Top 5 recyclable items at Home

While it is true that sending old things off for recycling is very good, recycling items that can be reused as another product at home is even better. Imagine the required carbon emissions for recycling an item through a recycling center rather than being reused at home.

This does not mean that sending products off to recycling centers is bad. Recycling is good as it means lesser landfills and the carbon emission of recycling is a lot lower than creating new products from raw materials.

Here are the 5 recyclable items at home with multiple use.

1. Ice cream buckets - For decades now, plastic ice cream buckets have been a central recycling item in Philippine households. These can be used for storage of food because of its strong lid, or as flower pots. For those who are more creative, these buckets can be designed and used for more purposes.

2. Old egg cartons - Egg cartons are also a very popular item reusable for recycling. With a little creativity, egg cartons can be use for a myriad of things from soundproofing rooms to becoming works and crafts for children.

3. Old softdrink bottles - Old softdrink bottles are still bottles where liquids can be stored in. Once well cleaned, these bottles can be used to be filled up with liquid condiments of water for storage.

4. Biscuit boxes - Biscuit boxes, especially tin boxes, are still a classic and yet novel box for storage. With a little creativity, these boxes can be made as great show pieces as well.

5. Plastic bags - Rather than discarding plastic bags, these bags can still be used a few more times for transporting items around (for delivery and such ) and for keeping small items sorted in storage areas.

Just as important as the above, here are some items to NEVER RECYCLE at home.

1. Fluorescent and CFL tubes - Albeit arts and crafts of whatever the intention, these defective tube lights contain mercury and would cause more harm than good.

2. Wires - unless you are a certified and properly trained electrician, do not run the risk of assumption and use old appliance wires as extension cords and such. While recycling is good, raising the chances of fire is not.

3. Old paint cans - Old paint cans can be used for many things, BUT NOT FOR STORING DRINKING WATER OR FOR BATHING. Paint still remains inside the container, and local brand paints still contain quite a lot of VOC.

4. Batteries - Keeping batteries outside or reusing them for any other purpose would mean a high risk level in terms of lead or mercury poisoning. Batteries have much more different toxic chemicals that many do not realize.

5. Old appliances - Playing around with internal parts of old appliances or electronics without proper knowledge could lead to worse situations. Old appliances still do not follow ROHS and can contain many hazardous chemicals.