DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know there are different ways to handle different waste types? We can’t just bury and burn waste - that would release toxins and pollute the environment! That’s why separating waste at the source is so important, it will help to preserve our environment and keep everyone around us safe and healthy. In the long-term, it can also help to save a lot of costs and lead to more effective waste management, which will benefit our planet.
HERE’S HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR SOME WASTE TYPES TO DECOMPOSE WHEN THEY ARE NOT RECYCLED PROPERLY:
3-4 WEEKS
BANANA PEEL
1 MONTH
PAPER BAG
70-450 YEARS
PLASTIC BOTTLES
1,000,000 YEARS
GLASS BOTTLES
200 YEARS
ALUMINIUM CANS
WHAT ARE THE WASTE TYPES?
ORGANIC
Organic waste, or biodegradable waste, is basically anything that comes from plants or animals. This includes all your leftovers, apple cores, egg shells, flowers, or anything else you might put into a compost pile. Since it’s biodegradable, organic waste breaks down over time, and generates a hug amount of methane - a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to climate change. Organic waste might also contain antibiotics and chemicals that enter the soil and groundwater as it breaks down. This is why organic waste must be carefully managed!
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Did you know you can create nutrient-rich fertilisers by composting? Follow Wastopia for composting tips and create your own fertilisers at home today!
PLASTIC
Not all plastics is created equal.
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Did you ever notice the number by the recycling symbol on plastic bottles?
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#1 P.E.T. plastic bottles have the highest recycling value - these are most commonly found in plastic water/soda bottles and some food packaging. Just remember to rinse out any food residue and dry the plastic items before placing it in the correct recycling bin!
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​Curious about the other plastic categories #2 to #7? Follow Wastopia to find out more!
PAPER
Did you know that over 78% of the Earth’s original old-growth forests have already been logged or degraded? Logging companies are cutting down some of the most endangered forests on the planet to make wood and paper products.
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You can help reduce the pressure on our remaining forests by taking simple steps to reduce your own paper use. For example, use both sides of each piece of paper, use your own cloth bags at the grocery store, use cloth napkins and towels, and avoid use of disposable paper plates and cups.
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Did you know not all types of paper can be recycled?
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Greasy cardboard boxes: Recyclable or not?
Toilet paper: Recyclable or not?
Paper Napkins: Recyclable or not?
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​Follow Wastopia to find out the answer!
GLASS
Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss of quality. Note that even though broken glass can be recycled, it might not be able to return to its previous state, so take care not to break your glass jars!
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​Also, remember not to combine container glass with non-container glass when recycling! Non-container glass, which is glass used for windows, mirrors, etc. is typically treated with chemicals and therefore has a different melting point than, say, a glass bottle. Check out updates on Wastopia for more recycling tips!
METAL
Stayed up watching Netflix with cans of soda? Aluminium is the most recyclable of all materials - it is infinitely recyclable and takes up to 95% less energy to recycle it than to produce primary aluminium, which also limits emissions, including greenhouse gases. Recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours!
Today, about 75% of all aluminium produced in history, equivalent to almost a billion tons, is still in use. Anything made of aluminium can be recycled repeatedly - not only cans, but also aluminium foil, food trays, window frames, automotive components, can you think of anything else?
Check out more fun facts from Moji on Wastopia!
E-WASTE
e-Waste is short for electronic waste - that is, trash generated from broken, obsolete, and surplus electronic devices. Typically these electronics often contain toxic chemicals and hazardous materials. When you do not dispose of these electronics properly, it can cause the release of toxic substances into our environment.
These electronic waste may be in the form of home appliances such as your air conditioners, televisions, electric cookers, heaters, DVDs, fans, microwaves and radios. They may also be in the form of IT equipment such as your computers, laptops, mobile phones, batteries, hard disks, circuit boards and monitors.
You should know that e-waste is quite crucial because electronics have a short useful life. As such, they become electronic waste at a swift pace. e-Waste recycling helps to reuse and reprocess electrical and electronic equipment of any type that has been discarded or regarded as obsolete.
Recycle your old smart phones today!
TOXIC
Toxic or hazardous waste are materials that are either flammable, corrosive, highly reactive or poisonous. As such, they should not be put in the trash. Instead, ask your local waste facilities if they accept toxic waste.
What are examples of toxic waste? Painting products, automotive fluids, fluorescent lights and mercury, sharps and pharmaceutical waste, cleaning products such as bleach, pool and hobby supplies, gardening and farm supplies, can you think of other hazardous waste?
Ask X for more tips on proper toxic waste disposal!
