The things that are new to us and the concepts we find hard to fathom often raise to misconceptions. Not many people are aware about the simplicity of recycling. They are either misinformed or have very little knowledge about recycling. As a result, they are unable to adapt recycling in their life as an important and essential custom.
The recycling methods have advanced and the techniques have changed. If you are not aware of these changes then you will make several wrong decisions while recycling. Knowledge and correct information should be your guide when you start walking on the path of recycling. In the following, some common recycling myths have been busted and mistakes have been sorted for your help.
A single person is all it takes
Most people have a wrong attitude towards recycling. They avoid it thinking that the good works done by one person cannot bring major changes. The truth is that your attempts and endeavors can inspire ten more people. You should try to set example for others by adapting recycling as a part of your lifestyle. Your friends and colleagues and more may follow suit. Each person you inspire will motivate many others and make recycling a habit.
No need of sorting
Several recyclers believe that they need to sort the scrapped items by hand before throwing them into separate bins for plastic caps, bottles and papers. The truth is that most of the modern recycling plants use single stream recycling system which sorts out the different materials on its own. So, you can throw plastic cans and bottles with the cap on in the same bin as paper bags.
Throwing plastic bags into recycling bins
It is a great mistake to throw the plastic bags into the recycling bins. The recycling plants do not want plastic bags because there is not much they can do with the wet and unclean bags. If you want to recycle the plastic bags then keep them clean and dry. Collect lots of bags and then give them to the local grocers for reuse.
Landfills are not harmless
Not many urban dwellers recognize the adverse effects of landfills on our society and surrounding environment. The landfills emit harmful toxins and gases that pollute the air, groundwater and soil. This can lead to severe health disorders in humans and animals that live near such areas. Landfills occupy too much space and the gases emitted in these areas make it difficult to breathe. Recycling is the only way of tackling this problem.
Learn to read recycling symbols
Lack of knowledge about the recycling symbols make people believe that they can recycle about anything. The truth is that despite of the presence of the recycling symbol some items can be difficult to recycle. Check the number inside the recycling symbol to find out if it can actually get recycled. In US, only the items with recycling numbers 1 and 2 can be recycled.
Biodegradable wastes also need recycling
People interested in recycling also make the mistake of believing that the biodegradable waste need not be recycled. The truth is far different from this misconception. The biodegradable wastes emit methane and carbon dioxide, two of the biggest culprits in Green House emissions. They are harmful for the environment. By recycling this sort of waste, we can prevent these gases from mingling with the air.
Recycling is very tough
Well, there is toil behind every successful and good job but when it comes to recycling your toil amounts to nothing more than throwing the recyclables into the recycling bins. The local recycling plants collect the wastes once every week.
Summary
The recycling misconceptions are stopping people from taking part in it and recycling scrapped materials. Knowledge and awareness are the only weapons for breaking the taboos.
