Recycling is taking the useful elements of an item
that is no longer useful and using these elements (parts) to make something
else useful. Using old newspapers to make paper towels is an example of
recycling paper. There are many everyday items you can recycle and help make
the world a greener place by reducing raw materials needed to make new
items. There are thousands of items that
can be recycled. Here are a few you know and some you may not know.
Clothing
Fabric can be used to make holding items like tote
bags or cloth bags. Cotton fabric contains cellulose which is a useful
ingredient in making starch and artificial sugars.
Cardboard boxes
The cardboard used in these boxes is recycled to make
newer cardboard. It can also be used to make heavy duty paper. Cardboard also
contains cellulose which can be used in making explosives for fireworks.
Car batteries
Old car batteries are taken apart to take the lead
from them and use it for making other items. Lead is famously used in making
bullets. The plastic covering can also be recycled to make other plastic items
like paper cups.
Bio-plastics
These are fake plastics that can decompose, unlike the
ordinary plastics. They are collected in a pile and used to make compost for
fertilizing gardens.
Home electronics
Items like computers, stereos, games consoles, and
mobile phones have plastic and electronic circuitry, which can be recycled.
Some gold collectors extract the small traces of gold in these electronics to
make jewelry.
Motor oil
Used motor oil is recycled to make heavier lubricants
for use in heavier machinery. It can also be used to make heavy plastics.
Ink cartridges
Offices routinely throw away ink cartridges. These
cartridges can be recycled by refilling them and extending their lifetime. They can also be taken apart to extract the
fine gold circuitry in them. The plastic is also recyclable.
DVDs and game discs
Game discs, DVDs, and CDs are made of special
plastics. They can be crushed to recycle this plastic for other items.
Crayons
Half-used or broken crayons are collected, melted and
made again in exciting shapes.
Compact fluorescent bulbs
The fine glass in these bulbs is crushed and recycled.
Foam packing
The foam that is used to protect new fragile items
like electronics is shredded and made into new shapes for other packing uses.
Eyeglasses
Eyeglasses are made of metal or plastic frames, and
plastic lenses. Broken eyeglasses are broken to extract these two components
for recycling.
Carpets
Old carpets are processed by carpet reclamation facilities
to make new looking carpets.
So if you have any of these items above that are old or out of use, don't it away. Put it to good use and reduce, reuse and recycle.
So if you have any of these items above that are old or out of use, don't it away. Put it to good use and reduce, reuse and recycle.
