Recycle. We see that word every day in the things we use daily, grocery bags, water bottles, soda cans, etc, but do we really recycle? I’ll be honest, I don’t always remember to. I’m one of those people that have soda and vegetable oil bottles under my sink because I’m trying to be a better person that saves the planet, but if you asked me what I plan to do with them I can’t give you a straight answer. I have ideas of how to recycle or repurpose them from Pinterest though, implementation is my only challenge. But at least I’m trying, right?
Other than bottles and paper which are the most commonly mentioned items when we think of recycling? Do we know of more popular household items we can use? How can we recycle or repurpose them? We shall delve into a few you might or might not be aware of, but first of all, what is recycling? In the simplest terms, it is the process of converting your trash or waste into new materials. Any item considered as waste that can vary from many types of glass, paper, metal, plastic, tires, textiles, batteries, electronics, and even food waste can be reused or repurposed into something worthwhile that can continue to serve more people. It is easy to recycle when you know the importance of why you are doing it. So we’ll dive right into it, what are the benefits of doing it?
➢ Recycling conserves the earth’s resources
Every time you place a glass/plastic bottle in a recycling bin and it becomes reused or repurposed into a new product, it means no new glass needs to be manufactured for that new product. The earth’s resources will someday replenish, especially in a world with a growing population and a growing demand for such resources, so they require to be preserved. Also, fun fact, did you know recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to power a television for 1 ½ hour? Interesting, huh?
➢ Recycling reduces environmental harm
How do we get natural resources from the ground? Through mining, logging which is super harmful to the environment due to us killing trees, worsening the global warming situation by operating heavy machinery, degrading the environment, etc. Reusing and repurposing items reduces all that.
So here are a few items I was excited to learn and share that we can recycle;-
1. Aluminium Foil
Yes, the foil you use to wrap your meats while baking or roasting them. You can continually reuse them without any harm. The reason many do not recycle it is often that there is residue coating it after use – but all you have to do is just completely clean out any food and grease off it, and it’s ready for recycling! Educate your nyama choma joint.
2. Electronics
I bet we all have more than one electronic in the house that we stopped using because we bought a new replacement, be it phones, earphones, microwaves, laptops, etc. I was recently surprised to learn that many electronic companies accept their old products back for a few coins to break down and reuse the parts in other devices. Even in a lot of electronic shops around Nairobi and even in your hometown, they will gladly buy off your old laptop or phone so they can reuse the hard disk and other items. Old CDs and DVDs can be recycled as well and used for decor.
3. Food waste
We all cook at least once a day and dispose of our vegetable and fruit peels, food remains in our bins which end up in the landfills without serving any purpose other than being garbage. You can, however, as an educated person who read this blog, use those remains to create your own little fertile garden even if you live in an apartment, or donate or even sell your compost to waste collectors and get money from your food waste. The best thing about food waste is you’ll never run out of it because there’s so much you can use from your house including eggshells, tea bags, even fruit seeds like avocado! Another fun fact, if you store your avocado seeds in water for 6-8 weeks, it starts to sprout into a tree. Business idea anyone?
4. Clothing
Most Kenyans don’t really throw out clothes, we are fortunate enough to have been taught by our mothers to donate old nice clothes to our younger siblings and children’s homes, and to convert
our old not-so-nice clothes into cleaning dusters and rags. Whatever you do with your clothes, you are recycling, so let nobody tell you you have never attempted to. You can also use Pinterest to find ideas on how to up-cycle your old clothes, shoes, beddings, curtains into new fun items you can use on your body or in the house instead of getting new ones.
5. Mattresses
Kenyans also don’t throw out mattresses even after buying new ones, I guess because we always keep them for extra guests. That’s a good thing though, but there’s so much more you can do with your old mattresses that can even make you extra money other than storing your old mattresses for surprise guests. You can use the padding and foams to make throw pillow stuffing, make little beds for your cats and dogs and even refurbish seating cushions. Fabric scraps can even become rags or be used for stuffing and other projects. Not only can that earn you some coins, but you have also helped conserve vital resources, reduce pollution, and extend the life of existing landfills.
6. Menstrual Cups.
I am willing to bet my money that at some point you have come across an improperly disposed or a used menstrual pad. They are not only very unsightly to view but pads are also made of plastic, which means that’s more garbage the world is struggling to get rid of. I believe all women should embrace the concept of using menstrual cups as they are not only cheaper in the long run, but they are also more environmentally friendly compared to pads as you’ll use less of them. They’re usually made with medical-grade silicone and instead of absorbing the flow, the reusable menstrual cup collects it until removal. One cup can be used for over five years, which is a lot of waste and money to be saved.
7. Cloth Diapers
As you read this I hope you’re not a Gen Z because I’m sure you all cannot relate to this, but a lot of us grew up on cloth nappies. I think I saw my first disposable diaper in 2002 and even then they were not as popular as they are now. However, disposable diapers are causing nightmares at landfills as the plastic and the cotton mix have difficulties biodegrading.
Using cloth nappies might be more hectic compared to diapers but they will save you money and are gentler to the environment.
8. Toothbrushes and Razors
Don’t be that person that throws out the toothbrush you change every three months, you are changing your toothbrush every three months like a respectable human I hope, right? You can repurpose your old toothbrushes and use them to clean sinks and scrub bathroom walls, or even to lay your edges if you’re of the other gender.
As for your shaving razors, they can be reused to remove lint off your hats, woolen scarves, and clothes, especially if you have pets.
Now that you have this very useful information, please put it to good use and reduce the amount of waste you throw out. We are here to save the planet one step at a time, but if your waste ever needs a second helping hand, do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@mamae.co.ke or through calling 0712-340-622 and we shall assist with your garbage collection needs.
