I am really "into" doing my bit for the envorioment eg recycling, but when washing the recycables we are wasti

Question

So what to do? Whats more important recycling or our water?

Answer 1

The water you use to wash recyclables consumes less energy than the energy that would be required to source the glass, aluminum, etc. from raw sources.

Answer 2

Recycle all the water that's used to rinse anything recyclable by using it in outside compost heap, worm garden, inside house plants, outside porch plants and/or gardens
Recycle all water from the sinks/showers, in our home.
Just went through at least a month of no rain and 90-100 temps daily. All the outside plants are doing great and our grass comes back by its self because it is native.
Haven't installed a new water heater yet so am still using the one which takes about a gallon until it's hot to the kitchen, so we recycle all that for pets, wash hands, etc.

Answer 3

You are doing the right thing by thinking about it. 'Perfect' answers are difficult to come by, and choices are probably 'better' or 'worse' for the environment than 'right' or 'wrong'.
Using 'old' washing up water is much better than rinsing under clean, hot tap water. Recycled metal and glass doesn't have to be spotless.
Better still - don't recycle - don't buy in the first place. I have gone a long way down this path and now produce 4 or 5 bottles and cans a month.
Ian

Answer 4

You're right, but its a compromise.

If you are concerned, think about what you can do to limit the amount of water you use...for example, is it possible to store your recyclables until you have 5-10 then use the same water to rinse them all? Or are you rinsing something thats 'clean' enough for you to use the water on your garden? Could you do a combination of both? Also, make sure you don't run the tap unnecessarily while rinsing, only use what you need.

Remember, every little bit counts.

Answer 5

Just a small thinking. Its all between depleting and renewable or perennial resources. Energy sources are perising. So your concern is right. What if you do not consider recycling the Plastics and metals? They go waste and pollute the world. So consider a balance between the depleting and polluting components. You are the best judge.

For example, I have seen many advertisements in the media by the Environmentalists to stop using plastic carry bags and asking us to switch to paper bags instead. But I have also seen ads by similar groups not to cut trees to make paper bags, because you loose a green environment. What I mean to convey is, its all a small commonsense that only you can decide when you want to recycle a material. You have to judge the implecations and decide upon it.

Thanks for the very nice thinking.

Answer 6

Haha, that is slightly ironic to try this. i'm easily specific you may recycle plastic, even though it relies upon on the place you pass to recycle it. Recycling does not consistently propose melting a steel all the way down to style a various merchandise, it ought to easily be interpreted as re-making use of something. So in case you tackle this which potential, you ought to use a recycling bin dissimilar circumstances.

Answer 7

Water used for washing can be recycled too, in fact it was being reused for watering veggies and plants before chemical detergents arrived.
Paper can be made of recycled materials too and theres no need to cut trees (at least not a lot of them) for this.

Some people just dont want to change for good and will give you any and every reason for why environmental awareness and action is bad.

Answer 8

both rcycling and water are important butall recyclables must have to go through some cleaning process so I feel it only needs to be done at the time they are preparing it

Answer 9

well as one answerer stated....if you're using water to wash your dishes anyway...just use that when you're done...you're not using any more than you would anyway...this is what I do

and I'm assuming you don't use a dishwasher, cos if you are

SHAME ON YOU! hehe j/k...but you get my point I hope?


and if you're concerned about wasting water...you can buy water storage units now...you place them in the garden and it collects all the rainwater....so, no need to have that hosepipe attached to your taps when watering the lawn or plants :)

Answer 10

You have a point - however what we do at our house is we rinse out the cans while doing the dishes - so technically the water is on anyway!