Recycling is good for the environment, it seems like an obvious thing, right? However, many people fail to understand this concept and while they know that recycling is beneficial, they don’t know why, or how they can incorporate it into their daily lives.
The Australian National Waste Report 2016 identifies that Australia produced approximately 64 million tonnes of waste in 2016 and with our population constantly growing, the amount of waste we produce will only increase. So, this begs the question, what more can we be doing to protect our environment and earth?
What is recycling?
Recycling is the process of breaking down and re-using materials, otherwise known as rubbish. There are so many positives involved with recycling and it not only benefits the environment but also our economy.
Why is recycling important?
Three words: environment, economy and community. Awareness and education play a significant role in recycling, and it is our duty to stand together as a community to spread the word about the importance of recycling and making it a habit. Our society and technology are evolving along with our average income and wealth. This means that people are buying more products and in turn, ultimately creating more waste. A variety of products such as plastic packaging, batteries and glass products are non-biodegradable. Consequently, our environment is taking the brunt of damage from non-biodegradable trash as harmful chemicals and greenhouse gasses being released from rubbish and landfill sites due to people’s lack awareness with recycling.
How can you help?
It’s not too late to help fix this. There are multiple things that can be done in the quest for a greener future. First of all, it might be hard to believe but recycling can be fun. Make it creative and get your kids involved. Do a personal audit and take a week to monitor how much waste you are creating then develop a plan. Colour the bins, decorate them, do whatever you think is necessary and then set up a reward system for your kids to incentivise them to contribute. You can also get involved and join local recycling programs.
On the 1st November 2018, Containers for Change launched Return-It QLD which encourages the community to drop their eligible containers to local Depot and Express sites in return for 10 cents. This is great way to start your recycling journey and even get something in return.
Visit www.containersforchange.com.au to register for a containers for change ID and find your nearest Return-It QLD Depot or Express site to get involved!