National Recycling Week

Happy Recycling Week!

This week is a National Recycling Week. In the midst of our society which is driven by high consumerism, it is a great reminder for all of us that recycling has multiple benefits - for you, for our society and for our environment.

As we all are interested in 'me' here are a few things that you can do this week to improve your recycling credentials and see what benefits you can reap from this activity:

1) Trade your non-wanted items for money on eBay or Trading Post. One mans junk is other man's treasure. And it adds a few extra dollars into your pocket.
2) Donate your non wanted items for charity, or for great community initiatives such as Bower in NSW who are either grateful to take your 'junk' or refer you to someone else who needs it. Feel like a Good Samaritan and get rid of that old stuff filling in your cupboards.
3) Compost your foodscaps either indoors e.g. in Bokashi bin or outdoors in your compost or worm farm. Few months later you'll have free fertiliser for your plants and flowers.
4) Buy recycled products and products made from recycled materials. Not only are you supporting the recycling industry, but you can find real bargains and truly unique items when shopping for second hand goods. Plus products made from recycled materials makes your enviornmental footprint shrink a tad.

And what is the benefit for society and environment then?
By passing your non-wanted clothes, bags, old computer or television, washing machine or other equipment on to others, you are diverting materials from landfill and conserving resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
If you donate goods to charity, your old fridge or tv might end up with someone who really needs it but otherwise wouldn't be able to afford to purchase it.
And by purchasing products that are made from recycled content, you are also encouraging the growing recycling industry. And I am hoping that by bying more and more recycled content products we can build larger volume of demand, which in theory at least should drive the price of these products down.

So why not celebrate National Recycling Week by arranging a 'swap' party this weekend with your friends. I have a non-wanted fabulous looking 'SuperWoman' outfit in the cupboard if anybody is interested...first come, best dressed...

Happy Recycling!