When you dump your plastic waste into a waste bin, you most likely believe that it magically gets away from the bin to a bottle depot in Calgary or elsewhere and is recycled, which will turn back into another plastic item and become reusable. Recycling mostly seems essential to prevent waste from being collected into landfills for decades and releasing toxins into the groundwater. Believing all this may be a mistake as it is not often true. Bottle waste can be sent to a return-it bottle depot through bottle drives available.
Myths of plastic recycling
There are many myths that people have put in mind, leading to wrong perception regarding plastic recycling. One should adequately study the mechanism of recycling and then perceive it accordingly.
- Paper and cardboard are always recyclable
Food-grade paper and cardboard cannot be recycled, along with those things that have grease on them. Instead, they are composted.
- All plastic items with recycling signs are recyclable
The number inside the arrow sign represents the type of plastic used to make the item. It is not always crucial that the thing with the symbol is recyclable. Moreover, the items should be at least 3 inches wide and in the shape of a mug, jug, or lid. If the thing says to be compostable, you must do so.
- Paper towels can be thrown into the garbage
All paper towels are compostable, except if it was used for bodily fluid, they should be dumped into the garbage.
- New bottles are made from recycled old water bottles
Most bottles can only be used once because they are converted to carpet and fleece after recycling. Empty bottles can be sent to nearby bottle depots for recycling. This is why reusable bottles are the best option.
- All the caps are recyclable
If the caps are smaller than 3 inches, they must be discarded into the garbage. Any plastic cap that is too small can be mistaken for broken glass pieces and contaminate the recyclables. Plastic bottle caps can be put back on the bottle if that bottle is empty and sent to the bottle depots for recycling.
- Recycling results in water wastage
Recyclable materials need to be dry and empty but not thoroughly washed. If you find any residue on the walls of the container, you may wipe it off with a clean paper towel and rinse it with a small amount of water. Because if any food or liquid gets into the recycling process, it can degrade the materials.
- Sorting is done after dumping
After the waste is put into the garbage container, it is not tossed before it is shipped to the landfill. Not everything is sorted and recycled correctly. Human errors can be made as chip packets can be mistaken with paper for being lightweight. Loose plastic bags or ropes can tangle around the machine and cause it to shut down completely. Bottles alone can be deposited to a bottle depot.
- Only food is compostable
Food is only one of the compostable items. Serviceware such as plates, straws, lids, and utensils are also compostable. You should check any compostable labels on the items before discarding them into the bin.
- All biodegradable things are compostable
Biodegradable means that it can break down with the help of bacteria or other organisms. Just because the items are biodegradable does not mean they can be composted.
- Compostable products can go into the landfills
Compostable products ought to be contaminants in the recycling areas like bottle depots. Compostable items are made from plant fibre and corn, so they cannot be recycled. Avoid throwing them into the garbage because they lack heat and oxygen and do not decompose as they usually do.
Conclusion
Recycling is one of the essential factors affecting the environment. These myths play a critical role in dissuading people from taking part in environmentally friendly tasks. Recycling is easy; hence, there is no reason to refuse to conduct the recycling process by handling your bottle waste at a return-it bottle depot. You should contact a waste management company such as a bottle depot in Calgary or wherever you live, whether you own a home or a business.