Local Councils Efforts in recycling

Waste management is a serious issue that affects all communities; we are all contributors to the loads of garbage and litter that increase day by day. The systems that are already in process to deal with the problems includes recycling, land-fill, composting, waste reduction, waste-to-energy plants, hazardous waste disposal and refuse management. Waste is an ongoing concern that involves everyone living on this earth and the solutions have to come from all areas, including industry and residents.

There are two types of waste management. Source reduction is the execution of methods to prevent and decrease the amount of waste created. Such methods comprise reusing and recycling second hand products and repairing products instead of discarding them and buying a new item. Another method is to use recycled bags from cotton and paper, instead of the commonly free plastic bags given out at most stores and supermarkets worldwide.

Recycling is another form of waste management. This involves the removal of valuable re-useable resources from waste products. Recyclable products include plastic, metal, wood, paper and cardboard and electrical items such as batteries and mobile phones.

Most local councils now have a number of measures in place to help deal with the amount of waste produced by its residents.

Recycling bins are provided by most local councils and located in public places. It is fairly simple to understand what materials can be placed in which bin as they are either colour coded or have a large symbol on the bin. Recycling bins are often provided for tin cans, paper, glass and plastic bottles.

Recycling can also be facilitated for electrical items, used ink cartridges, mobile phones and batteries. You will have to check with your local authority as to whether they offer a service to collect any of these items. If you want to help the environment and are interested in recycling then find out their policies on recycling. Ask for information at their local offices or try out their website.

Don’t use plastic bags to bring your recycling items to the bins. Put them into a cardboard box and then recycle that in turn. Collect the free plastic bags you get from the store each time you go to the store as these can be recycled into lots of different products, such as composite lumber. Plastic bags are far from eco friendly as they are mass produced in their millions and majority of them then end up as dropped litter. Plastic bags can be eaten by animals that can choke on them or cause suffocation. When they do eventually break down it is into small poisonous bits that end up polluting the earth, rivers, lakes and marine life.

Some local authorities have now banned the use of plastic bags in stores and others are discouraging their use by taking a small fee if you want one. This is to persuade consumers to supply their own bags. In some districts this has seen a huge decrease in the number of shoppers using them. Reusable shopping bags are increasing in popularity and often recycled from other material, such as string, hemp, or cotton.

Nearly everything collected for recycling can be put to use. Most daily newspapers that you read are made from 100% recycled paper and nearly half of glass containers such as jars and bottles are washed and reused.

Waste management is an issue that has to be dealt with by every local authority. Understanding about recycling and waste will help you in your daily life to assist in the fight against pollution and products that can harm our environment.

Michiel van Kets provides articles for Michael Hagley, who works for Veolia Australia’s environmental services leader in all facets of waste management. For any household Veolia can provide skip bins.

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