back to eggs, flour, and butter. With the basic elements, we remanufacture plastic of the same quality as virgin plastic from oil.

Its advantage is to complete the recycling loop for all molecules, PET, PE, PS, PP, etc. Its disadvantages are enormous investment costs, in particular for the collection and separate sorting of fragile parts such as jars of yogurt. However, recycling is only done if it is profitable. In addition, it requires a lot of energy and many uncertainties remain about its emissions of greenhouse gases and toxic by-products, underlines the Heinrich Böll Foundation and other experts.

Looking for help?

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Do you live in Botany? Are you in search of a rental bin or waste management solutions? Then look no further because Empire Bins is here to solve all your problems. So, relax and give them a call on their wide range of rental bins and waste management solutions; they have a bin for whatever your needs are, be it for garbage removal, storage, or even if you have a large event coming up.

Renting a bin, hook bin, or skip has never been easier than with the help of Empire Bins. Their motto is no job is too big or too small for them, and they deliver on their promise. What are you waiting for? They are only one phone call away!

5
Dec, 2022
waste

Top 3 Things To Know About Waste

Every day in the United States alone, 268 million tons of waste are buried. How can we, individually, rectify this situation? It is important to know that the waste that pollutes the least is the one that we do not produce. We are always ready to explore opportunities for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Changing the way we do things to better protect our planet is not that difficult. Are you recycling as much as you can? So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the things everyone ought to know about waste.

What is waste?

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Existing in several forms, the waste designates globally all that we do not use anymore and wish to get rid of. It is food scraps that we throw in the trash, bottles, and packaging that we put in special containers. We take bigger objects, old damaged furniture, mattresses, and broken bicycles, to the waste disposal center. But it is also materials, products, and residues linked to companies, agriculture, and various industries.

We produce an average of 350 kg per inhabitant per year, a figure that is close to 14 tons per year if we take into account the entire French population and all professional sectors. They are then landfilled or incinerated, depending on their nature or their hazardous nature, but are also increasingly recycled to limit the environmental pollution they cause. Responsible management of waste is one of the major thrusts of the ecological transition.

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As a result, the mass of waste is growing faster than any other source of environmental pollution, including greenhouse gases. Each year, the world is faced with 2.1 billion tons of solid waste, 33% of which is not managed environmentally sound. And the figure is expected to increase by 70% to 3.4 billion tons by 2050.

From an economic point of view, we note that high-income countries account for only 16% of the world’s population but produce almost a third of the world’s total waste. East Asia and the Pacific are the worst performers, but each inhabitant still produces an average of 590 kg of waste per year in France. And the production continues to grow by about 1% each year.

In low-income countries, only 48% of garbage is collected in cities and 26% in rural areas. Much of the waste is simply burned on-site or left in the open, leading to respiratory infections and other diseases. High-income countries, of course, have much better collection and management systems, but they are inadequate. For years, thousands of containers full of waste to be recycled have left Europe and the United States for Southeast Asia, where treatment is much cheaper.

Until recently, France itself sent 50% of its sorted plastic waste to China. Things are still going on today, but Beijing, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, have tightened their import conditions so that they are no longer the dustbins of Western countries. As a result, there is no more garbage to manage on our territory, and recyclable waste is simply burned or dumped due to a lack of adapted equipment.

In spite of this, countries continue to develop and often forget to equip themselves with essential systems to face the progression of waste and its evolution. For this reason, middle-income countries should be closely monitored, as they are expected to experience the largest increase in waste in the coming years. It is expected to triple in sub-Saharan Africa and double in South Asia by 2050.

Environmental impact

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With, of course, disastrous consequences on the whole biodiversity. As a reminder, a simple tissue thrown in nature takes about 3 months to degrade, while chewing gum takes an average of 5 years. Other wastes, such as batteries, contain highly toxic products that infiltrate the soil and the water tables from which we draw our water. Human waste is the primary cause of freshwater pollution.

And if 80% of the current pollution of the oceans comes from the land, it is because many of our wastes, badly managed or abandoned in the middle of nature, will end up in the waters of the planet. Carried by the winds, carried by the rivers, this is the long road that will lead our everyday objects to leave the treatment system.

As for plastic, it represents today 90% of marine waste, and its production could tomorrow represent 15% of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Unmanaged or badly managed waste contributes to soil erosion and air and water pollution. It poisons the fauna that populates the habitat in which it is found, and it is a real brake on economic growth for countries since it is necessary to clean up pollution, improve the drinking water and boost the attractiveness of degraded areas. This inevitably has a cost. And yet, there is no lack of waste management resources.

