Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/54710
Compiled by TESSA JOHNSTONE WHAT is recycling? Instead of going into the rubbish, some stuff can be recycled. That means instead of going to the dump, it goes somewhere else to be turned into something new. WHERE does it go? Recycling is usually something that the local council takes care of, so if you're interested, ask your parents to help you find out more from the council about what happens to it in your town. Some towns pick it up from your house, others have big recycling depots where you go to drop it off. In Wellington city, about 60kg of recycling per person is put out each year on the curb for pick-up (that's about the size of a large dog). It gets picked up with the rubbish. It then gets sent to a depot to get sorted out – there are people who spread it all out and separate it into paper, plastic, glass and anything else that can be recycled. WHAT happens then? Different types of material go to different places. For example, most of the paper and cardboard might go to a paper mill to get re-made into paper. If it's plastic, or aluminium, it gets crated up and put on ships to go to other countries where they recycle it. It depends on what it is, and what kind of arrangement your council has with different recyclers. WHY should you recycle? Because it's good for the environment! If you don't recycle, it ends up at the dump. Although stuff like food breaks down really easy, something like a plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to break down. Until then, it's just sitting there, while more and more rubbish arrives at the dump. Rubbish also sometimes gets blown or thrown into the sea where it can kill wildlife or just ruin the way a place looks. About 60 percent of household rubbish can be recycled – so instead of messing up the land or sea, it could be put to use somewhere else. WHAT can be recycled? Again, you have to check with your local council about the specifics, but it's usually glass, paper and cardboard, plastic and aluminium and steel. HOW else can I help the environment? REUSE – don't throw stuff away immediately. If you can use it again (and again), do it. and REDUCE – think about the packaging the stuff you buy comes in, can you reduce it? Like, do you need a plastic bag to carry it home, or could you use your school bag? RECYCLE – you know all about recycling now! Get to it! 20 February / March 2012 ch 2012 You can run a TV for 6 hours on the same amount of electricity that is saved by you taking and recycling just one aluminium can.