METHODS OF RECYCLING

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Recycling is a key activity involved in sustainable and environmentally-friendly actions that focus on the creation of a novel functional item, using an existing item that would have otherwise become waste. It hence centers the process of collecting and processing these materials that would have otherwise been discarded as waste material and turning them into new products. 

 BENEFITS OF RECYCLING 

Recycling has a multitude of benefits towards society and the natural environment. It assists in:

• Reducing the quantity of waste in landfills and incinerators 

• Conserving natural resources such as timber and minerals 

• Increasing economic security through using domestic sources of materials 

• Preventing pollution by reducing waste accumulation and the need for new raw materials 

• Saving and conserving energy 

• Supporting local manufacturing and conserving resources 

• Helping create jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries 

 METHODS OF RECYCLING 

Step 1: Collection and Processing 

Persons can begin by collecting recyclable items and materials. This might be achieved through including curb side collection sites, drop-off centres, and 'deposit or refund' programs. Following the collection and accumulation of items, the materials can be sent to proper recovery and recycling facilities to be sorted, cleaned, and processed into materials that can then be used in manufacturing. 

Step 2: Manufacturing 

Contemporary society has seen an increase in environmentally-friendly and economical movements that support sustainability with more businesses opting to manufacture products using recycled content. 

Common household items that might contain recycled materials include the following: 

• Newspapers and Paper products 

• Aluminum, and Glass Containers

• Steel Cans 

• Plastic Bottles and Containers 

Recycled materials are also being used for novel recycling solutions, exemplifies by the use of recovered glass in asphalt to pave roads, in addition to recovered plastic in park benches and other furniture items. 

Step 3: Purchasing New Products Made from Recycled Materials 

Persons can consider supporting these movements by purchasing items made using recycled materials. When shopping, individuals can ensure that they purchase items that can be easily recycled, or that contain recycled content.

Below are some of the terms used to distinguish between recycled-content-based products: 

• Recycled-content product - The product was manufactured with recycled materials either collected from a recycling program or from waste recovered during the normal manufacturing process. The label will sometimes include how much of the content was from recycled materials. 

• Post-consumer content - Very similar to recycled content, but the material comes only from recyclables collected from consumers or businesses through a recycling program. 

• Recyclable product - Products that can be collected, processed and manufactured into new products after they have been used. These products do not necessarily contain recycled materials. 

It is key to note that not all types of recyclable materials may be collected and processed in a given community. It is therefore vital to conduct research and be knowledgeable about local programs and facilities, and be mindful about the purchases and waste disposal methods used.  Some of the common products that can include recycled materials include: 

• Aluminum cans 

• Car bumpers 

• Carpeting 

• Cereal boxes 

• Egg cartons 

• Glass containers 

• Laundry detergent bottles 

• Nails 

• Newspapers 

• Paper Towels 

• Steel products 

If you have any resources on recycling, then please feel free to share them with us!

Sustainable Shifts 2023- Is Cooling The New Warming?

 

IS COOLING THE NEW WARMING?

Climate change and global warming may have been frequented, interchangeable terms that you have heard over the past couple of years. However, do you really have an understanding of these concepts? If an individual remarked “Climate change and global warming are the same!” Would you agree? If you disagreed with this, you would have knowledge on these terms and their importance. However, if you disagreed you may want to stick around to gain some insight into this. In this piece of ‘Sustainable Shifts’ you, the reader would be able to satisfy the question: “Is cooling the new warming?”

Climate change can be defined as the adverse change in the earth’s weather patterns or temperature. For example, you may have noticed that the earth is experiencing drier, dry seasons and wetter, wet seasons. You may be inquisitive to the root of the phenomena, and it is no other than human ways of production and life. Some human production such as manufacturing, transportation, rearing of cows and electricity usage creates an abundance of greenhouse gases.

Essentially, these gases are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, methane amongst a few. These gases trap heat within the earth, which allows for the survival of human life. You may ask yourself what is the issue with this. There is none, when these gases are present in a standard amount. However, in excess it can create a plethora of issues for us in the Caribbean, and the wider globe. 

CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ON THE CARIBBEAN

·  Heavy Rainfall

· Damaged Coral Reefs

·Higher Temperatures

· Warmer Oceans

· Rising Sea Levels

· Increased Droughts

· Increased Wildfires

CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPECTRUM

· Changing Snow Patterns

· Changes in Plant Life Cycles

·  Increased Droughts

· Increased Wildfires

Global warming is where the Earth’s temperature is gradually increased. However, unlike climate change, it is the long-term warming of the planet’s overall temperature. This phenomena is due to an increase in human activity such as Industrialization and fossil fuel combustion. Additionally, global warming can arise naturally through volcanoes, forest fires and water vapour. Essentially, these events produce the greenhouse effect in the Earth’s atmosphere. This effect occurs when the rays of the sun enter the atmosphere, the heat is then reflected. This heat presents itself in this Earth’s atmospheric component as it is unable to return to space.

Global warming arises as the heat from the Earth’s atmosphere, naturally and man-made produced heat are all prevented from escaping. Therefore it is trapped within Earth, allowing excess heat and a rise in the global temperature. Hence, global warming is produced. Like its counterpart climate change, global warming entails serious effects to the Earth.

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING, GLOBALLY.

· Rise in Temperature

· Threats to the Ecosystem

· Climate Change

· Spread of Diseases

· High Mortality Rates

· Loss of Natural Habitat

Fundamentally, climate change refers to changes in weather patterns and growing seasons around the world. Whereas, global warming causes climate change.