The world is full of plastic, but we are often assailed by a doubt: what is thrown and what not in the special container?
Once I have eaten the yogurt, where do I throw the jar? And what happens to the toothbrush that I no longer use? And we want to talk about pens, markers and toys? The world is full of plastic and in the (only apparent) chaos that seems to surround the world of collection, we are often assailed by a doubt: what is thrown and what not in the appropriate container?
Understanding the rules for making a correct differentiation is actually simpler than you think. The necessary thing is to start from a premise: the separate collection of plastic is limited to packaging only. At the moment, in fact, not everything can be started for recovery.
To be clear, therefore, if we have to get rid of objects such as kitchen utensils, parts of appliances or games, basins, saucers, pens, markers or cutlery (attention: the list could be endless!), It is at theundifferentiated, alas, that we will have to rely on, or to specific collection centers.
Because? In the flow of separate collection, stuff that in fact cannot be sent for recycling or can only partially go, and this for several reasons: the size (objects that are too small, for example the ties), or the contaminations (residues of the contents) .
Index
How is it recycled
Separate collection is done primarily at home, separating plastic packaging (packaging is a product expressly designed to contain, protect, transport goods) from other types of waste and then deliver them to the collection service. We will simply have to follow the procedures provided by our Municipality or by the reference manager.
In fact, it may happen that the joint conferment more types of waste (for example plastic, aluminum and steel packaging). In this case we are talking about "multi-material collection”Where, downstream, the different materials are separated in special plants. However, plastic packaging is then sent to an industrial selection phase by type of plastic, obtaining PET bottles transparent, blue and colored, polyethylene bottles, film e bags also in polyethylene, mixed plastics.
But let's remember that our contribution starts even earlier and that we have the possibility to act on two levels: in stores when we buy, choosing products with environmentally friendly and recoverable packaging and avoiding overpackaging, and then when at home we produce waste and we manage the "end of life", separating the different types in the best possible way and always remembering that the quality of separate collection is essential to activate a virtuous industrial chain that leads to an effective recovery and recycling.
What is conferred in the plastic
At this point, one thing will be clear to you: for plastics, separate collection only concerns that of packaging.
Plastic packaging is generally marked with an abbreviation that indicates the polymers they are made of. The most common are the following: PE (for "polyethylene", both high and low density - HDPE and LDPE), PP (for "polypropylene"), PVC (for "polyvinyl chloride"), PET (for "polyethylene terephthalate" "), PS (for" polystyrene "or" polystyrene "). However, it is good to know that all plastic packaging, even those that do not bear one of these abbreviations, are transferable.
Here is a list of things to throw in the plastic bells:
- Beverage bottles
- Bottles of products for the home and for the person
- Food jars and jars (yogurt)
- Bags and envelopes for pasta, pretzels, candies, frozen foods, etc.
- Films and wraps for food
- Trays (e.g. for cold cuts, ice cream, etc.)
- Toothpaste tubes
- Nets for fruit and vegetables
- Packaging polystyrene (for both food and household appliances packaging)
- Plastic cups and plates
- Plastic coat hangers (also with metal hook)
- Plastic + aluminum polylaminate packaging with a prevalence of plastic (e.g. coffee bags or medicine blisters)
Instead they cannot be differentiated:
- Stationery products (pens, markers, rulers and rulers and more), which go into the undifferentiated
- Plastic cutlery, which must be thrown in the unsorted
- Cases for CD / VHS / DVD, also in the undifferentiated
- Basins, buckets and basins, to take to an ecological island
- Garden furniture (tables, chairs, deck chairs), also on an ecological island
- Plastic pipes for irrigation, to an ecological island
- Packaging that contained paints, to an ecological island
- Toys: if they are small, they must be thrown into the unsorted bin; if they are bulky or electronic they must be taken to an ecological island (separating and correctly disposing the internal batteries)
- Syringes, cover the needle with the cap and throw in the undifferentiated
Also, always remember to carefully empty the packaging of what they have contained, but it is not necessary to wash them. Flatten the bottles horizontally and close them with their cap.
The Junker APP
If you are unsure where to throw what, don't worry! From today it is possible to download the Junker App, the intelligent application that explains Municipality by Municipality (to date the platform has exceeded the threshold of 1000 Municipalities subscribers) how to correctly separate packages and packaging simply by framing the barcode or taking a photo.
This creates a beautiful synergy, which also increases the desire to make an accurate separate collection! The gem? Through the app, it is also possible to report abandoned waste and illegal landfills (valid only for municipalities that have environmental reports): the geo-localized photo arrives at the collection manager, who then carries out the reclamation.
Differentiating, and doing it correctly, is one of the many ways we have to change the world. Come on, then, we still have time!
