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Recycling 101




-- Recycling 101 --

* Today's post was submitted to us via Tiffany Olson, the communications Manager for OptimizeWorldwide (http://optimizehere.co)
Tiffany resides in a small-ish town in the northern portion of California. She loves to travel, to read, to laugh, and to enjoy the beauty of her surroundings. By day she works at a small (but growing) web company. Her job is to educate people on many fun topics including recycling centers in Redding. Isn’t that fun?!


 

I think by now we all know that recycling is important. Our carbon footprint makes a huge impact on our environment, and with limited natural resources, it’s important for us to be good stewards of the world in which we live. Plus, regardless of how socially responsible you are, every day it becomes easier and easier to recycle. Inconvenience is no longer an excuse not to do your part. Recycling containers are typically provided as part of local waste management. Many restaurants, businesses, and public buildings offer easily accessible recycling centers. You don’t have to bend over backwards anymore, and that is great news for our kids and the future generations to follow. If you are new to the game, here are some basic recycling tips we are dubbing “Recycling 101.”



1) Reduce

Not everything can be recycled. We understand. Modern life must continue. We can however, reduce waste and overuse, particularly with products that cannot be recycled. The West is characterized by extreme overconsumption, and this paradigm must be shifted if we are to see lasting results. For those things you simply must consume, be proactive in seeking out well-designed, efficient products and services. Next, play your part in progress by investing in companies that are environmentally responsible.



2) Reuse

Many things we toss out every day can are being abandoned with plenty of miles left in the tank. Find your own personal uses for would previously have qualified as “waste.” Jump online to find a multitude of alternative uses for anything you can think of. Remember, it’s a joint effort! No one is asking you to save the world all by your lonesome. All you can do is play your part.

3) Recycle
After you’ve reduced your consumption and reused to the max, bring your recyclable material to a local recycling center. This may require a bit of research on your part. It’s important to know what can and cannot be recycled, and this can vary from center to center. Recycling centers are not a charity; they have to be able to sustain their operations, so do your best to make it easy on them by bringing only these items that can, in fact, be recycled. Again, this should be relatively easy to accomplish with an online search and a quick phone call.



4) Buy Recycled Products

Unfortunately, there is no point in recycling if no one is willing to buy recycled products. Thankfully, we now have many recycling technologies in place that allow for recycled products of even higher quality than their non-recycled counterparts. This certainly isn’t always the case, and you will have to do your homework. No one is asking you to purchase worthless junk just because it has a recycled sticker slapped on it. Use the recycling community to find high quality producers and manufacturers from which you can purchase outstanding recycled products.



5) Recycle Your Water

A lot of people overlook this aspect, and it might just be the most important. Try things like rearranging your plumbing so that rainwater or waste water from your shower and tub is used to flush your toilet. Use less water for daily activities like showering, brushing your teeth, and cooking. If possible, buy water and energy efficient appliances. If you keep it on your mind, you’ll be surprised at how often you can conveniently restrict your water usage and make a huge difference in the process.



We hope these basic tips help get you started. Welcome to the Earth-saving club!



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