Support Earth Day 2018
Join us on Earth Day this Sunday and consider how much you recycle plastic.
As you know, we’re keen supporters of recycling. Every piece of paper we collect is shredded, baled and taken to a paper mill for recycling. Any piece of IT equipment we take away from your office is stripped apart with each piece of recyclable material either re-used or metals melted down to create new products preventing components going to landfill.
To support Earth Day on 22nd April this year we thought we’d take a moment to appreciate the theme of the day. This year, the focus of Earth Day is on plastics and how we can firstly cut down on the amount we use, and secondly, recycle plastic that we no longer need.
There has never been as much plastic in circulation as there is now. How it is created, used and disposed of is a topic that has gained a heightened amount of press in recent months. We’ve all seen the images of sea life struggling to swim in an ocean of plastic bottles, and it’s a shocking fact that millions of tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans each year.
But what do you know about plastic?
History
The very first man made plastic was invented and patented by Alexander Parkes in 1856. Coined parkesine or nitrocellulose, he presented his invention at the Great International Exhibition in 1862. The material was revolutionary and could be moulded and shaped when heated. The most commonly known synthetic plastic made was Bakelite, invented by Leo Baekeland in 1907. A light and very durable material, it was used for a variety of purposes including car parts, telephones, kitchenware and jewellery. Subsequently in the 20th century plastics such as PVC, PET and phthalates were invented to bring us items such as credit cards, water pipes, water bottles, detergents and cosmetics.
Production
The resources used to produce the material are vast and CO2 is emitted during production. Plastic is made up primarily of crude oil, but other substances such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, and sulphur are used in the production process. There are more than 50 different types of plastic in circulation worldwide.
Usage and recycling
It’s difficult to imagine a world without plastic. Our world is so reliant on the material, and many everyday items we take for granted are made from some type of plastic. Our plumbing, cars, furniture and toys are all plastic based, and around a third of the plastic we use is for packaging, including food that is wrapped and presented to us at the supermarket.
Some plastics take up to 500 years to fully decompose in landfill, so saving whatever we can to be reused and recycled and made into something else is paramount. The good news is, plastics such as PVC, PET and HDPE can all be fully recycled and used again, so keeping them out of landfill or oceans is plain common sense.
It’s time to take action…
Take the time today to consider how much you recycle plastic you use in your everyday life. Consider how could you cut down on the amount you use, and how much you recycle, both at work and at home. Even if it’s saying no to a plastic straw at the bar or making sure you keep a reusable carrier bag with you or in the car. You can act at work too by ensuring all old equipment containing plastic is taken away by a registered waste carrier to be shredded and disposed of according to relevant legislation.
Our individual actions amount to something big, so make a difference today! Find out more about Earth Day 2018 https://www.earthday.org/
Contact us to find out more about how we can recycle plastic items.