Looking for help?

For all your garbage disposal and skip bin needs, you ought to call RONCO MINI BINS/SKIP HIRE. This Australian family-owned business has over 20 years in the garbage disposal industry and is at the top of its games. They also offer expert rubbish removal and waste management services to residents and business owners in Melbourne.

So what are you waiting for? Give them a call now, and they will offer their expertise in garbage removal to both business owners and residents in the Eastern and Northern suburbs of Melbourne. If this hasn’t convinced you yet, check their website and look at their more than competitive prices!

21
Nov, 2022
sustainable

Top 4 Simple Tips To Reduce Your Waste

What if you tried to better manage your waste and recycle at the office? Thanks to a few simple gestures and tips, you could greatly improve your environmental footprint and that of your company! Recycling is a fundamental tool to improve our environmental impact, and yet it is still not practiced enough. In the United States, 87% of the population says they recycle, but only 44% do so regularly. Moreover, if recycling is widespread at home, it is much rarer than it is practiced at the office.

All the good habits that we try to put in place when we are at home, we tend to forget when we arrive at work. And for a good reason, we are not alone in the office (and therefore not alone responsible). Waste accumulates, and recycling is forgotten, and it’s a pity because, with a few simple gestures or tricks, recycling and better managing waste at the office can be child’s play. As part of the No Impact Week, we suggest you discover how to do it. Here are 4 tips and tricks that you can easily implement in your company.

1. Organize an animation on the rules of recycling

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Let’s start with the basics. In many companies, there aren’t even specific garbage cans for recycling. As a result, once lunch is over, all the garbage goes to the same place: plastic bottles, food waste, and cardboard… Then, many citizens still don’t know exactly how recycling should be done, what the rules are and how to easily respect them. So the first thing to do is to have the basic conditions in place to allow recycling at work! Here is a simple to-do list to follow:

    • Install or have installed specific garbage cans
    • Make sure that these garbage cans are taken care of by your company’s maintenance staff.
    • Organize an event to train employees on the rules of sorting. Indeed, the rules of waste sorting are sometimes complex: did you know, for example, that plastic yogurt cups cannot be recycled? Or that broken table glasses do not go in the glass garbage can?

Clearly display the rules of recycling on your garbage cans. So, no more excuses: everything is clearly indicated.

2. Install a composter

This is a simple way to manage food waste in the office. Whether you have a company restaurant or a simple canteen, installing composters to recycle your food waste is possible.

The principle is simple: they are bins in which you store certain organic waste. Then, depending on the type of composter, specific worms are added to transform this waste into compost, which can then be used to fertilize plants, for example. For those who are worried about it: when a composter is used correctly, it does not emit any smell.

However, hiring a master composter to install a composter or a worm composting machine and educate/train the employees is ideal. Once installed, all that is left to do is to fill it and handle it regularly to obtain quality compost.

3. Learn about the circular economy for your computer equipment

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Did you know that when a company’s computers need to be changed, there are specific channels that recover this equipment and take care of refurbishing it so that it can be reused by individuals or associations?

This is one of the links of what is called the circular economy. This part of the economy tries to promote recycling and reuse, which wants to avoid waste. By getting closer to the various structures of the circular economy, and in particular, the associations involved in reuse, we can drastically reduce our environmental footprint.

4. Install specific recycling bins

Another possibility to improve the management of waste in the company: call upon service providers to install specific recycling bins for certain waste. Batteries, light bulbs, batteries, or cigarette butts, for example, can be treated and recycled in specific channels. And it is quite possible for companies who wish to participate in the citizen dynamics of recycling to install in their premises bins to facilitate the sorting and recycling for their employees. Here is a list of waste for which you can install sorting bins:

    • Batteries, bulbs
    • Cigarette butts
    • Coffee capsules

Once these kiosks are installed, nothing could be simpler for employees: they simply drop off their waste, which is then collected by partner service providers. In addition to allowing the recycling of waste produced in the workplace, it can also serve as a collection point for employees’ domestic waste and thus encourage recycling.

Looking for help?

recycle

Do you live in Botany? Are you in search of a rental bin or waste management solutions? Then look no further because Empire Bins is here to solve all your problems. So, relax and give them a call on their wide range of rental bins and waste management solutions; they have a bin for whatever your needs are, be it for garbage removal, storage, or even if you have a large event coming up.

