Aluminum recycling facts

• A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days. That’s closed loop recycling at its finest 

• Used aluminum beverage cans are the most recycled ., but other types of aluminum, such as siding, gutters, car components, storm window frames, and lawn furniture can also be recycled

• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours — or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline

• More aluminum goes into beverage cans than any other product

• Because so many of them are recycled, aluminum cans account for less than 1% of the total U.S. waste stream, according to EPA estimates

• An aluminum can that is thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now

• There is no limit to the amount of times an aluminum can be recycled

• We use over 80,000,000,000 aluminum soda cans every year

• At one time, aluminum was more valuable than gold

• A 60-watt light bulb can be run for over a day on the amount of energy saved by recycling 1 pound of steel. In one year in the United States, the recycling of steel saves enough energy to heat and light 18,000,000 homes!

Source: Perstorp

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Kota Kinabalu’s First Recycling Centre

Tzu Chi Recycling Centre

The first recycling centre in Kota Kinabalu was officially opened recently. The developer, Sinar Pembangunan, has leased out the centre at a token rental fee of RM1/-. Senior citizens living in the vicinity have been gathering in this centre since it started operation in July 2012.

"Ready, one, two, three... pull!" A pack of recyclables hanging in the air was released to signify the official launch of Tzu Chi Kota Kinabalu's first recycling centre.

The launching ceremony for Tzu Chi's Taman Suria Recycling Centre in Penampang was held on November 3, 2012. As the centre is provided by Sinar Pembangunan at a token rental fee of RM1/-, it was fitting that representatives from the developer were invited to witness this significant moment. This project was realized after volunteers made several attempts to communicate Tzu Chi's efforts in protecting the environment to the local developer.

Lim How Gong, Manager of Sinar Pembangunan said, "We have built 2,000 houses in Taman Suria and Penampang to accommodate 20,000 residents." He supports what Tzu Chi is doing for the environment and is confident that the centre will enhance the residents' awareness in protecting Mother Earth.

Since its operation in July 2012, the centre has been collecting four tons of recyclables every month. Volunteers have been disseminating information on environmental protection to the residents, as well as, taught them how to sort recyclables into different categories.

Contributing on behalf of late husband

In order to educate more people on environmental protection, retiree Kong Siew Ying, who is in charge of the centre, has made extra efforts in providing free transportation to those who are keen to help out at the centre.

Siew Ying said, "I am willing to take up these two tasks, that is, to be the person-in-charge of the centre and to fetch those who are keen to help to the centre." Besides treating it as a responsibility, she hopes to fulfill her late husband's wish to contribute to environmental protection. Her late husband was a Tzu Chi volunteer, who passed away a few years ago.

Age is not a problem

Tzu Chi's Taman Suria Recycling Centre opens every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 4pm. Sixty-year old Leong Soh Moi always accompanys her husband, a stroke victim, in sorting recyclables.

Soh Moi informed, "Before this, we are either watching TV or sleeping at home. Through providing assistance at the centre, our lives have become meaningful. Besides, it is also a form of exercise for us; and this is extremely helpful to my husband, who had a stroke before."

Hiew Kon Kun, a 63-year old retiree, said, "I feel happy that I am able to help out at the centre. Initially, I was quite worried about my inability to help at the centre due to my age. But, when I saw other senior citizens handling the task of sorting recyclables with ease, my fear dissipated. I then promised myself that I need to come here more often to contribute my efforts in protecting the environment."

Read more on: tzuchi.my

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Discover Offers Biodegradable Credit Cards

A Discover spokesperson says, “We are well pleased with the interest we’ve seen from consumers and our card members about the biodegradable card.”

Discover announced the launch of a biodegradable Discover Card option, made of biodegradable PVC, a substance that allows 99 percent of the card plastic to be safely absorbed when exposed to landfill conditions. 

The company also offered card holders an additional opportunity to help the environment by enrolling in paperless statements.

Now a credit card may seem like too small a piece of plastic to worry about, but with 1.5 billion cards in use in the United States, well, that’s a lot of plastic to throw into our landfills.

Read more: Discover Offers Biodegradable Credit Cards | Sustainability Ninja

Photo source: http://www.lifelovegreen.com/2010/12/green-credit-card/

GreenSabah says: Perhaps more local banks should adapt this idea from Discovery. Millions of credit cards are cut up and disposed world-wide on a daily basis. By using a biodegradable card, it is less likely to contribute to the ever growing landfills.

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Recycling Your Old Electronics

If you simply toss out your old electronics, like computers, printers etc, not only are you taking up increasingly limited landfill space with valuable resources like plastic, metal and glass, you’re also putting toxic materials in the ground.

If you bought your TV, computer, or other electronic device in the last decade, it can be upgraded or refurbished and be of use to someone who doesn’t have the money to buy a new one.

Or you can take the recycling route: many computers and other electronics are built to be easily demanufactured into their component parts for easy recycling. Some devices may require more energy to recycle, but it’s still better than just leaving them to a landfill.

The Electronics TakeBack Coalition provides several excellent Consumer Guides that walk you through just how you go about finding a recycling facility for your old electronics.

One of these guides is A Consumer’s Guide to Recycling Your Old TV. All the info you’d need is summed up in this guide. They also have a TV manufacturer report card that highlights where a manufacturer ranks in their recycling programs. 

Also take a look at a listserv like Freecycle, and you’ll likely find some who at least wants it for parts. 

Read more: Recycling Your Old Electronics | Sustainability Ninja

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