Recycling helps the environment. When you recycle it reduces the need for raw materials to be harvested or mined, meaning that fewer habitats are destroyed and that our globe’s finite resources aren’t further depleted. Recycling also helps businesses and individuals save energy, as it takes far less power to manufacture with recycled sourced materials than it does using new ones. This can help reduce the planet’s carbon emissions, which is essential in combating climate change.

The issue with recycling is that there are still certain products and materials that people are unsure of whether they can or can’t be recycled. Most are aware that clear plastic, cardboard, metals such as aluminum, and glass can be recycled, but what happens when you come across a product that is made up of more than one of those things, or features a component that isn’t recycle-friendly. Here’s a nifty article to help you figure out what you can and can’t recycle, to make you far more effective at it.

Styrofoam

Styrofoam is by far one of the most commonly found materials that people can’t recycle. This is because it’s made out of polystyrene, which isn’t biodegradable and can’t be broken down to be reused. It’s a shame that Styrofoam can’t be recycled, because it’s one of the leading materials found in landfill and in polluted areas meaning that it’s significantly damaging wildlife.

The best way to avoid the devastating effects Styrofoam can have on the environment is to avoid using it altogether. Many businesses have instead shifted to using cardboard containers to help make their output eco-friendlier.

Textiles

Fabrics are a material that actually can be recycled and reused, meaning that old clothes, cloths, trainers, and other products made with the material can be processed and recycled to create more sustainable clothes.

However, despite how there is the ability to recycle textiles, doing so still involves consuming energy. Instead, a great energy free way of making use of unwanted clothing and materials is to donate them at the charity store, or to try and sell these clothes online to people who want them. This will allow them to continue to be used and avoid having them end up in landfill.

Bubble Wrap

Many people know that the majority of clear plastic can be recycled, however, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Despite being clear and light, bubble wrap is one example of clear plastic that actually should not be placed in a recycling bin. This is because the plastic used to make this material is very thin, meaning that the films can tangle in the recycling machines. Some recycling plants do take bubble wrap, but you’ll have to take it there directly, and ensure that they have the best recycling machines from recyclingbalers.com.

Compost

Compost is an organic matter that has been broken down and is used in farming to help crops and vegetables grow. Due to it being organic, there’s not too much harm in allowing this material to enter the environment, however, it’s far better to recycle this material, so that it can be reused in agriculture at a much cheaper price than creating compost from scratch.