Renting a bin, hook bin, or even skip has never been easier than with the help of Empire Bins. Their motto is no job is too big or too small for them, and they deliver on their promise. What are you waiting for? They are only one phone call away!

12
Oct, 2022
How Are Clothes Recycled

How Are Clothes Recycled

 

One-quarter of the textiles we consume end up in recycling. Clothing recycling belongs to a specific recycling channel, like car recycling, oil recycling, packaging recycling, and pallet recovery. We consume 17 kg of textiles (clothing, household linen) per year: in the end, ¼ ends up in recycling. Rather than letting old clothes rot at the bottom of your closet, giving them a second life is simple. The recycling of clothes allows:

   – to help people in need,

   – to save space at home,

   – to reduce the cost of raw materials,

   – to offer sustainable and stable jobs.

Please note: throwing textiles in the garbage does not encourage recycling.

2 collection options: the recuperator or associations

The donation of used clothing is simple and accessible to all:

   – clothing and textile professionals give their garbage to recyclers who recycle the manufacturing waste,

   – Charitable associations collect old textiles from individuals or communities for refurbishment or recycling.

To donate your used clothes, you have to:

   – put them in a closed bag and deposit them in a container made available for that purpose,

   – give them away at collections: in stores or during special street pick-ups (announced by flyer in your mailbox)

Please note that clothing collection and sorting allow integration companies to offer subsidized employment.

Collection by container

How Are Clothes Recycled

A container for all types of textiles, shoes, and toys

Most companies specializing in clothing recycling accept all kinds of fabrics in these containers:

   – clothing,

   – household linen,

   – shoes

   – leather goods (handbags and belts),

   – toys.

Some associations refurbish oilskins, shoes, small leather goods, toys, etc…

Dropping off clothes in a container

To deposit clothes, you must observe certain rules:

   – Fill bags of 50 liters maximum (to fit in the container),

   – close the bags properly or avoid soiling the contents,

   – make sure to give clean and dry clothes (soiled, wet or moldy clothes cannot be recycled)

   – tie pairs of shoes together with their laces,

   – sort the different types of textiles into several bags (leather goods, shoes, clothing),

   – Do not put bags on the ground.

If the container is overloaded, you can call the number on the terminal so that the Relais agents can come and empty it.

Recycling of clothes: thrift shop, wiping, fraying

Once the textiles have been collected, they are sorted by small hands. The textiles then take different paths:

   – 50% of the clothes arrive in good condition, are repaired, join the thrift store, and then are:

     ◦ resold to the general public,

     ◦ given to the needy,

     ◦ sent to developing countries.

   – 20% of clothing is importable (end-of-life linens, for example):

     ◦ stripped of their accessories: buttons, eyelets …,

     ◦ cut up and made into rags,

     ◦ used for industrial wiping (cleaning, printing, and garages).

   – 8% of the waste (wool, cotton) is destined for fraying:

     ◦ frayed by color,

     ◦ processed into new fibers,

     ◦ packaged in the form of “bales”,

     ◦ resold to textile manufacturers.

If none of these solutions is exploitable, the textiles will be used to manufacture felt boards or insulation materials for the automotive industry.

Read more on recycling:

 

Hope you like this post. Remember to share your thoughts in the comments below.

5
Oct, 2022
recycle

The Different Types Of Recycling

Several methods have been deployed to preserve the environment with the piling up of waste and their long degradation time. In the waste reduction framework, they are sorted according to their categories and recycled for the manufacture of new products. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the things you need to know about recycling.

Recycling plastics

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Lightweight and easy to use, plastics are essential to our daily lives. They are, however, used for a short period of time, but once thrown away; they do not degrade easily. Therefore, restrictive measures have been imposed to limit plastic consumption. In the meantime, some have chosen to opt for recycling for optimal use. To do this, manufacturers have marked a triangular logo indicating their level of recycling.

Indeed, some plastics, such as yogurt pots and plastic bags, are not profitable for recycling, as the quantities of materials that make them up are very small. On the other hand, recycling opaque containers such as milk bottles and transparent bottles such as water bottles are both economic and beneficial.

Classified as HDPE or high-density polyethylene, opaque plastics are strong and resistant to chemicals and other impacts. Transparent plastics are classified as polyethylene terephthalate or PET. They are light, waterproof, and gasproof, but also strong.

