Posted on 15th August 2017 by Hintons
Businesses and homeowners continually try to make sustainable changes to their daily routines. From the products that they buy to the methods of waste disposal they implement, there is a growing focus on being as environmentally-friendly as possible.
Recycling and composting are two simple ways in which people across the country can give something back to the environment. But exactly why is recycling and composting important? That’s what we’re looking at in this article.
Rely less on raw materials
The more we recycle, the less reliant we become on raw materials. Recycling the waste generated both in the home and in the workplace means new products can be made sustainably, instead of using non-renewable resources that need to be mined and processed. Not everything can be recycled, and not everything can be made with recycled materials, but as we adopt a recycling routine we contribute to the overall sustainability of the environment.
Avoid the landfill
Waste thrown into the general rubbish bin isn’t recycled, instead it ends up at one of the many growing landfill sites across the country. Current landfill sites are filling up, and space for new sites is limited. That’s one of the reasons why it’s important we move away from the landfill solution for biodegradable waste; this is where composting comes in.
There are numerous waste items – food waste in particular – that are better served in the compost heap than the landfill. Composting cuts down on the emissions of harmful greenhouse gases, such as methane, generated by landfills and helps to reduce the amount of unnecessary dumping. In time, this can reduce the amount and size of landfills in the UK.
Saving energy
Both composting and recycling saves energy, in more ways than you might expect. With fewer waste items being taken to the landfill, less energy and fuel is required for transportation and processing. From the production side, creating products using recycled materials uses substantially less energy than using raw materials. As recycling becomes more commonplace and accessible, this will start to have a significant positive impact on the environment.
Protect the environment
The greatest benefit of the recycling and composting process is the effect they have on the environment. Global warming is a growing threat, but by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through composting and removing unnecessary waste from landfills, we can prevent harmful gases from escaping into the atmosphere.
Composting in your garden or community allotment not only helps to cut down on methane emissions, but also improves the quality of your soil – and thus your garden plants. This can ultimately lead to efficient removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – an essential aspect when it comes to fighting global warming.
Recycling reduces the reliance on raw materials during the production and manufacturing process, and this naturally lowers the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and energy used. Water and air pollution is also diminished, leading to a healthier, more sustainable environment overall.
So why is recycling and composting important?
Implementing and maintaining a recycling and composting programme throughout your home, business or community can have a healthy influence on our environment. For businesses, embedding this focus on recycling deep into the culture of the company will have maximum effect. It can improve customer and employee relations as well as help to increase the value of your brand.
But the potential for a sustainable future through recycling cannot be understated, and it is this potential that makes recycling and composting so worthwhile.
Here at Hinton’s Waste, we are committed to providing professional recycling and waste management services across London and Croydon. Whether it’s general domestic or commercial construction or demolition waste, we aim to dispose of everything we collect in the most environmentally friendly manner possible. We also provide licensed hazardous waste handling for completely safe disposal. For more information, simply contact our friendly team today.