More and more people carry out separate collection , a good practice that aims to divide recyclable waste from that which must be disposed of in landfills, plants with a strong environmental impact. In doing so, a reduction in the quantity of materials destined for landfills is obtained and everything that can be recycled has new life by transforming itself into new objects. Obviously, to make all this possible, there must be cooperation between the public administration, which must guarantee the presence of a program, ecological operators, structures and plants for recycling.and waste treatment, and citizens, who must make every effort to carry out separate collection. But we are sure that it is always done in the correct way.
As simple and obvious as it may seem, in fact, there are many mistakes that are made . In this article we will try to provide you with a brief guide on how to do the right sorting, but first let’s try to better understand what it is and why it is important to do it.
Index
- Separate collection: what it is and what it is for
- Where is it thrown away and what goes into the plastic
- Where does it go and what goes into the glass
- Where does it go and what goes into the paper
- Where do they go and what goes into the metals
- Where is it thrown away and what goes into the wet
- Where is it thrown away and what goes into the undifferentiated
- And the other types of waste
Separate collection: what it is and what it is for
Every day, in our homes, we produce a large amount of waste. Our duty, as citizens, is to separate them in the correct way by making separate collection, thus distinguishing between the materials that must be recycled and those that must be disposed of. The former can be recovered and given new life, while the latter are destined for landfills or incinerators. But why it is important to separate
waste Waste is a high source of pollution, so the more we produce the more we contaminate the environment. But, thanks to separate collection, we can make our contribution by recycling them: what is old can be transformed into something new.
An alternative to the classic and easier, but also more polluting waste disposal that causes greenhouse gas emissions. This implies the use of fewer landfills and waste treatment facilities, but above all greater savings and an efficient use of raw materials to be used for new productions. But how to do it correctly
In reality there is no real rule for separate collection as it can vary from municipality to municipality. In fact, good advice is to visit your country’s website to learn the guidelines.
However, in 2017, the UNI 11686 standard was published, whose purpose is to standardize and facilitate collection at a national level, proposing colors, symbols and indications to distinguish the bins. But for those who do not yet have it, you can find on the market different types of differentiated dustbin with one or more compartments, large or small, for indoors or outdoors, to facilitate collection. In addition, each waste also has its own bag: transparent plastic bags for plastic, paper bags for paper and biodegradable bags for waste. The glass, on the other hand, must be thrown into the bells. But let’s go deeper into the topic and see how to do the right sorting and some tips for recycling correctly. Where is it thrown away and what goes into the plastic
Surely plastic is among the waste we produce the most, but also among the most recyclable ones. In fact, it can be reused to create: clothes, containers, glasses and so on. According to the UNI 11686 standard, the plastic must be thrown in the yellow container or in transparent plastic bags. We can throw ourselves:
- plastic bottles, caps and bags
- the yoghurt pots
- the packaging of pasta, snacks and candies
- bags of chips or pretzels
- packets of coffee
- bottles of detergents or hygiene products
- trays and bags for food
- the films of newspapers and magazines
Before throwing away the plastic containers, it is important to remove any labels, wash them and clean them to avoid organic residues. Where it gets thrown away and what goes into the glass Glass is
also a waste that can be recycled: after being melted, it is used to create new glass and other materials. According to the UNI 11686 standard, the glass must be thrown into the green container or alternatively it must be thrown into the appropriate bells. In both cases it must not be wrapped in plastic bags. We can throw ourselves:
- glass bottles
- the glasses
- the jars and vases
- the broken glass
Again, it is important to wash and clean the containers before throwing them away so that they do not contain liquids. Where is it thrown away and what goes in the paper
Every day we throw away a large amount of paper and cardboard , a material from which we can obtain other recycled paper used for books, magazines, notebooks and so on. According to the UNI 11686 standard, paper and cardboard must be thrown in the blue container or in special paper bags. We can throw ourselves:
- newspapers and magazines
- books and notebooks
- used sheets
- the boxes
- cartons of milk and fruit juices
- paper and cardboard packaging
Before throwing away boxes and cartons, it is advisable to clean them, flatten them and compress them so that they do not take up too much space inside the bin. Where they are thrown away and what goes into the metals
In this case we are talking mostly about aluminum and steel , two materials that are 100% recyclable and, precisely for this reason, that must be collected and taken to the centers used for their recovery. There is actually no one-size-fits-all rule regarding their collection. Usually, in fact, they are thrown with other materials based on the municipality of residence. However, according to UNI 11686, metals should be thrown into the turquoise container . We can throw ourselves:
- the cans
- aluminum foil for food
- non-flammable spray cans
- food cans
- the yogurt lids
- caps and capsules
- the tubes
As with plastic and glass, metal waste must be washed and cleaned before being thrown away. Where is it thrown away and what goes into
the wet The wet identifies all those waste of an organic nature which, if well differentiated, represent an important resource. They can be transformed into compost for the fields, into building material, ultimately for the road surface and more. According to the UNI 11686 standard, the wet must be thrown in the brown container or in special biodegradable bags . We can throw ourselves:
- leftover food
- waste and food that has expired
- the ashes (if in small quantities)
- tea bags and coffee grounds
- used napkins and paper handkerchiefs
Once the organic waste has been thrown into the bags, make sure they are tightly closed to prevent leakage. Where is it thrown away and what goes into
the undifferentiated waste that does not fall into the previous categories and that cannot be recycled. Indeed, their fate is identified with a landfill. According to the UNI 11686 standard, the undifferentiated must be thrown into the gray container. We can throw ourselves:
- greasy and dirty materials, such as pizza box, greaseproof paper or baking paper
- used paper plates and cutlery
- napkins and handkerchiefs with colorful or fabric-like prints
- receipts and labels
- cds, dvds and videotapes
- the broken toys
- glasses, cups and ceramic plates
- the vacuum cleaner bags
- toothbrushes, toothpaste tube, cotton buds and cosmetics
- diapers and sanitary towels
- cigarette butts, cigars and chewing gum
- some household items, such as pens and tape
And other types of waste
For example, where the tetrapak is thrown
The collection varies from municipality to municipality: some throw it in paper, others in plastic with added cap and still others recommend separating the individual parts (paper, aluminum and plastic) to throw them into the right container. In any case, it is a good idea to wash and press the container before throwing it away. Where polystyrene is thrown
Also in this case, as for the previous one, the collection varies from municipality to municipality: some throw it in plastic, while others in undifferentiated. It is therefore necessary to inquire about the guidelines of the municipality in which you live. Where the wood is thrown
There are two possibilities in this case: bring the waste directly to the ecological islands, or centers equipped for separate collection, or rely on the home service which provides for the collection of materials not indicated in the separate collection calendar. As with wood, bulky waste (furniture, tables, sofas) and electronic waste (appliances, lamps, neon) and even clothes follow the same collection procedure. Finally, where special waste is thrown.
By these we mean batteries, batteries, cartridges, expired drugs, used oils, containers with paint residues. These must be thrown into special containers or bellsplaced in the municipal area. Alternatively, disposal can take place with a home service.
