Guide to Recycling of Wastes and Advantages of Recycling
Recycling of wastes is one of the methods of disposing wastes in waste management practice.
Recycling of wastes
Recycling refers to the re-use of waste materials. Recycling is a method of processing used materials so as to convert them into new products.
Recycling starts with the collection of the waste materials, separation and clean- up of the wastes.
The collection of wastes vary from place to place and it also depends on the general composition of the wastes. The collection of wastes may be carried out separately from general waste or sorted out directly from mixed wastes. Generally, the main methods of waste collection are: Drop-off centres, Buy-back centres and Curbside collection.
Read Also: Complete Steps in Glass Recycling Guide
The recycling process involves passing the cleaned waste materials through a system that enables the material to be re-used.
Wastes that are commonly recycled, include:
- Different types of glass bottles and jars
- Paper products such as newspapers, magazines, paperboard cartons, cardboards, corrugated fiberboard boxes, etc
- Metal such as beverage cans, aerosol cans, food cans, aluminum, copper wire, zinc, lead, metal furnishings or equipments, etc
- Plastic materials especially thermoplastics the easiest to recycle because they melt when heated and can be remoulded
- Textile materials
- Electronic materials such as computers and electronic equipment
- Energy from wastes can be harnessed by converting them directly to fuel through combustion or by processing into another type of fuel or source of fuel
Biological Reprocessing
Biological composting and digestion processes are used to recycle organic wastes such as plant materials, food scraps, etc. The biological decomposition is used in the management of organic wastes by controlling and accelerating the natural process of decomposing organic materials.
The biological method of decomposition of organic wastes is either aerobic or anaerobic.
Read Also: Advantages of Waste Recycling
Advantages of Recycling
- New products are obtained.
- Wastage of potentially useful materials is prevented
- Volume of waste materials is reduced
- Air and water pollution is reduced
- Provides new sources of fuel
- Saves energy
- Saves money.
In conclusion, recycling of wastes is a very important method of waste management in which waste are converted into new useful products.
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