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Reasons to Recycle

More and more people are recycling every single day, which is fantastic. However, there is still a lot more society can do in order to become more sustainable. You can educate yourself about the benefits of recycling and learn why exactly it is so crucial.

One of the most important reasons why people should recycle is that it is good for the planet. By recycling certain materials, you are preventing them from going to a landfill where they will accumulate and take centuries to break down. These items are also kept out of bodies of water and forests, so pollution is reduced significantly. Global warming is a severe threat the entire planet is facing, and recycling does a lot to curb its effects. Studies say that nearly 33 million metric tons of greenhouse gases were kept out of the air in 2000 thanks to the efforts of recycling.

In addition to the environmental impact recycling creates, there are also some great economic advantages as well. First, the recycling industry creates jobs. Various reuse and recycling centers need to employ workers to sort through the items being brought in. Aside from these centers, numerous other companies benefit as well. A large number of businesses get their raw resources from the efforts of recycling. Honestly, everyone is benefitting from the increased use of recycled materials.

Recycled objects also require less energy than brand new materials. Traditional forms of production like oil and coal require tremendous energy. For example, creating a glass jar from recycled materials utilizes 50 percent less power than using new materials. Additionally, recycling paper reduces the number of trees that need to be cut down in order to meet society’s vast need of paper. Millions of trees could remain standing if people just recycled half the amount of paper thrown away now.

There are so many benefits of recycling that it makes perfect sense why everyone should start doing it. Separating glass, plastic and other recyclables from the rest of your garbage is a fairly easy task to accomplish, and everyone stands to benefit. There are likely numerous recycling centers in your area to help you out that take plastic, batteries, steel, copper, aluminum and glass. You can pay a visit to this website to find an outstanding recycling company in La Mesa that would be more than happy to take all you can offer. Now that you know all the benefits of recycling, you should get to work on recycling all your items if you do not already

Make the World a Little More Eco-Friendly

 

If you do not currently recycle your waste, then you are missing out. Learn about the proper actions to take in order to recycle efficiently.

Why Plastic Is Harmful to the Ocean

 

The ocean seems like such a vast ecosystem that it is easy to forget how fragile it really is. There is so much waste being thrown or shipped through the ocean that is harming the environment. These effects can be avoided by properly recycling all plastic.

It Is Not Biodegradable

Plastic does not break down very easily, and even when it does, it releases harmful toxins. These contaminants become dispersed throughout the ocean and poison the animals. Toxins like flame retardants, BPA and phthalates pose a serious threat to any life it comes into contact with.

There Is Too Much Plastic

Plastic bags are one of the most common types of refuse that washes into the ocean. Too many people simply discard their bottles and bags without thinking of the environment. These items can find their way to the ocean or other ecosystems where they wreak havoc.

Danger to Animals

With so much trash in the ocean, it is no wonder why so many animals accidentally consume some of it. Numerous animals have developed illnesses or have died as a result of eating something that should not have been there in the first place.

Protect the animals and the planet by properly recycling all plastic materials you use. You can check out this website to learn more about plastic bottle recycling in National City.

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3 Ways to Get Extra Cash While Helping the Environment

 

Getting involved in the recycling movement not only helps the environment, but it can also put a little extra cash in your pocket. Here are three ways to get extra cash while simultaneously improving the environment.

1. Bottle Deposits

Back in the day, you could return glass bottles to retailers for deposit refund. These days, some states have Bottle Bills wherein consumers can earn the same refund for glass and plastic bottles and for aluminum cans. You can earn between five and ten cents per bottle or can at your local return center.

2. Scrap Metal

Another way to earn cash from recycling is to collect scrap metal. Ferrous metals like steel and iron are worth less than non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, brass and bronze which command higher prices. If a metal is ferrous, a magnet will stick to it, if it’s non-ferrous, the magnet won’t stick.

3. Everyday Items

You can also earn money in the form of product discounts and points by bringing old ink cartridges to certain office supply stores, taking old batteries to some auto parts stores and returning old cell phones to the service provider.

To learn more about how you can make money at recycling centers in Mountain View, visit this website.

3 Reasons You Should Recycle Your e-waste

 

E-waste refers to the disposal of electronic devices from cell phones to computers to office copy machines. This type of waste is generated by individuals, organizations and corporations, virtually everyone contributes to e-waste in some way. Most people know the benefits of recycling plastic, glass, paper and aluminum, but here are three reasons you should recycle your e-waste, as well.

Conservation

Many valuable natural resources are used in electronics. When you recycle your e-waste, you help conserve the raw materials available. Some of the materials you will be saving include the following:

• Copper
• Gold
• Silver
• Ferrous Metals

Reusing these and other components such as plastics and aluminum mean that natural resources will last longer.

Environmental Protection

Many electronics contain toxic and hazardous materials that can harm the environment. If left to decay in a landfill, toxic materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium, chromium and flame retardants can leach into soil and water over time. Recycling ensures the proper disposal of these materials.

Community Outreach

Often, electronics that end up as e-waste are still functional. Donating these to community non-profit organizations allows them to be refurbished and passed on to those in need.

You can do your part by visiting this website for more information on e-waste recycling in San Jose.