To recycle, a large number of bottles must be collected. You can rent a dumpster to facilitate collection and processing. After collecting the plastics, the PET bottles are ground into flakes, washed, and stripped of their labels. Then they are subjected to a high temperature for a homogeneous assembly.

This component can be used in manufacturing new bottles or in manufacturing polyester fibers, including fabrics, carpets, and synthetic cottons. As for HDPE, the recycling process is almost the same as for PET, but it can be used to make watering cans, chairs, or even pipes.

Paper and cardboard recycling

Paper, juice cartons, and cardboard also make up a large part of the waste stream. Fortunately, they are perfectly recyclable. To do this, they are crushed and immersed in a large tank to remove impurities, including staples, glue, etc. After grinding, the inks and water contained in the pastes are extracted. The pulp is then processed into new paper, cardboard, toilet paper, and gift wrap.

Recycling of metal materials

Like wrought iron, cans and tins can be recycled in several ways. Steel is widely used in the manufacture of household appliances, automotive parts, and new cans. Aluminum is used in the manufacture of trays, automotive parts, kitchen utensils, and windows. The recycling steps are crushing, thermal cleaning, melting in a 1600°C furnace, and processing.

Glass recycling

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Glass packaging is very popular for serving and storing food. It is heat and gas-resistant and preserves the quality of the food. Moreover, it is almost intact and without wear after use. This characteristic gives it a very special second life, including the manufacture of bottles, flasks, and jars. To do this, start by gathering a pile of glass in the trash. Since it is sharp and difficult to work with, it is essential to hire a skip-hire service to help you with the collection and recycling work.

Once collected, the glass containers are sorted and stripped of caps and other accessories. They are then crushed to obtain a cullet. At a very high temperature of 1400°C, the cullet is melted and mixed with other components such as silica and soda, colorants, and limescale. These components prevent the crystallization of the glass in order to obtain a tight and solid material. The melted paste is then blown and cooled to produce new products.

Sound off in the comments section below, and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about recycling.

4
Oct, 2022
How Are Cans Recycled

Top 5 Tips For Reducing Waste

Every day in the United States alone, 268 million tons of waste are buried. How can we, individually, rectify this situation? It is important to know that the waste that pollutes the least is the one that we do not produce. Here are five tips to reduce the amount of waste you produce at the source.

We are always ready to explore opportunities for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle. Changing the way we do things to better protect our planet is not that difficult. Are you recycling as much as you can? So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of our best tips to start reducing waste and living a more sustainable lifestyle.

1. Avoid food waste

Tips on Choosing Your Sorting Garbage Can

In 2017, a study by the National Zero Waste Council indicated that nearly 2.2 million tons of edible food are thrown away each year in Canada. For the average Canadian household, that’s 140 kilograms of food thrown away per year or an annual loss of $1100! Vegetables and fruit account for a large proportion (45%) of this food waste.

To remedy this, it is advisable to plan your meals in advance. Make a grocery list and buy only the amount of food you need to cook your meals. Learn how to store your food properly so that it will last longer, and don’t hesitate to freeze any surplus.

2. Recycle your organic waste 

A majority of Americans still send their food waste to landfills rather than to the brown bin. Only half of the municipalities in the province currently offer this type of collection. However, there are many alternatives to the brown bin! First of all, conventional composting, using micro-organisms, or vermicomposting, using earthworms. Composting is not one of the most glamorous activities out there, but it is something that all of us ought to do.

If these organic processes don’t appeal to you for one reason or another, you should know that there are small appliances that can transform your organic waste into fertilizer. This machine dehydrates and grinds organic waste in a few hours, reducing its volume by nearly 90%. The fertilizer can then be used for plants and vegetable gardens.

3. Limit the use of single-use plastic

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In Quebec alone, an estimated 500,000 tons of plastic are landfilled annually. By the end of the year, the federal government will ban six types of single-use plastic items, including bags, straws, and utensils. So why not adopt sustainable practices today? These include bamboo or stainless steel straws, reusable cotton, canvas or polyester bags, or reusable water bottles.

Take-out meals have become increasingly popular during the pandemic. They are great for storing food or sharing cookies with family and friends! Feel free to wash and reuse these plastic containers. So, be conscientious when eating out and ordering takeaways, don’t create more waste than is necessary, and do your part to keep waste away from landfills.

