By: John Glover (MBA)
Sustainability and talks about the environment are always in the news. We are entering a busy election cycle, and climate change is one of the things at the forefront of peoples’ minds. It’s good to talk about climate change and how we can keep our homes healthy, but it’s another thing to actually act on it. The problem is that there are a lot of misconceptions about how people can recycle and be better advocates for the planet.
Did you know that only 21% of recyclable materials are actually being recycled?
Imagine if that number was doubled or even tripled. Our environment would be in a much better place, and it can be. You have the power to make a difference and it all starts with knowing the do’s and don’ts of recycling at home.
Avoid “Wishcycling”
Many people across the country try to practice recycling but are not really educated on what constitutes a recyclable material. “Wishcycling” is when someone puts an item in the recycling bin with the hope that it actually can be recycled. The problem with this is that only a small percentage of those items you put in the curbside trash pick-up will actually get recycled. The rest will just end up in landfills. A great way to correct this bad habit is to learn what can actually be recycled in your area. Your local government website or trash waste provider will know, and a quick Google search will give you all the answers you need to make the earth a greener place.
Check Plastic Bags
Unfortunately, not all plastic is recyclable. One of the most common misconceptions is that anything with plastic can be taken to the manufacturing plants. However, that is not the case. Plastic bags or loose film are just a few of those items that can cause more harm than good. For example, many times, those bags get wrapped around the machinery and can cause a lot of damage to the facilities. This means other recyclable items could be collateral damage. The goal is to eliminate waste, not create more of it.
Invest in Technology
Whether you are at home or at work, you can still make good choices to help better the earth. Big corporations should think about investing in technology that makes recycling easier and more efficient. AI and robots are now meshing together to help streamline this process.
“To ensure a happy planet and a healthy future, it is crucial that businesses start implementing new technologies that improve sustainability. We help increase sustainability and efficiency in the recycling industry by using AI and robotics to automate the sorting of recyclables, ensuring more materials are recycled than ever before. Recycling has a huge impact on our environment so it’s important to make sure that everything that can be recycled is not going to waste, literally. Our goal is to strengthen the circular economy for packaging by leaving no recyclable left behind,” says JD Ambati, Founder & CEO of EverestLabs.
These robots are easy to use, accessible and can help businesses decrease their impact on the planet. Technology is advancing at faster rates than ever before, so why not use it to our advantage and protect the place we call home? In order to keep up with the carbon footprint that we have placed on the earth, we need to adapt. Change is not always easy, but this type of technology is the future, so it might be worth it to start now.
No matter if you decide to use this technology or not, recycling is a great way to do your part in protecting the planet. Knowing what can or can’t be recycled, where you can drop off other non-recyclable items and how the process works is a way to create sustainable habits in your everyday life. You don’t have to spend hours of your time recycling to make a difference; incorporating these good practices is a small and easy way to make changes for the better.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
