reduce … reuse … recylce …

Someone recently asked me if they could recycle meat trays. Here is a brief look at recycling - or you can look here. that covers meat trays.

What can you put in your yellow bin?

Most councils recycle 1-3 and many recycle the full range. The materials that are accepted depends on the waste recycling contractor and facilities that the materials are taken to.  

PET   Polyethylene terephthalate - Fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal trays

   HDPE  High-density polyethylene - Bottles for milk and washing-up liquids.

   PVC  Polyvinyl chloride - Food trays, cling film, bottles for squash, mineral water and shampoo.

   LDPE  Low density polyethylene - Carrier bags and bin liners.

   PP  Polypropylene - Margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays.

   PS  Polystyrene - Yoghurt pots, foam meat or fish trays, hamburger boxes and egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys.

   OTHER  Any other plastics that do not fall into any of the above categories. - An example is melamine, which is often used in plastic plates and cups, nylon and acrylic.

One thing that had stood out to me while doing my PDC is that people today often use the 3-R’s to justify products in the consumer world. REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE! Which is great to do generally, but I think that society relies too heavily on Recycling and not a lot on Reuse or Reduce.

A word of encouragement - Reuse and Reduce, before you Recycle. GO GREENER!

Just a scary piece for you: The United Nations report: Contaminated water now kills more people than all forms of violence including wars http://on.cnn.com/doETH7