« Tell me what you throw in the trash and I’ll tell you who you are ». In times of sustainability, the famous biblical phrase could well win this new version.
This is because much of what we think is “garbage”, in fact, is not so much garbage.
And, let’s face it, it’s about time to change our attitude. And do you know what the first step is for that? The separation of garbage.
Don’t know how to separate the garbage? Smoothly! We are here to explain to you, tim tim by tim tim.
Come and see!
The garbage problem
According to data from the Ministry of the Environment, Brazil recycles only 3% of the waste it produces, that is, practically nothing.
And what’s the problem with that? Many.
First, it is important to understand that there is no such thing as « throwing away » Garbage still exists somewhere on this planet.
(And just a quick and shocking reflection: did you know, for example, that your first toothbrush still exists? Strange to think about it, right?)
Second problem: the garbage that leaves your home does not always go to the best place. It often ends up in the mouth of a wolf, clogging manholes and contributing to floods and environmental pollution.
Third, because even if the garbage receives the correct destination, be it the landfill or a garbage dump (which is the reality in most cities, although it is not the most appropriate solution), this garbage produces toxic gases that are released into the atmosphere contributing with the greenhouse effect.
Not to mention that the leachate produced in these landfills and dumps ends up contaminating the soil and becoming extremely harmful to groundwater, animals and plants.
We can still add to this list the proliferation of insects and rodents, as well as the diseases transmitted by them.
In other words, your garbage is literally your problem, but it ends up being everyone’s problem when it is not treated properly.
How to separate the garbage
Domestic waste can be divided into three groups: organic, recyclable and waste.
Here’s how to separate and dispose of each one correctly:
How to separate organic waste
Organic waste is everything that comes from nature and that can be returned to it through the composting process.
And the best way to do that is betting on the use of a domestic composter. You can buy one ready-made or make it using boxes, buckets and even pet bottles.
At the end of the composting process, you get the best quality fertilizer for your plants.
To properly separate organic waste, keep a trash bin close to you, especially in the kitchen, which can receive all these materials, which will then be placed in the compost bin.
See in the list below everything you can and cannot put in the composter:
What can be put in the composter
- Peel and remains of fruit and vegetables
- Egg shells
- Papers of all types, except those with fat
- Coffee powder
- Garden pruning (leaves, branches and flowers)
- Grains of all kinds (beans, peas, lentils, etc.)
- Teas and tea bags
Avoid the excess of acidic fruits in the compost, as they hinder the composting process.
What cannot be put in the composter
The disposal of the following items makes it difficult or even prevents the natural decomposition process. Another problem is that this type of waste can also end up attracting insects and rodents to the compost.
So don’t put in the composter:
- Leftover food with seasoning, salt, fat and sugar
- Animal feces and urine
- Hair, hair and nails
- Meat and bones of any kind
- Greasy food
- Toilet paper
- Dairy products
How to separate recyclable waste
Recyclable waste is one that has commercial value and can return to the production chain, such as the famous aluminum cans.
And do you remember that scheme of the four bins, one of each color for each type of material? So you don’t need all of that anymore.
To simplify and even encourage recycling, currently only two types of trash are used: organic and recyclable.
This means that with just one trash can you store all your recyclable waste. And how do you know what they are?
Here goes the list:
Materials that can be recycled
- Metal cans (corn, tomato paste, etc.)
- Aluminum cans
- Glasses of all types
- PET packaging, including soda
- Long-life packaging
- Iron
- Papers of all kinds (except those dirty with food scraps, grease and toilet paper)
- Cardboard
And the plastic?
Ah, the plastic! This is a problem!
This is because not all types of plastic are recycled. And how do you know if you can recycle? The tip is to knead.
If it makes a lot of noise (like those with snacks) it is not recyclable. Those that are softer and less noisy (like the rice bag) can be recycled.
But in general, pay attention to this tip: escape the plastic! At all costs and whenever you can.
Prefer glass, paper or tin packaging.
It is impossible to think of a sustainable planet with this amount of plastic being generated and consumed every single day.
Just to give you an idea of the problem, a study recently published in the journal Scientific Reportsmakes an impressive alert.
The organization’s scientists Ocean Cleanup Foundantion discovered a gigantic “island of garbage”, equivalent to twice the territory of France, with more than 80 thousand tons of plastic!
This plastic ends up in the stomach of several marine animals that, when they confuse the material with food, end up dying.
A study released in 2016 by the World Economic Forum in Davos already estimates that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.
This same plastic is already going straight to the water we consume at home.
According to data from the World Health Organization, plastic microparticles have already been detected in drinking water, both from taps and bottled water, in sewage and even in food.
That is, there is a great possibility that you are drinking water contaminated with microplastic at this very moment.
Worse, no one knows for sure what the risks are for human health.
The solution? Rethink habits, reduce consumption and recycle!
What cannot be recycled
See below everything that cannot be sent for selective collection, nor to recycling cooperatives:
- Batteries, batteries and electronic components
- Lamps
- Pizza boxes and ready-to-eat food packaging
- Styrofoam
- Disposable plates, cups and cutlery
- Medicine packaging
- Fabrics of all types
But although many of these items are not recycled, it is important to remember that they also cannot be disposed of in regular rubbish.
Batteries, batteries (notebook, car, cell phone) and electronic components must be disposed of at specific collection points. If in doubt, check with the manufacturer.
The same is true with light bulbs. Some supermarkets offer a collection point. Find out in your city or region.
Styrofoam is hopeless. This is useless after use. Therefore, avoid such packaging.
You don’t even have to say anything about disposables right? Permanently exclude them from your life.
Medicines and their packaging can be taken to pharmacies that have a collection point.
Finally, clothing and fabric scraps can receive two more viable alternatives than garbage: donation (if they are in good condition) and reverse logistics.
Some brands and chains of clothing stores offer a collection point for consumers to properly dispose of items that can no longer be used.
These clothes end up gaining new meaning (they become carpets, for example) or continue for recycling and recovery of fibers, being able to return to the productive chair.
What to put in the trash
And, finally, comes the residual rubbish or common rubbish, which is one that does not fit into any of the other two groups, that is, it cannot be recycled or composted.
Just take a look:
- Disposable diapers and pads
- Adhesive tape and adhesives in general
- Food scraps
- Broken Crockery
- Cigarette Butts
- Toilet paper
- Photos
- Napkin
- Mirrors
And everything else that you don’t realize is neither recyclable nor organic.
Where to send recyclable waste?
Now that you’ve done all the separation of your home’s garbage, the question arises: what to do with it?
If your city offers selective collection, then you have nothing to worry about.
But if that is not your case, that’s fine too, yet there are solutions.
The first is to look for the collectors’ cooperative closest to your home and take your recyclable there.
No cooperative? Then look for those sheds that buy recyclable material.
The problem in this case is that these companies are directed to accept materials with a higher market value and tend to reject those that do not offer profit.
But it is still better than nothing.
Better than recycling is reducing
Recycling is not the most environmentally conscious attitude, it is just a way out when there is no other alternative.
The coolest thing is that you rethink your consumption habits and reduce and refuse everything you can, from the plastic bag from the supermarket to the shoe in the window.
Prioritize quality over quantity.
Your pocket and the environment are grateful!
