To celebrate National Recycling Week in October, we asked you to submit your top recycling and sustainability tips. Here’s a quick roundup of our favourites from your submissions. Be sure to give it a read (you might just learn something useful!).
Conscious Consumerism - Pauline DC
"Committing to conscious consumerism has helped me to work towards a sustainable lifestyle. This means, responsible consumption and disposal of goods that come into and leave my home.
Did you know that UK shops which sell or provide 32kg of batteries away per year are required to have battery recycling collection points? This makes supermarkets and tech stores safe bets for places you can safely dispose of your used batteries. They have to take back any kind of sealed battery that isn’t overly heavy, which means you can even take laptop batteries and mobile phone batteries to these collection points, but don’t take car batteries there, they won’t take those. Batteries are laden with heavy metals - never throw them in the rubbish bin. Switch to rechargeable batteries if you can.
Recycling tech responsibly prevents the loss of precious metals and extra waste in landfills. Old mobile phones that can not be traded in at your mobile phone dealer are often accepted by local charities which sell them to benefit that charity or are refurbished and given to someone who desperately needs one. Don’t forget to do a factory reset before donating.
Remember that the words "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" are intentionally ordered that way because we should prioritise the reduction of consumption as our primary way of lowering our carbon footprint. Once goods are purchased, reuse should be our secondary action, to further reduce the need to manufacture new goods and lastly “recycling” fights pollution and excess waste in landfills. For example, I might upcycle an old sheet by dyeing it a new colour and turning it into a curtain. I’ve reduced my consumption by re-using an item I already had. I might ultimately recycle the curtain through textile recycling.
There’s an old saying that goes “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” which I find motivating. It’s led me to find creative ways to decrease consumption by stretching the lifespan of goods I already own. For example, I’ve learned how to darn holes in fabric, which has led to a new hobby, invisible mending. Invisible mending inspires people to fix holes in clothing by creating interesting patches and darned fixes that stand out, rather then blend in. I have some canvas shoes that were red, but now have fun yellow thread woven into them. There are plenty of online tutorials, just search for “Visible Mending” and / or “Darning”. Bonus points (and saved money) if you obtain things second-hand."
Repair and Improve - Brian
"If you've already committed to throwing something away (as opposed to donating), take a shot at repairing or improving it, as long as you don't expect to make more trash if your upgrade plan fails.
Shoe sole fell apart? See if you can find the same sole online and some shoe glue and watch a short video on how to apply the glue.
Smartphone screen broke? You might be able to put it in a small, ventilated box, connect it to a monitor with a USB-C-to-DP cable, add a keyboard/mouse, and then you have a dedicated workstation for some of your hobbies, like recording music or surface-mount soldering.
Elbow worn on a shirt? Cut the sleeves and sew as a short-sleeve shirt.
Consider posting electronic waste---disassembled and very clearly marked as "for replacement parts"---on an auction or neighborhood trade website. You never know when someone needs a wifi card, left speaker, heatsink, panel support bracket, barrel jack, or random part that they could take in working condition from your otherwise broken item!"
A Holistic Approach - Michael Hartland
"I think the biggest mistake people make when approaching recycling and sustainability is taking an individualized approaching rather than a Holistic approach.
I know I did!
In fact, up until the first public Lockdown, I didn't think much beyond making sure I put the right sort of bottles in the right recycling bins.
But since we've started making changes Inside AND outside the home, our food waste, Electricity use and heat loss have reduced dramatically.
The first step was the raised Vegetable Bed. Using Soil from a patio project and local manure, as well as some unwanted railway sleeper posts, we were able to construct our own healthy, organic and productive food source, just as the first food shortages were starting to kick in. Simultaneously, we were starting to compost our existing suitable food and garden waste. This ensured we had a steady food source to complement our existing supply after just 2 and a half months. It has also encouraged growing numbers of hedgehogs, Foxes, and Garden birds to visit, and the garden feels alive!
While we weren't able to have Solar Panels installed during the pandemic (approved engineers have to connect the wall battery and energy source to the grid), we now have electricity storage, Solar panels, and a way of combatting rising electricity prices, as well as being a contributor of green energy, rather than a drain of fossil fuels.
We hope to have a heat pump installed before Christmas. In the meantime, smart meters and usage monitors have helped us cut down on electricity waste within the home. Due to our measures, we have only had to use central heating for 5 days this year. After we install improved insulation in the surround of the Conservatory bay window (this will have to wait until spring of next year, as 3 days of dry weather is required for the removal of exterior wall and installation) we hope to reduce it even further.
In summation, where we have now moved to a sustainable mentality, further actions now seem like a natural progression that doesn't require an active change of focus. Rather than trying to institute a piecemeal strategy that requires the constant return of thought and attention."