Why should or shouldn't you recycle?

Answer 1

"Recycle" covers a lot of activities. Giving away an old child safety seats to new parents is recycling, so is returning waste metal for re-smelting. Some of these are good others not. Recycling in general conserves energy, raw materials and reduced pollution. Recycling is bad if the new use is unsafe or environmentally unsupportable. Sometimes the collection of materials to be recycled can give rise to more problems than the recycling solves.

A few examples of recycling and other disposal:

a) Goods which no longer meet safety standards

Sporting goods and child safety equipment are subject to changing safety regulations. Unless the equipment meets the newest standards and is certified to be in good shape do not recycle it as a product (reuse) rather recycle it as plastic and metal

b) Pharmaceuticals

Never recycle unused or out of date pharmaceuticals. Do not flush them away either. Return them to the local pharmacy for appropriate disposal

c) Paints

Dispose as hazardous waste if not recycled. Can be sold or reused for the original purpose

d) Metals and glass

Easily recycled. However, some metals like Mercury are toxic. Dispose of as hazardous waste - perhaps at the local high school or through the fire department

e) Building materials

Board, bricks, clean rubble - no problems

f) Pressure containing equipment

Do not recycle Scuba tanks, propane cylinders without pressure recertification. Do not dispose of spray paint cans with trash. Spray paint can be recycled for the original purpose

g) Freon containing equipment

Freon containing appliance (air conditioners and refrigerators) can be reused for the purpose intended but no put out for general disposal. Freon is a CFC and a strong greenhouse gas which must be collected for recovery

h) Explosives

For fireworks, ammunition, souvenir hand grenades and similar, advise the local police and follow directions for pick up and disposal