4. Buy food in bulk

The zero waste movement is growing, and there are now many grocery stores and boutiques across the province that offer their products in bulk. How does it work? You must bring your own reusable containers (cloth bags, jars, etc.). Airtight containers will be weighed before you store them. A wide selection of fresh products (fruits, vegetables, meats) and dry products (legumes, spices, flours, coffees), but also non-food products (household and hygienic products) are available in bulk, without packaging, plastic film, or trays. So much superfluous which will not end up in your household waste.

5. Use a “no flyers” sticker

sustainable

According to the non-profit organization Ville en vert, 900,000 advertising bags are distributed each week in Montreal. How many of them end up in the recycling bin unread? To reduce the amount of paper that ends up in the recycling bin, you can put a “No Flyers” sticker on your mailbox. You can also find these flyers digitally on Google.

Helping clean beaches or residential areas near you is the bare minimum and is something that all of us should start doing. You should be the change you want to see in the world, and one small step that you take can create a snowball effect and create major change later down the line. So, join a cleaning group, get out there, and take care of mother Earth because, so far, it is the only habitable planet that we know and have.

Looking for help?

For all your garbage disposal and skip bin needs, you ought to call RONCO MINI BINS/SKIP HIRE. This Australian family-owned business has over 20 years in the garbage disposal industry and is at the top of its games. They also offer expert rubbish removal and waste management services to residents and business owners in Melbourne.

So what are you waiting for? Give them a call now, and they will offer their expertise in garbage removal to both business owners and residents in the Eastern and Northern suburbs of Melbourne. If this hasn’t convinced you yet, check their website and look at their more than competitive prices!

19
Aug, 2022
thrifting

Top 6 Reasons To Recycle Old Clothes

The textile industry is one of the most important industries, with more than 2.6 billion pieces put on the market each year, the equivalent of 625,000 tons per year of clothing, household linen, and other fabric products. This partly explains why the textile industry is also one of the most polluting industries, also because the current production and distribution systems are often incompatible with the respect of the environment! The fast fashion and budget clothing development has only amplified this phenomenon, but the situation is gradually reversed.

There is a growing trend for textile recycling linked to individual awareness in favor of ecology and the environment. But you’re not sure what to do with your clothes. Have you decided to make more ecological choices this year and arrange your closet? Before you throw your clothes in the trash, think about the consequences of putting more of them in the landfill versus recycling textiles. Here are the most important reasons to recycle your clothes. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn more about the subject at hand.

1. Think about textile recycling

fashion

The process of making clothes uses a lot of energy. Every garment you wear goes through a complex manufacturing process, which uses a large amount of electricity, and water, not to mention other energy sources. So recycling textiles saves energy by reducing or eliminating the need to make new clothes. Similarly, when you buy recycled clothing, you help reduce the environmental impact of “fast fashion.

2. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Textiles made from organic materials (cotton, linen…) must be biodegradable. However, when people throw away their clothes and they end up in landfills, they lack oxygen because of the piling up. Oxygen is necessary for the decomposition of organic matter. The lack of oxygen leads to decomposition by anaerobic digestion, which means that microorganisms break down the organic material to produce by-products such as methane. Produced constantly and uncontrollably, methane escapes into the atmosphere, harming air quality and the planet.

3. Reducing the use of landfills

6 Ways to Stop Producing Waste

Landfills are not always visible. For that reason alone, most of us think they don’t exist. But did you know that over 12 million tons of different textiles end up in landfills every year? Not only is this practice very harmful to the environment, but it is also very expensive. Landfills are expensive to purchase and require a lot of open space. They also cost money to operate. This money comes from the municipalities and cities, i.e., from the taxpayers’ pockets. Recycling reduces the amount of textiles in landfills and frees up space for other waste. By recycling your clothes, you limit the creation of new landfills.

4. Help those in need

Probably the biggest reason people choose to recycle textiles is that it helps people in need. Your clothes are turned into cash donations to help these organizations. But donated clothes are often sold to thrift stores or even to developing countries. When you recycle clothes, your help is extensive; if they are too damaged, these clothes are then revalorized.

5. Reuse of old clothes by exporting to developing countries

fast

50% of the collected and sorted clothes are reused abroad. Most of the collectors have resale approaches per kilogram in partner countries. For example, Le Relais has established itself in 3 African countries (Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Madagascar) and has created more than 350 direct jobs and 10 times more indirect jobs.

