RECYCLING PAINT AND OIL

• Waste paints, engine oil, oil filters, paint brushes etc contain toxic chemicals that are very harmful to the environment.
• Pouring oil and paint down the drain is really a bad idea. It may even damage a total ecosystem that they reach.
• Disposal instructions will be mention in the packs of the oils and paints. It is always wise and safe to follow those instructions.
• Donate unwanted paints and varnishes, as others can reuse them.
• Buy products in bulk whenever possible to reduce packaging waste.
• Use eco-friendly alternatives whenever possible.
• Seek the help of the paint manufacturer. Most of the paint manufacturing companies have their own recycling programs.
• It is possible to recycle the paint container after it has been cleaned and dried.
• Look into local paint recycling and exchange programs.
• The paint products can also be disposed safely at your local household hazardous waste collection program.
• It is very much important to recycle engine oil with atmost care. Because even a small amount of oil, disposed can cause considerable damage to the environment.

FACTS

1. Although latex paint is less harmful than oil-based paint to the environment and public health, all types of paint should be handled and disposed of properly.
2. A single quart of motor oil, if disposed of improperly, can contaminate up to 2,000,000 gallons of fresh water.

HOW TO RECYCLE OLD BATTERIES?

Batteries of any kind are capable of producing the hazards like

1. Polluting the lakes and streams as metal vaporize in air when burned.
2. Heavy metals used in the batteries have the potential to leach from solid landfills.
3. These old batteries will expose the environment to harmful lead and acid.
4. Most of the batteries that are available today include corrosive acids in them.
5. They may cause burns and even damage our skin and eyes.

Hence it is very much essential to safely dispose the used batteries. Recycling is a better solution for getting rid of the used batteries without harming the environment. The following step could be taken into account while disposing the old used batteries:

· Batteries of any kind will have toxic substances. Recycling the used batteries is an excellent option than there disposal.

· Rechargeable batteries should never be thrown away along with normal household waste as the have some heavily toxic metals. They must be returned to the manufacturer for safe disposal or effectively recycled elsewhere.

· Sending any type of battery to the landfill or incinerator means the contents of the battery will ultimately end up getting into the soil, air, groundwater, and/or surface water, and thus eventually into the food chain and drinking-water supply.

· Usage of rechargeable batteries should be encouraged as it requires more power to manufacture an ordinary battery.

· Also, most of the local councils offer battery recycling services also.

· For more advice on safe disposal of batteries, one can approach the manufacturer of the same.

To find a company near you where you can drop off your old batteries for recycling, check out the comprehensive database at the Earth911.org website

RECYCLING CLINICAL WASTE

• Clinical waste is another kind of hazardous waste which needs great attention in disposing.
• Special care should be taken while disposing used needles and syringes.
• Get instructions from doctors or manufacturers on safe disposal of different kinds of medical waste.
• All the medicine containers, once empty could be recycled.
• Most local councils offer a free medical waste collection. It is good to contact your local council to get help on safe disposal of clinical waste.
• Some companies like Medical Waste Solutions Ltd are dedicated to clinical waste treatment schemes.

Due to the nature of clinical waste the opportunities for reduction, reuse or recycling are limited. However, the environmental impacts of clinical waste could be reduced by following these points:

1. Ensure effective segregation of all clinical and non clinical waste.
2. Continually review the collection and disposal method for clinical waste, using the waste hierarchy (e.g. introduction of reusable sharps bins)
3. Launch waste awareness campaigns
4. Continue Duty of Care Waste Audits

The removal of syringes and needles require atmost care. Here are some guidelines for safe removal of syringes and needles.

• Find a suitable container for disposal. Try to get a ridged plastic container with a screw top lid to place the needle or syringe in.
• If you can place something protective over your hand like rubber or thick leather gloves.
• If at all possible, do not touch the needle or syringe, Use something like tweezers or tongs to pick it up.
• If you have to pick the needle up with your hands, or if you are using something like tweezers, pick them up by the blunt end.
• Do not touch the sharp point with your hands.
• Do not put the cap back on or re-sheath.
• Place the sharp end of the needle into the container first.
• You can place more than one needle or syringe into a container, but do not overfill.
• Make sure the container is tightly sealed.
• Do not place the container in the regular waste, down the toilet or drain. Contact the clinical waste removers like Erewash Borough Council for safe removal.
• Wash whatever you have used to handle the items in an antiseptic detergent.

HOW TO SAFEFLY DISPOSE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT?

• Comprising of monitors, printers, hard drives, and circuit boards, the disposed computers are known as e-wastes.
• These e-wastes are not supposed to be thrown out along with the common household rubbish, as they contain highly toxic substance.
• The disposal of this hazardous waste requires atmost care and caution.
• It is estimated that, a single computer will contain approximately 2 kg of lead.
• The PCs are made up of a complex mixture of materials. This complex mixture makes these PCs very much difficult to recycle.
• You can safely dispose the e-waste by returning it to the manufacturer or donating the computers to a non-profit organization or transporting them to any professional waste disposal facility.
• The famous computer manufacturers offer a service to collect and transport the e-waste from your home to the recycling unit at their own cost.
• Professional waste disposal is same as the manufacturer’s schemes except the fact that you will have to pay for their service.
• A number of non-profit organizations collect electronic equipment including computers and printers, either for reuse or for de-manufacture and recycling. Recipients pay nothing for the equipment or buy it at a heavily discounted rate.

FACTS

1. As of 2005, more than 250 million personal computers have become obsolete in the United States.

2. Nearly two million tons of used electronics, including computers and televisions, are discarded each year.

3. According to the EPA, manufacturing one desktop computer requires fossil fuels and chemicals that amount to at least nine times the weight of the computer.

4. Electronics often contain useful materials such as precious metals, glass, and plastics that should be recovered rather than buried in a landfill.

5. Precious metals are used in computer circuit boards and of course glass and plastics are used for manufacturing computer monitors.

6. Recycling these products reduces the need to mine the earth for raw materials.

WHAT TO DO WITH OLD MOBILE PHONES?

• Most of the mobile phones in use today are recyclable.
• Old mobile phones could be donated to friends or family. This is a kind of reuse of mobile phones.
• Moreover, the old mobile phones are taken back by the manufacturers, for recycling.
• Mobile phone recycling schemes are also setup by some leading mobile phone manufacturers.
• Also, some companies like Carbon neutral; Turn on your mobile; Envirofone; Recycling appeal, have set up special scheme for mobile phone recycling.

Some of the key features of these mobile phone recycling initiatives are listed below:

CARBON NEUTRAL

Ø They can recycle all kinds of mobile phone. All you have to do is to send the mobiles for recycling to

Greener Solutions
(Future Forests Offer)
Freepost LONI7592
PO Box 32343
London
SW17 9ZZ

Ø You can visit their website www.carbonneutral.com for more information.

TURN ON YOUR MOBILE

Ø They offer a free postal service if your mobile phone is worth a very low value.

Ø Special delivery charges refunded if the handset you send is high value.

Ø Courier service for 10 phones or more - good for businesses.

Ø Refund cheque can be made out to a charity of your choice if you prefer.

Ø For more information, Visit at www.recyclemymobile.co.uk

ENVIROFONE

Ø Value can be seem straight away on the site

Ø They pay postage costs

Ø Charity donation by envirofone with every phone

Ø More information about the initiative could be found at www.envirofone.com