05 September 2022
5 things you might not know about recycling
The sorting of waste is anchored in the daily practices of the majority of French people. But do you know how to do it properly? And do you know the underside of the recycling? Here are 5 things you may not have known about the reconditioning of your waste ...
1- RECYCLING NON-RECYCLABLE PLASTIC IS DANGEROUS FOR THE PLANET
Everything is not good to recycle! Indeed, certain types of plastic cannot be retired because they contain chemicals. If they are recycled, these toxic products are released and lead to disastrous results for the planet.
Three types of plastic packaging exist:
* PET (Polyethylene Téréphtaplate): water bottle, shower gel bottle, etc.
* PVC (polychloride vinyl): yogurt pot, household products, etc.
* The PS (polystyrene): food tray, disposable cutlery, etc.
If PET is perfectly recyclable, this is not the case for the other 2 types of plastic. Why ? Because they are not pure. Plastic bags, for example, contain a "plasticizer", a chemical used to make them flexible. When the bags become hot, the product escapes with harmful consequences for the environment. The same goes for straws, coffee cup lids and yoghurt pots which are commonly thrown into the yellow bin by mistake... Kraft bags, straws and paper cups: alternatives are gradually being put in place to use truly recyclable products.
2- Not all glasses recycle !
As with plastic, not all glass packages recycle. Here is the list of non -recyclable glasses:
* Glassware (glasses, plates or other) ;
* Pyrex dishes ;
* The lightbulbs ;
* Mirrors ;
* Glazing.
These types of glass cannot be recycled for a specific reason: their melting temperature is different from that of the packaging glass. In addition, they contain chemical components, such as PVC or PS plastics, which cause dangerous emanations.
In summary, only the packaging glasses (bottles, jars and bottles) are infinite recyclable. But everything else is not! The first link in the recycling chain, the consumer must therefore carefully pre-trier his glasses of packaging and be attentive to the containers he deposits in the collection bins.
3- The origin of the recycling symbol
You probably know the recycling logo, but do you know where it came from? With its loop made up of three green arrows, the Möbius strip has been the universal acronym for recycling for more than 50 years. The Möbius strip represents a 2-dimensional surface and a single edge. It was analyzed and described by the mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius in 1958.
Its specificity is based on its continuity: it cannot be broken, even if it is bent, like the mathematical symbol infinity. It is for this reason that the Möbius strip was chosen as the emblem of recycling on the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970. It embodies the virtuous circle of recycling, with the principle of transforming waste into useful and into new raw materials.
4- THE BENEFITS OF RECYCLING
In 50 years, recycling has made it possible to considerably limit the carbon footprint of the world's population. Thanks to sorting and treatment of waste, GHG emissions have been greatly reduced. In 2020, recycling made it possible to avoid the issue of 2.2 million tonnes of CO2 in France: the equivalent of 1 million less cars on the roads!
Recycling provides not only environmental benefits, but also societal advantages. The recycling industry creates employment and energizes the national economy. According to a report by the international NGO GAIA established in 2021, the repair sector creates 3 times more jobs than the recycling sector, which itself creates 50 times more jobs than the simple waste elimination ...
5- Sorting instructions are simplified
Since May 1, 2022, sorting instructions have been simplified in the majority of French territory. If until then, plastic packaging should in principle be sorted according to specific rules, the recycling procedure is evolving. In order to limit the oversights, all plastics can now be thrown in the yellow trash can, with the boxes and paper packaging! The sorting will then be carried out in dedicated centers. This will make it possible to facilitate the treatment of waste and open the way to the search for new recycling processes.
This simplification of the sorting instructions should be applied to the entire country by 2023.
1- RECYCLING NON-RECYCLABLE PLASTIC IS DANGEROUS FOR THE PLANET
Everything is not good to recycle! Indeed, certain types of plastic cannot be retired because they contain chemicals. If they are recycled, these toxic products are released and lead to disastrous results for the planet.
Three types of plastic packaging exist:
* PET (Polyethylene Téréphtaplate): water bottle, shower gel bottle, etc.
* PVC (polychloride vinyl): yogurt pot, household products, etc.
* The PS (polystyrene): food tray, disposable cutlery, etc.
If PET is perfectly recyclable, this is not the case for the other 2 types of plastic. Why ? Because they are not pure. Plastic bags, for example, contain a "plasticizer", a chemical used to make them flexible. When the bags become hot, the product escapes with harmful consequences for the environment. The same goes for straws, coffee cup lids and yoghurt pots which are commonly thrown into the yellow bin by mistake... Kraft bags, straws and paper cups: alternatives are gradually being put in place to use truly recyclable products.
2- Not all glasses recycle !
As with plastic, not all glass packages recycle. Here is the list of non -recyclable glasses:
* Glassware (glasses, plates or other) ;
* Pyrex dishes ;
* The lightbulbs ;
* Mirrors ;
* Glazing.
These types of glass cannot be recycled for a specific reason: their melting temperature is different from that of the packaging glass. In addition, they contain chemical components, such as PVC or PS plastics, which cause dangerous emanations.
In summary, only the packaging glasses (bottles, jars and bottles) are infinite recyclable. But everything else is not! The first link in the recycling chain, the consumer must therefore carefully pre-trier his glasses of packaging and be attentive to the containers he deposits in the collection bins.
3- The origin of the recycling symbol
You probably know the recycling logo, but do you know where it came from? With its loop made up of three green arrows, the Möbius strip has been the universal acronym for recycling for more than 50 years. The Möbius strip represents a 2-dimensional surface and a single edge. It was analyzed and described by the mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius in 1958.
Its specificity is based on its continuity: it cannot be broken, even if it is bent, like the mathematical symbol infinity. It is for this reason that the Möbius strip was chosen as the emblem of recycling on the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970. It embodies the virtuous circle of recycling, with the principle of transforming waste into useful and into new raw materials.
4- THE BENEFITS OF RECYCLING
In 50 years, recycling has made it possible to considerably limit the carbon footprint of the world's population. Thanks to sorting and treatment of waste, GHG emissions have been greatly reduced. In 2020, recycling made it possible to avoid the issue of 2.2 million tonnes of CO2 in France: the equivalent of 1 million less cars on the roads!
Recycling provides not only environmental benefits, but also societal advantages. The recycling industry creates employment and energizes the national economy. According to a report by the international NGO GAIA established in 2021, the repair sector creates 3 times more jobs than the recycling sector, which itself creates 50 times more jobs than the simple waste elimination ...
5- Sorting instructions are simplified
Since May 1, 2022, sorting instructions have been simplified in the majority of French territory. If until then, plastic packaging should in principle be sorted according to specific rules, the recycling procedure is evolving. In order to limit the oversights, all plastics can now be thrown in the yellow trash can, with the boxes and paper packaging! The sorting will then be carried out in dedicated centers. This will make it possible to facilitate the treatment of waste and open the way to the search for new recycling processes.
This simplification of the sorting instructions should be applied to the entire country by 2023.