One's Waste Another's Treasure !

                                   

On the roads of becoming technologically advanced, we leave behind incredible tonnes of waste both biodegradable and non-biodegradable. According to World Bank, current MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) generation levels are approximately 1.3 billion tonnes per year which are expected to double by 2025. Only 10-20% of the waste is recycled in eco-friendly manner and the rest is allowed to rot in landfills. Such pits being scavenged by hawks and pigs is a common site and many-a-times hazardous chemicals leach out to water bodies eventually leading to bio-magnification and extinctions. Looking at such huge quantities of waste, there is a tremendous scope for devising strategies to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Waste is an indispensable part of our lives but how would it be if it could be used anew.

Nudge the creator in you and carve out teapot covers from rags, veggie bags from jute sacks, envelopes from wedding cards, vase from broken glass, plantings in empty jars and water holders from broken pots.

                                   

Ralph Waldo Emerson described a weed as a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” Old silica gel packets can protect your papery items from moisture and mildew. Cozy mittens of ugly sweaters and cool pajamas from rugged jeans could be your style statement. Peels of papaya and powdered citrus rinds prove to be the best face scrubs. Saris can be made into cushions and soft toys to be sold. Such practices will bring you even closer to nature.     

                                 

“Shop to save money”.

Look for things that will last, things that are not just durable and well-made, but useful and beautiful enough to please you for a long time. Look for stars while buying electronics and appliances and buy products made from post-consumer recycled materials, especially paper and bathroom tissue. PVC pipes can be replaced with jute strings for watering using capillary action saving not only money but also prevents plants from being over watered. Check out for On-Pack Recycling Labeling (OPRL) on the items:

         

 

MOBIUS LOOP indicates that the object is capable of being recycled.

TIDY MAN reminds the owner of the object to dispose it in the most appropriate manner.

 

This identifies the kind of resin used to make the item by providing a ‘Resin Identification Code’. The number between the chasing arrows defines the kind of resin used.

Electrical items with this symbol can be recycled.

The seedling is the registered trademark of the European Bio-plastics.

To be given the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PAPER MERCHANT’s mark, paper or board must be made from minimum of 50%, 75% or 100% genuine waste paper and/or board fiber, no part of which should contain mill produced waste fiber.

This symbol indicated that the object is made up of recyclable steel.

This symbol indicated that the object is made up of recyclable aluminum.

The 3 R’s policy comes hand-in-hand with loads of benefits. Recycling not only saves money but also creates employment. Every ton of paper recycled saves 17 trees ensuring rains and healthier environment for our future generations. Producing recycled steel saves 60%, recycled newspaper 40%, recycled plastics 70% and recycled glass 40%of energy. As per the 2013, UK recycling is estimated to save more than 18 million tonnes of CO2 which is equivalent to taking 5 million cars off road.

So why not step in and alter the situation!!!