| Plastic has become such a regular part of our lives | | | | arrows. Plastics that have numbers 1 or 2 can be |
| that we hardly notice anymore how much we | | | | recycled. These plastics are called Polyethylene |
| make use of it every single day. But look around | | | | Terephthalate (beverage bottles, medicine |
| you and you will see that a big percentage of the | | | | containers, boil-in-bag pouches, and oven-ready |
| things in your home and in your office are made | | | | food trays) and High Density Polyethylene (milk |
| of plastic. | | | | bottles, grocery bags, cleanser containers, and |
| If you are not environmentally conscious, you will | | | | trash bags) respectively. |
| probably not be alarmed by this fact but if you | | | | 3. Give that plastic a bath |
| only know the possible potent damage that | | | | Make sure you clean and rinse all plastic bags and |
| improper disposal of plastics can do to the | | | | containers before recycling to avoid any |
| environment and for humanity in general, you will | | | | contaminants going into the recycling process. This |
| be definitely be worried. | | | | makes it easier for the recycling plant to undergo |
| For one, plastics are non-biodegradable and they | | | | reprocessing of the plastic material. |
| take up a lot of space in landfills. Imagine, many | | | | 4. Discard lids and caps |
| years from now when landfills are overflowing | | | | Remove caps and lids from containers and |
| with plastic that it's possible to have a flashflood | | | | bottles. Sure, they look the same but these things |
| of plastic and other types of garbage. Moreover, | | | | are made from a different type of plastic and |
| production of plastic emits harmful greenhouse | | | | mixing them with the bottle or container can ruin |
| gases into the air that cause global warming. | | | | the recycling process or make it difficult for the |
| This is why, recycling plastic is very essential. If | | | | recycling plant. |
| you are not yet recycling plastic in your home, | | | | 5. Don't leave anything behind |
| now is the time to do it. Here are some tips on | | | | Check the items and see if the containers are |
| how to have a more effective plastic recycling | | | | empty. It's important to do this because plastic |
| program. | | | | containers that have things in them can be |
| 1. Sort, sort and sort | | | | rejected by the recycling facility. |
| Because there are so many types of plastics, it is | | | | 6. Squash and squeeze |
| important that you are able to classify them | | | | Squash plastic containers carefully before bringing |
| accordingly to its type so you know which ones | | | | them to the recycling station to help with the |
| will go into your recycling bin and which ones | | | | recycling process because compressed plastics |
| should be reused for other purposes. | | | | take up less space in the recycling boxes. |
| 2. What's the number? | | | | Using plastic is not a crime (although avoiding it |
| Again, there are many types of plastic and not all | | | | can really be great). However, it is important to |
| these are recyclable. To know which ones can be | | | | bear in mind that we should always be responsible |
| recycled, check the number inside the recycling | | | | when disposing or recycling it. |