What are the most important things to recycle?

Question

I want to recycle but I don't have much room in my apartment.

Answer 1

Paper and glass are bleached heavily when they are recycled and the chemicals used pollute the water and air.
Aluminum is a limited resource and the process to recycle is less harmful than the ones used for paper and glass.
Plastic is petroleum based and is also a limited resource.
If you don't have room to recycle everything you should recycle plastic and aluminum.

Answer 2

I'm not an expert on recycling but I would have thought that metals and plastics were the most important things. Here's my reasoning...

Metals are extracted as raw materials from the ground through a heaviliy industrialised process that produces many times more waste material than useable material. The useable material then has to be processed into useable metals. All stages of the process are highly polluting and very energy intensive. Further, metals are a finite resource and once they're used up that's it. Reserves of some metals are already dwindling. Recycling metals means no mining, quarrying, bulk transportation or extraction processes are needed.

Plastics are an oil based derivative and oil is going to run out in 50 to 100 years which isn't really all that long. It makes good sense to conserve supplies where possible. The extraction oif oil and chemical processes needed to produce plastics are energy intensive and highly polluting, recycling cuts out these stages of the process.

Other things can of course be recycled and it makes environmental and economical sense to do so wherever possible - paper, cardboard and glass are some examples.

You can reduce the amount you need to recycle by buying products that aren't overpackaged in the first place, not buying things you don't need, opting out of receiving junk mail etc.

As you don't have much room is it viable for you to have a recycling bin or container outside? If not can you use a small one inside and tuck it away in a corner or behind something?

Answer 3

Definitely recycling plastic seems to be the most beneficial to the environment. There are many different types of environmental impact. For example, plastics are generally produced from fossil fuels, which are gradually becoming depleted. The production process itself involves energy consumption and further resource depletion. During production, emissions may occur to water, air or soil. Emissions of concern include heavy metals, chlorofluorocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, sulfur oxides and dust. These emissions have effects such as ozone depletion, carcinogenicity, smog, acid rain, etc. Thus, production of a plastic product can have adverse effects on ecosystems, human health and the physical environment. Plastic is also something that doesn't degrade well if at all and the worlds oceans are littered with it and has a deadly impact on the wildlife, as I'm sure you are aware. Just look up the vast garbage gyre of the North Pacific. And...kudos to you for being so environmentally conscience.

Answer 4

Doesn't your apartment building have recycling bins for you to put your recyclables in? If not, I'd suggest you talk to them about it. Also if not, I commend you for taking the "extra step" as I know I tried to convince a number of friends of mine to recycle when they didn't have bins at their apartment building but it was like talking to a cat. No one cared or listened. Anyways, aside from that, try to recycle everything that is allowable, but plastics are a definite, paper will biodegrade (although in landfills, packed so tight without oxygen, it often doesn't), aluminum and glass should get their spot in your storage if it's limited. Hopefully, you can recycle it all by either unfortunately more trips or better yet, by getting recycling bins for your building if that's the problem!

Answer 5

recycling is the process of collecting certain materials that would otherwise be considered waste — like old metal, paper, wood, or plastic for example — and turning them into new “recycled” products. Your apartment building should have recycle bins outside. If not call your local recycling center.

BTW just to answer your question. Aluminum is the most abundant metal on earth. It takes 95 percent less energy to make a new aluminum can from recycled aluminum cans.

The aluminum can you recycle today will be back as a new aluminum can in 60-90 days.

Answer 6

Well I would say that, plastics, paper, cardboard, and metal.
Because these items are used most of all, life for exc.
Plastics, are used again for making new plastic jugs and is even used in the production of making new toys for our kids.
Paper and cardboard, are used in making more paper instead of cutting down anymore trees that are necessary.
Metal, is used again to make more metal products again and are sometimes are used to make more toys and even cars.
The only thing I tell people though is try not to use STYROFOAM, because I don't think it is recyclable and it can take up to 500 years to disintegrate back into the ground, this stuff will pollute quicker than anything, yuck!

Answer 7

Cans and bottles. Return them if your state has a return policy. Any glass or plastic. Use bins outside your home to store them. Make sure you wash them so you don't attract bugs and animals. Plastic grocery bags can most times be brought back to the store. They supposedly recycle them.

Answer 8

Avoid using things that cant be used again as they are, as much as possible. ie Cut down on packaging.

Eg Shop at markets, farm shops and use local veg box schemes where possible. Take cloth bags with you or reuse your plastic carrier bags. Re-use your brown paper bags too, and once weighed put your produce in the same bag not individual bags.

Jars can be reused, by yourself or local people who make their own produce.

Avoid tinned food or reuse the tins as plant pots, pierce and make into lanterns/nightlight holders, pencil holders, local art groups maybe interested in taking some of your reusable items.

Advertise your reusables on www.freecycle.org

Stop all junk mail. Use unwanted envelopes for note paper or for keeping seeds in.Newspapers - Know anyone who needs to light fires? or again an art group or maybe an animal sanctuary can reuse it for you.

Cut up plastic milk containers and use as labels for seedlings, offer to your local allotment or gardening group.

Tetra packs can be posted if not collected in your area, for recycling.

Need anymore ideas? contact me.

Answer 9

Plastic b/c it takes a very long time to break down and some of the materials do not deteriorate and some release toxins into the environment.

Answer 10

Plastic. I play a huge role in this department because I only use concentrated cleaning products and don't use so much plastic yet I don't have to pay to have the city remove my recycables. Jennifer