It wasn’t that long ago that when we had unwanted wrappings or something had broken we would say ’just throw it away’
However there is no such place as ‘away’. We only have one earth and everything we produce stays here. All the waste we create, everything we want to throw ‘away’ stays on our earth.
Nature is a great recycler, leaves from trees, animal droppings, branches, feathers, seeds, fruit and nut fall all return to earth creating good organic matter to feed the next generation of plants that then feed the animals and so the cycle repeats itself.
However humans have created a big problem not only for themselves but more importantly for the earth on which we live. We have created, plastics and chemicals and all sorts of things that do not decompose. We also use lots of packaging to wrap and rewrap, small containers for ‘individual serves’ and many of us buy most of our food prewrapped and pre-packaged from a supermarket.
The world is currently using 1.5 times more resources that we have on earth and the average Australian has a footprint of 3.5 earths. The reduced average for the world population is only because millions of the world’s people are poor and do not have access to their fair share.
There are many things you can do to support your whole service community to recycle right.
However, we should first reduce our need to recycle.
- Reflect – do really I need to buy it? Can I reuse or repurpose something I already have? Do I just need to use it occasionally? Maybe a friend or family member has one I can share?
- Respect – has the product been produce in an environmentally sustainable way? Is it made locally? Is it made in Australia? Can I purchase the product without packaging?
- Reuse – before recycling try swapping and giving away items you no longer need or use? Consider other ways you can use the item?
- Repurpose – can I use this somewhere else? Some old furniture just needs a bit of attention and can be remodelled?
- Refuse –unnecessary packaging especially plastic
- And then
- Recycle – learn how to recycle right. Your local council website will assist with recycling in your area.
Recycle mobile phones:
Mobile phones are not biodegradable and should not been thrown in the bin as they contain small amounts of potentially harmful substances which, if not managed properly, may harm the environment
One tonne of mobile phone circuits can yield the same amount of precious metals as 110 tonnes of gold ore, 123 tonnes of silver bearing ore and 11 tonnes of copper sulphide ore
You can be a collection point and help families and staff recycle right. Check the link below.