Your Questions About Recycling
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Filed under Recycling Q & A
Chris asks…
How can I recycle organic garbage by turning it into compost (soil), since I don’t have a backyard nor garden?
I mean, all those fruits and vegetables garbage, that I throw in regular trashcans
How can I recycle it, so that I pollute less and I turn it into compost (soil) and I “give it back” to Nature?
Any gardener or botanist or agronomics engineer can give me some advice please?
Thank you
ps: I live in an appartement, not a house
The Expert answers:
Hmmm, I don’t know where you live, so I don’t how it functions in your area… I’ll just put the example about where I live:
I bought a trash bin for the organics, with an official color for the organic garbage (here it’s green). In it I put a plastic bag to throw the fruits, etc. (it’s yucky to throw it directly in the bin). Once a week I put the green bin in front of my house (on garbage day). The garbagemen empty the plastic bag in their compost container in their truck, bring it to the municipal compost and voilà!
Probably you should check the official website of your town, in the garbage section, to see if they offer that service. It seems simpler to me than your idea of having your own compost.
Thomas asks…
garbage or recycling?
Would an old air mattress go in the garbage or recycling? thanks!
The Expert answers:
Recycling if it’s plastic.
Jenny asks…
How can I better recycle my garbage?
Right now, newspapers get burned and cans get recycled but everything else goes in the garbage.
Is there a better way to split up things and where can I recycle glass, plastic ect?
Do all recyclable items have the recyclable sign on them, or just most of them?
The Expert answers:
Newspaper is recyclable as is all clean paper. Check your local officials for more detailed information for your specific area. Burning your old newspapers is not such a good idea. Think of ways to to reuse that paper before sending it off to be recycled. A few ideas are: gift wrap; packing material for fragile items; add it to your compost pile; if you don’t have a compost pile, offer it to someone who does; add it to the produce drawers of your fridge to absorb messes and odors.
Other examples of clean paper would include wrapping paper, old mail (for privacy protection be sure to shred it first), cereal boxes, tissue boxes, soda and cereal boxes and magazines.
Speaking of magazines, consider subscription sharing with others, so they get more than one use, or donate them to a local library, shelter or non-profit organization for their lobby areas.
Ocassionally, I will find myself at the store without my reusable grocery bags. Instead of throwing the plastic bags away when I get home, I use them as liners for several small wastebaskets we have around the house. I also know a lady who uses them to stuff pillows she makes.
A good mindset to take on is to reduce your consumption and your trash automatically reduces. For example, buy a 2 liter of soda, rather than six bottles. Purchase items that have less packaging.
Sandra asks…
If we continue to raise awareness about garbage pollution,how much better will the earth become in the future?
If we continue to raise awareness about garbage pollution,how much better will the earth become in the futu?
instead of the negative things that can happen to our earth in the future, if we continue to recycling, raise garbage pollution awareness, find ways to reduce garbage, etc. what are possible benefits for the earth in the future? how much of an impact will our efforts make?
The Expert answers:
Well, over a million animlas will stay alive. Many die from all of the pollution and stuff. If we recycle, it saves animal. Let’s say every single person in the USA recycles all of their old paper, in just one day. Do you know how many trees that will save? Countless trees; over 100 billion trees. Trees are animals habitats; you see how everything is connected?
Recycling is a powerful thing. 😀
Sandy asks…
Is it better to throw your garbage away or recycle?
Is it better to throw your garbage away or recycle? I was told that there were a lot of different chemicals that are used during recycling that actually harm the environment. Does anyone have any insight on this? Any opinions or facts?
The Expert answers:
It actually takes more energy to recycle most things (plastic, paper, steel) than it does to get it from its natural source. The only exception is aluminium, which takes a phenomenal amount of energy to be extracted from bauxite.
The best reasons to recycle, then, would be that it generates jobs in the community, and reduces environmental damage by tree felling and mining. If we had more environmentally friendly ways of generating electricity, recycling would be even better.
William asks…
Are you against recycling because it would make you look like a huge alcoholic to the garbage man?
The Expert answers:
That’s why you should put them in the next door neighbor’s recycling bin!
Laura asks…
How do you dispose of coffee tins? Put them in the garbage or recycling??????? l?
Like those metal canisters
The Expert answers:
Most any man with a garage or work shop would love to have them for storing screws, nuts, bolts, nails, parts washing, and many other uses especially if they have the lids with them. I have a friend who makes camp stoves out of the metal ones and gives them to people as gifts. They are very handy to have for many uses so just find a guy who wants them and give them away.
David asks…
if we continue to raise awareness about garbage pollution,how much better will the earth become in the futu?
instead of the negative things that can happen to our earth in the future, if we continue to recycling, raise garbage pollution awareness, find ways to reduce garbage, etc. what are possible benefits for the earth in the future? how much of an impact will our efforts make?
The Expert answers:
The earth will be 0.15% better in the long run, with no visible benefits in the near future.
Awareness campaings pointless b/c people are aware of the issue but chose to ignore it b/c they they are “having it real hard” already
recycling uses up a lot of energy to collect and sort the recyclables, so net effect is rather small.
Mary asks…
what department handles garbage/recycling?
What city/state department handles garbage collecting?
The Expert answers:
For the whole United States the EPA provides the laws for garbage and recycling. In my state it is usually called solid waste management, but the job is usually done by a private company.
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