Recycledinc's Blog

Recycling of home materials may seem a bit daunting at first – but never fear…if my 3-year-old can do it, so can you.  Here are a few guidelines to help you get started.  I got this info from www.sustainable.co.za which offers containers for recycling. 

If like me, you don’t have the cash to buy these nice containers then use a cardboard box or any container you can get your hands on.  Just mind broken glass and other breakables. 

Determining which household materials are eligible for recycling and how to prepare them for recycling is another commonly cited stumbling block in the path of recycling home waste. Sustainable breaks it down for you:

Recycling paper:

1. Newspapers should be kept separate from magazines, glossy paper, paper packaging and envelops – which can all be stored in the same bin

2. It’s not necessary to remove stables from paper publications before recycling, but you should take remove all elastic bands and plastic wrapping

3. Corrugated cardboard is a valuable recycling material, but you need to keep it dry for maximum recycling value

Recycling plastic:

1. Most supermarkets have bins or containers where you can deposit plastic shopping bags for recycling

2. Only certain types of plastic can be recycled, plastic #5, which is used in packaging for margarine, yoghurt and vitamins and is also used in bottle tops, is very difficult to recycle, so it is better to keep them for reuse.

3. #1 PET plastic, which is used in most plastic bottles, is easily recyclable, it is most often used to make fleece fabric for snug, warm winter tops and robes

4. #7 plastic is not recyclable, while polystyrene (#6 plastic) is not biodegradable and is only accepted at certain recycling points

Recycling glass:

1. Before you recycle glass, it’s important that you separate it according to colour: green, brown and clear

2. There is no need to remove the paper labels 3. Light bulbs, sheet glass and mirrors should be kept in a different recycling bin to other glass products, such as jars and bottles

Recycling metal:

1. Food cans can be recycled, but recycling centres prefer that you remove the labels and flatten them as much as possible

2. Aluminum cans (cold drink and beer cans) are favoured recycling materials, and unlike food cans should be left as intact as possible – no unnecessary flattening

3. Tin foil can be recycled to make engine parts

4. Copper is entirely recyclable

5. Aerosol cans, can also be recycled, but it’s necessary to keep the separate from other recycling materials and to leave the labels on so that the contents are easily discernible. Lids should also be left in place.

Once you put your mind to it, and decide to live life as environmentally aware as possible, recycling becomes easier. And with home recycling bins and containers from Sustainable.co.za, correctly separating your recyclable materials is a cinch. Place your order now and start recycling up to 70% of your household waste.

Just incase you make use of our BCM refuse collection services, I’ve uploaded a collection schedule I received via email.  However with the current municipal strike, I wouldn’t count on the refuse been collected.

Also some interesting Do & Don’t have been included, such as a maximum of 2 refuse bags per household.  I did not know that!  All the more reason to recycle and keep your town clean 🙂

Cooking oil and other natural oils can be easily reused to make soaps or deposit in your compost heep, motor oil and other lubricants on the other hand are a different story…

We have found someone to help you with that!

ROSE Foundation
Suite A, 9 Waverley Court
7 Kotzee Road
Mowbray
7700
Western Cape
South Africa

Tel: 021 448 7492
Fax: 021 448 7563
Email: usedoil@iafrica.com
Website: http://www.rosefoundation.org.za
Contact: Raj Lochan

The ROSE Foundation manages the environmentally acceptable collection, storage and recycling of used lubricating oil throughout South Africa. For used oil collections, call 0800 107 107.

What to do with stuff you can't reuse at home

Within recent weeks, Eskom has been hosting light bulb exchange tables at various Spar’s around East London.  The obvious purpose would be to roll out energy saving Compact flourescent Lights (CFL) to help with their power shortage, however a less obvious purpose is the proper disposal of the old light bulbs.

Light bulbs have a number of chemicals used to make to unit what it is.  The main chemical of concern is mercury.  Mercury is a naturally occurring metal, however in very small doses, classed as a heavy metal, mercury, is very poisonous and once in the soil, takes years to be absorbed. 

Eskom’s drive highlights the need for proper disposal of light bulbs, which many of us take for granted.  With separation at the source, Eskom encourages consumers to dispose of bulbs at bulb collection points.

Currently Woolworths and Pick ‘n Pay offer bulb collection points.  Also contact your local council for other options.  I have also seen a collection box for batteries at the Beacon Bay Pick ‘n Pay store.

source – Eskom – CFL Implementation Guideline

Due to the nature of the chemical and other materials used in the manufactering and production of printer toner cartridges, we cannot safely use the units for project purposes.

BUT WAIT! – we found a solution for you that will not only benefit the environment, it’ll help your pocket as well.

Incredible Connection is running a recycling inititave, you bring your old cartridges and they give you cash back on your next purchase.  Impressive and a good way to start a trend of recycling hazardous materials!

Please do send us your toner packaging if you don’t need it, it has proved very useful 🙂

Contact your nearest branch for further details or log onto www.incredible.co.za