60 August 2013 www.womanthismonth.com LIFESTYLE | how to Do you do your part in saving our natural resources? It’s never too late to start making an effort. The practice needs to begin at home. The clean up act With the endless number of campaigns that cross your path, it would be redundant to explain the significance of recycling. Nevertheless, many of us do not take it seriously. This is perhaps because people consider this practice to be strenuous, when it really isn’t anything more than organising skills. So here’s what we can do within our limits to save the planet. Paper and cardboard: l Stack old newspapers together as they go back directly into newsprint recycling. l Magazines, glossy flyers, newspaper inserts, phone books, envelopes, computer paper, old letters and paper packaging can go into one bin. While staples are excused, rubber bands and plastic wraps aren’t. l Carbon paper, stickers, cardboard, laminated paper and cardboard will not go into this bin. l Bale cardboard together and tie it with string for curb side collectors. Make sure they are dry as coated, wet or greasy ones clog recycling machines. Plastic You already know this, but we have to say it again: Plastic does not break down! On a brighter note, it can be converted into many diverse products. Make the effort to collect and recycle it. This is perhaps the trickiest product to salvage. l Learn the numbers assigned to different plastic goods and find out which of these are accepted by local recycling centres. Store them accordingly. l Remove tops of bottles. Reuse grocery bags and containers. Reduce the use of polystyrene (cups, food trays, egg cartons, etc). Glass l Now this one’s easy-peasy. Glass containers are separated by colour: clear, green and brown. You can leave the paper labels on. l Keep light bulbs, glass sheets, mirrors and pyrex separately. Aluminium, steel and copper l Rinse food cans and remove their lids and labels before storing them. l Foil packaging can be reprocessed into mechanical components like engine parts! l Paint and aerosol cans, though recyclable, are considered hazardous. Store them separately as well, with the labels this time. l Copper and its alloys, brass and bronze, are 100 per cent recyclable. Electronic goods l Got extra computers, printers and hardware? Pass it on! You might think no one will take old gadgets, but you’ll be surprised with the response. l Cell phones and rechargeable batteries are being collected by several corporate firms and non-profit organisations. Do some research; find out which cause suits you best. Local projects Bahrain Recycling Plant: In 1980, Khamis Al Mulla established Al Raefa Scrap Trading Co with the primary objective of general trading of metal and secondary aim of handling plastic and other composite material. He Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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