The massive export of clothes from the second sorting has, however, made the leaders of the countries of the Community of East African States of Central Africa (Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan) react and consider banning the entry of textiles already worn. Indeed, the importation of worn clothing “threatens our textile industry” and “compromises the dignity of our people.

6. A simpler solution

Probably one of the most important reasons to recycle your textiles is the simplicity of the operation. Donating only takes a few seconds, with professionals taking care of the collection. When you think about how much you’re helping the planet by recycling, it’s even easier to drive and drop off the clothes or organize a donation drive.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about recycling old clothes.

4
Jul, 2022
recycling

Top 4 Things To Know About Recycling

The problem is that the rules of recycling are not always clear and not always well applied. To help you, here are a few simple rules to follow in order to sort properly. So here are the basics: to sort your waste, there are generally 3 garbage cans: the recyclables garbage can, the regular waste garbage can, and the glass garbage can.

As a general rule, the glass garbage can is for all glass-based waste, the recyclables bin is for plastics, paper, cardboard, and metal, while the regular garbage can is for everything else that cannot be recycled (including food waste). So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the things that you ought to know about recycling.

1. Benefits of recycling

recycling

Recycling means collecting used materials and turning them into new products rather than throwing them away. This process is beneficial to the environment and our local communities for the following reasons:

  • Reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and incineration plants.
  • Using much less energy.
  • Reduced carbon emissions.
  • Reduced water and air pollution.
  • Preservation of valuable natural resources, including trees and water.
  • Protect wildlife and natural habitats.
  • Creating jobs and supporting the economy.

2. Some objects that are thought to be recyclable are not

Many plastic objects are not recyclable; therefore, you should avoid putting them in the recycling garbage can! This is the case for yogurt pots, cookie trays, and any flexible packaging, such as toilet paper. The same is true for takeaway food trays from restaurants (sandwiches, kebabs, burgers, salads). In fact, it is only plastic bottles and flasks that are recyclable. You can forget about the rest.

As for glass, some objects made of this material are not recyclable either. This is the case for objects made of “culinary” glass, such as tableware and transparent dishes. Their melting temperature is higher than that of glass, so they cannot be recycled. On the other hand, glass jars, bottles, and bottles are recyclable.

3. How many times can a recyclable object be recycled?

recycling

It depends on the material used! If it is plastic, only plastic bottles and flasks are recyclable. The number of recycling is very limited: only two to three times! Indeed, at each stage of recycling, the plastic degrades and ends up not being reusable. Concerning glass, it is mineral and inert: it is therefore 100% recyclable and infinite, without losing quality. This is why it is preferable to buy glass bottles rather than plastic ones.

Finally, paper is a material made of cellulose fibers that come from wood or recovered paper. During each recycling process, these fibers break down and become damaged. This is why paper can only be recycled about ten times. Moreover, this quality degradation means that the newly manufactured paper cannot be made of 100% recovered fibers. In fact, the recycled paper contains about 50% recovered fibers, while conventional paper contains only 10%.

4. Some objects made of different materials can be recycled

A few decades ago, recycling technologies were not able to recycle objects made of different materials. But today, there are machines capable of separating the different materials of the same object. Thanks to them, separating plastic windows from envelopes and removing staples from documents is no longer necessary. It is important to check if your municipality is equipped with this machine.

With the many limitations of recycling that we have just discussed, one should not systematically rely on recycling! On the one hand, only a small amount of household waste is recycled in the United States. And on the other hand, when it is effectively recycled, it can only be recycled a limited number of times.

To contribute to more efficient recycling, we can, for example, prefer to buy glass water bottles instead of plastic ones. Or even better, drink tap water! We can also limit the purchase of products that are difficult to recycle, such as food packaging. We can buy certain foods in bulk and use our own containers. This would help reduce the amount of packaging produced.

Looking for help?

recycling

For all your garbage disposal and skip bin needs, you ought to call RONCO MINI BINS/SKIP HIRE. This Australian family-owned business has over 20 years in the garbage disposal industry and is at the top of its games. They also offer expert rubbish removal and waste management services to residents and business owners in Melbourne.

So what are you waiting for? Give them a call now, and they will offer their expertise in garbage removal to both business owners and residents in the Eastern and Northern suburbs of Melbourne. If this hasn’t convinced you yet, check their website and look at their more than competitive prices!