The Importance of Recycling Batteries

 

Batteries are a stable of our society. Any portable device requires batteries for their charge, including popular electronics like cell phones and computers that are used on a daily basis. There are many different types of batteries – ranging from tiny lithium batteries to large vehicle ones. Technology both exists and thrives based on its dependency on batteries.

The chemicals involved in making a battery cause these items to be hazardous. If simply thrown in the trash, batteries are quite harmful to the environment. These chemicals pose both health and environmental risks. Due to risks associated with battery waste, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency passed the Battery Act law in 1996 that requires individuals and companies to properly dispose of and recycle their used batteries. Therefore, it is actually illegal to throw your batteries into a trash can!

Qualified waste management facilities are properly equipped to handle the dangerous conditions of dealing with chemicals and acids in battery waste. These items are quite literally toxic and should only be handled by businesses that are knowledgeable and experienced in this type of recycling. Again, not every facility has the resources to manage this type of recycling so be certain to contact reputable companies in the area to determine the right fit. There are qualified options available for batteries recycling in Sunnyvale.

Discarding Glass Has Harmful Effects

You may think that if glass ends up in a landfill this is not a substantial problem, because glass is not toxic and is made of elements found naturally in the environment. Unfortunately, this is not the whole story. Here are some important reasons why glass should be recycled:

1. Environmental Damage

Glass is manufactured from materials such as sand and limestone, which must be quarried. This activity damages the land and the environment. Besides the destruction of vegetation, quarrying can cause chemicals to leak into underground water and contaminate it.

2. Wasted Energy

The creation of new glass consumes a lot of energy. The materials must be shipped to the furnace, which burns fossil fuels. At the furnace the components are heated to a high temperature which also requires a quantity of energy.

3. Harmful Emissions

Emissions that harm the environment and contribute to global warming are reduced when glass is recycled instead of manufactured. One ton of carbon dioxide is prevented from emission with every six tons of recycled glass that is used as material in new products.

Glass is 100% recyclable and can be re-used countless times without a loss of quality. To learn more about glass recycling in Imperial Beach, visit this website.

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Places to Take that Extra Iron Lying Around Your Yard

 

The benefits of recycling various materials are widely known. The environmental impact of simply tossing away all of our waste is a detriment to the planet and to humankind. Most people understand the importance of reusing substances such as aluminum, paper and plastic. However, there are other materials that are just as recyclable that many people often overlook.

Scrap metal is not only highly recyclable, it can be worth money. Qualified recycling facilities will pay for both ferrous and nonferrous metals, including iron. The process for recycling iron is actually very efficient and streamlined making it a desired material for most waste management companies.

Iron is used in a variety of products that people use every day. This includes household appliances, tin sheds, gutters, nails, screws and water heaters. Iron has a tendency to rust and become discarded. Many homes and companies could have a wealth of discarded iron and metal in storage or just lying around the yard. A quick glance around could uncover unneeded iron that could be recycling and reused to create new items and products.

Not everything made of iron is actually recyclable and different facilities vary on the types of scrap metal they will accept. However, taking qualified items to a company that provides iron recycling in Santa Clara can be both environmentally responsible and profitable.

Why it’s Dangerous to Save Old Cable Wires

 

Society has become quite addicted to their electronic devices. Each of these devices requires a charge of some sort. While the popularity of wireless devices certainly exists, even they have to be charged from time to time. All of these devices eventually need to be recharged. What this means is there are generally power cables and wires for each of the devices we use. We use them for play. We use them for work. We use them for entertainment and for hobbies. Many people own multiple devices. That is a lot of cables!

Over time these cables can become worn or damaged. This could mean exposure of the wires which can lead to fire hazards and electrical risks. A hot, sparking wire could potentially start a fire, causing damage to the people and property surrounding it. It is imperative that these cables be replaced and then disposed of.

Considering the electrical fire risk they pose, tossing them into the trash is not the most smart or responsible option. However, many recycling facilities are equipped to collect and handle the potential hazards of dealing with cables and wires. Different waste management companies have different requirements in terms of what type of wires they will accept. Contact your local facility and ask about their cable wire recycling program in Mountain View to get started.

3 Tips on How Recycling Helps the Environment

 

With the rise in global warming, many people are taking environmental issues more seriously. More could be done to save this planet with a better understanding of how recycling helps the environment.

1. Conservation of Natural Resources

Natural resources used in existing products can be recycled which means extracting fewer natural resources from the earth. Creating new paper products from recycled paper means harvesting less trees, and more trees mean cleaner air. Because less energy is required to create new products from recycled materials, less oil, coal and other natural fuel sources are used, as well.

2.  Reduction of Waste

Recycling keeps waste from ending up in landfills where it can take decades upon decades to decompose. The EPA estimates that, in 2013, recycling kept approximately 82 million tons of material out of landfills and prevented nearly 186 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the air.

3. Pollution Protection

Fumes created by incinerating trash reduce air quality, and toxic materials like lead and mercury can leach into soil and water. When people recycle, they help keep these and other pollutants from contaminating air, soil and water.

Visit this website to find a recycling center in Mountain View, and learn how you can help save the environment.

Don’t Forget the Cap

 

A buy back center is the place to go to redeem beverage bottles. Recycling this way is great for the environment and the wallet. Bottle caps also create waste. Don’t forget to collect and turn them in too