How to Recycle

The three main rules to follow when recycling are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. If these guidelines are obeyed people are recycling. Everybody can recycle their own waste by simply sorting each material into the correct section, for example by putting paper in one bin and plastic in another. However, all materials must be clean. You can then bring the material to your local recycling center where it is compressed and then brought to another center so it can be made into new materials. You can also recycle by using the different coloured bins supplied by the corporation or your bin company. There are usually three different colours which tend to be black, green and brown.

In Ireland the Green bin is for recycling dry household materials such as paper, light cardboard packaging, clean plastic, newspapers, magazines, drink cans (aluminium), food cans (steel and tin) and tetra pack (milk and juice cartons). Before putting these items in the green bin you have to make sure they're clean and dry. This means you have to wash out the drink and food cans. There are also some items that are not allowed to be put in the green bin. These include food, sharp objects, glass, wood, garden waste, clothing or dangerous waste.

Picture from- http://www.rossendale.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=461

To download a greenbin information sheet go to this website- http://www.greenbin.ie/images/stories/binflyera4master2009.pdf

How should I prepare materials for the greenbin?

1. Plastic food containers, steel and tin cans (food or drink) must be RINSED and FLATTENED
   




2. Cardboard boxes must be FLATTENED
   




3. All containers must have LIDS and TOPS REMOVED and should be deposited in green bin as a separate item
   




4. Please RINSE ALL containers before depositing in the bin
   

And remember... no glass should be deposited in the green bin

(source- www.greenbin.ie)

The Black bin can hold almost anything, apart from hazardous waste. However, waste placed in the black bin is not actually recycled, merely disposed of in a landfill or incinerator. Therefore, it is more expensive for your black bin to be collected by your bin company. Thus, it can be seen that recycling saves you money as well as saving our environment.

Picture from- http://www.recap.co.uk/recycling/peterborough.aspx

The Brown bin is used for biodegradable waste such as food. This is not considered recycling because the waste is left to decay, therefore it is not actually being made into other materials. However, these materials can be broken down by natural aerobic bacteria to create fertile topsoil. When biodegradable waste is disposed of in an integrated, or unsorted, waste system it can lead to landfill gas. This causes the production of methane by bacteria, which adds to global warming. Thus, it is a very good idea to use the brown bin as well as the green bin.

Picture from- http://www.recap.co.uk/recycling/peterborough.aspx

So therefore the main bin to use for recycling is the green bin or else you can bring the waste you have to recycle to your local bring-center. At the bring centre, waste must be placed in the appropriate storage area which is the equivalent of placing it in the correct bin. After this, it is compressed and transported to another centre to be processed. The most important thing to know about recycling is Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.