Table of Contents
Waste is often considered worthless in daily life. In fact, with proper management, waste can be turned into something more valuable and useful.
Furthermore, by making recycling a habit, the amount of waste that ends up in landfills can be reduced. This habit can also foster environmental awareness.
Various examples of recycling activities now in society also show that anyone can contribute to protecting the earth, whether at home, at school, or in the community.
Find out more about what recycling is and the various examples of recycling in the following article.
What Is a Recycle?
Recycling is the process of collecting, processing, and reusing materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste.
Based on waste data in Indonesia, only around 10-12% of waste is successfully recycled. Instead of ending up in landfills or being burned, some recyclable materials are processed into new products that can be reused.
The recycling process helps reduce the exploitation of natural resources, conserve energy in production, and preserve them.
Recycling activities in Indonesia are regulated under Article 20 of Law No. 18 of 2008 on Waste Management. This article mandates waste reduction through the implementation of the 3R system (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) as an important part of waste management, including encouraging segregation, recycling, and composting across various waste streams.
Why Is Recycling Important to Do?
Efforts to recycle waste should be carried out together to reduce the amount that ends up in landfills.
By recycling, waste that was previously considered useless can be processed into products with functional value, reducing the amount of accumulated waste and minimizing environmental pollution.
Moreover, recycling activities help conserve natural resources and energy by enabling the reuse of existing materials without continuously extracting raw materials from the environment. In this way, the production process and energy use also become more efficient.
Read also: How to Carry Out Household Waste Management in 8 Ways
Recycling Examples in Daily Life
There are many examples of daily recycling activities that are easy to implement and require little specialized equipment. So, what are the examples of recycled products? Here are some examples of recycling based on materials from used items that are easy to find:
Turning Used Plastic Bottles into Plant Pots
One of the most common examples of recycling is using used plastic bottles as plant pots. To ensure they function well as planting media, you can make holes at the bottom or on the sides of the bottle to keep water flowing properly for the plants.
Processing Used Paper into Recycled Paper
Used paper that is no longer needed can be collected and processed into new paper that still has functional value. This process indirectly helps reduce the need for tree cutting as the main raw material for paper production.
Furthermore, you can use recycled paper that has been processed for learning purposes, such as notebooks, or for handicrafts.
Turning Used Cans into Storage Containers
Do you have a lot of used cans piling up at home? To make them more useful, you can recycle these cans into functional storage containers.
You can add decorations to transform used cans into holders for stationery on a study desk, small accessories, or kitchen utensils.
Turning Plastic Packaging into Ecobricks
There is no need to be confused or worried about recycling plastic packaging at home. Nowadays, you can recycle various food wrappers and plastic bags into ecobricks by compacting them into plastic bottles.
Later, the ecobricks produced can be used as simple building materials, such as chairs or tables. In this way, unused plastic packaging gains new functional value.
Utilizing Fabric Scraps to Make Handicraft Products
Another easy way to recycle in daily life is to use fabric scraps to create various handicraft products. Used fabric can be processed into small bags, wallets, cleaning cloths, or home decorations with practical value.
Read more: 8 Ways of Organic Waste Management, Easy and Eco-Friendly!
Turning Used Tires into Chairs or Large Pots
Used tires that are no longer in use can be reused as chairs or large plant pots. With a bit of creativity, you can paint and modify used tires into functional, attractive items.
Using Used Glass Bottles as Spice Containers or Vases
Not only can plastic bottles be recycled, but used glass bottles can also be reused as spice containers or flower vases.
Besides being more durable and easy to clean, using used glass bottles helps reduce waste while enhancing the appearance of the kitchen or room.
Using Used Clothes to Make Fabric Shopping Bags
Do you know that used clothes can be sewn into environmentally friendly and durable fabric shopping bags? These bags not only help reduce textile waste but can also be used repeatedly. More economical and eco-friendly, right?
Using Used Cardboard Boxes as Storage Boxes
If you have many used cardboard boxes, such as shoe boxes or package boxes, do not throw them away right away. These boxes can be decorated to your taste and reused as home storage boxes. This way, the house stays tidy while reducing cardboard waste.
Turning Plastic Bottle Caps into Decorations or Educational Toys
Plastic bottle caps can be turned into attractive decorative items, such as wall hangings, mosaics, or creative craft arrangements. Moreover, bottle caps can also be used as educational toys for children, such as tools for learning counting, colors, or shapes.
That is an explanation of various examples of recycling and their environmental benefits. By engaging in recycling activities, you can help reduce waste, conserve resources, and build environmentally friendly habits.
Want to contribute directly to waste recycling activities? Don’t worry, you can start by joining the Indonesia Asri program organized by Chandra Asri Group. Through this program, you can also see how innovations such as CIRCLO transform plastic bags into useful new products.
To further maximize recycling efforts and environmental conservation, you can join as a Warga Asri. Take part in the #AksiAsri program and take real action for a cleaner, more sustainable Earth.
Every small step you take will have a big impact on the planet. Don’t wait any longer, register now!
Read more: 8 Environmental Actions in School You Must Try, Take Note!
