TerraCycle - the recycling programme with a difference

 

I have come across a company called TerraCycle that helps you recycle things that cannot be recycled.

Here is some information from their website

"What is TerraCycle?

TerraCycle is Eliminating the Idea of Waste® by recycling the "non-recyclable." Whether it's coffee capsules from your home, pens from a school, or plastic gloves from a manufacturing facility, TerraCycle can collect and recycle almost any form of waste. We partner with individual collectors such as yourself, as well as major consumer product companies, retailers, manufacturers, municipalities, and small businesses across 20 different countries. With your help, we are able to divert millions of pounds of waste from landfills and incinerators each month."

I went to their British website and was absolutely amazed at the range of free recycling programmes available there!  

Unfortunately when I went to the Spanish site there were not as many yet, but there was a programme for beach cleaning which would be fantastic for us here on Menorca!

 There is also one for used pens and writing materials

 

 There is also one for used pharmaceutical rubber gloves.

I have registered and am waiting for more information on how to use this service!

This all looks really interesting!

The blog song for today is: "Mr Blue Sky" by ELO

TTFN

 

Are Tetrapaks recyclable?

What is a Tetra Pak made from?

Tetra Paks are made up of a number of components which are layered: paperboard (made from wood), polyethylene (a type of plastic) and aluminum. These different components give Tetra Paks their unique properties: keeping the liquids in but the microbes out, and a strong but lightweight container.

When a Tetra Pak is recycled, all these component parts need to be separated out.

What Does Recycling Mean?

Whilst recycling can be thought of as a way of converting waste into a new material, more accurately it means a process to return material to a previous stage in a process that operates as a cycle. After all, the word is “re-cycling”. The idea is to take a used product and turn them back into the same type of product, such as glass bottles being melted down and formed into new glass bottles. There is no loss of quality, so this recycling of glass can go on forever.

When a product doesn’t get turned back into the same product, but one of lesser quality (as with plastic recycling) it isn’t recycled, it’s downcycled. Products that are downcycled often only undergo a limited number of cycles (maybe as few as 2) before reaching the end of their useful lives and ending up in landfill.

For Tetra Pak to be truly recycled, these layers of paperboard, polyethylene and aluminium would need to be separated out, and reformed to make new Tetra Pak cartons. However, that isn’t what happens.

Why Tetra Paks aren’t Sustainable

If Tetra Paks are recyclable, why aren’t they green? Let’s look at the different components, where they come from and what happens to them once the cartons are empty.

Paperboard (Wood)

Tetra Pak have devoted a significant amount of their website space to telling customers how sustainable their containers are. As well as talking at length about Tetra Paks being recyclable, they inform us that Tetra Pak source FSC-certified wood for 41% of their cartons worldwide (2013 figure). This equated to 32 billion FSC-labelled Tetra Paks reaching consumers in 2013.

Let’s look at this another way.

If 32 billion containers is 41%, then the amount of non-FSC wood Tetra Paks reaching consumers would be 46 million. 46 million containers made from non-renewable sources? That is a lot of wood. Tetra Pak might have a goal to reach 100% FSC-wood, but it isn’t happening now.

When this paperboard is recycled, it isn’t turned back into new Tetra Paks. It is unclear whether this is because their paperboard needs to come from virgin sources to avoid contamination (as is the case with plastic), or whether the quality of the recycled paperboard isn’t high enough to make new cartons, or some other reason. Whatever the reason, it is turned into office paper.

Plastic and Aluminium

The other two layers of the Tetra Pak, polyethylene (plastic) and aluminium, cannot be separated by the recycling process and remain combined as a “polymer”. The uses for this “polymer” is in the cement industry, or as low-cost housing material. The question arises, is there a genuine demand for this product, or is there a market because of an abundant supply of this waste material?

The fact that it gets reused and isn’t sent to landfill is great, except it doesn’t serve to make Tetra Paks a “green” solution. These cartons use fresh plastic and aluminium to make their cartons, and the waste products becomes something else entirely. Thus it is a linear system, not a cycle – and anything that is linear cannot be sustainable long-term.

A Word on Recycling Tetra Paks

The other thing to alwyas remember about recycling, is just because something can be recycled, it doesn’t mean that it will be recycled. The two are very different.

The Conclusion

Tetra Pak may want to be sustainable; they may want to use 100% FSC wood and achieve 100% recycling rates, but they still have a long way to go. Even if they achieve this, there’s no getting away from the fact that Tetra Pak production is a linear process. Tetra Paks are turned into different post-consumer products, meaning a constant supply of fresh virgin material (wood, oil and aluminum) is needed for their manufacture.

So after we drop our empty Tetra paks into the yellow container, they do go to a recycling plant but are not made into new Tetra paks but something else. That is a huge problem because there are a lot of products in Tetra pak containers but finding alternatives is not too difficult. 

The blog song for today is : "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed

TTFN

Recycling Cans - Aluminium and Steel

Overview

Many of the food and drink products we buy are packaged in cans made from either aluminium or steel and both of these materials can be recycled after we have finished with them to make either new cans or other products.

Did you know?

Recycling aluminium uses only around 5% of the energy and emissions needed to make it from the raw material bauxite. The metal can be recycled time and time again without loss of properties, so getting the aluminium recycling habit is one of the best things we can do for the environment.

Steel can also be recycled time and time again without loss of quality; by simply recycling our steel cans we can conserve non-renewable fossil fuels, reduce the consumption of energy and the emission of gasses like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

How is it recycled?

Aluminium cans

• Aluminium cans are shredded, removing any coloured coating.
• They are then melted in a huge furnace.
• The molten metal is poured into ingot casts to set. Each ingot can be made into around 1.5 million cans.

Aluminium foil is a different alloy and is usually recycled separately with other aluminium scraps to make cast items such as engine components, where it makes a big contribution to making vehicles lighter and more energy efficient.

Steel can also be recycled time and time again without loss of quality; by simply recycling our steel cans we can conserve non-renewable fossil fuels, reduce the consumption of energy and the emission of gasses like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

How is it recycled?

• Steel cans are put into the furnace where molten iron is added.
• Oxygen is then blasted into the furnace which heats up to around 1700°C.
• The liquid metal is poured into a mould to form big slabs which are then rolled into coils.
• These coils are used to make all sorts of steel products such as bikes, cars, bridges, paperclips or even new food and drink cans.
  

Environmental impact

Aluminium

Aluminium is a resource that forms about 8% of the earth's crust. It is mined and extracted from bauxite, which contains the compound alumina, in an energy-intensive electrolytic process. Four tonnes of bauxite contains two tonnes of alumina, which yields one tonne of valuable aluminium. The metal is used in buildings, transport and other industrial applications, as well as packaging.    

Aluminium is the most cost-effective material to recycle, because of the huge energy savings - up to 95%. In addition, all the scraps left over from the aluminium production process can be melted down and used again and again. For this reason, recycling is part of the normal lifecycle for large industrial products - around 75% of all the aluminium ever made is still in circulation.

Recycling 1kg of aluminium saves up to:

• 6kg of bauxite
• 4kg of chemical products
• 14kWh of electricity.

Steel

Steel is made from one of the earth's most common natural resources, iron ore, as well as limestone and coal. Mining for these raw materials and the production process involved in making steel have an environmental impact. Not only does the process require large amounts of energy but raw materials are wasted when mining, and the production process also produces waste and emissions.

Steel can be recycled time and time again without loss of quality, so by simply recycling our steel we can:

• conserve non-renewable fossil fuels
• reduce the consumption of energy
• reduce the amount of raw materials being wasted
• reduce the emission of gasses like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Made from recycled

Aluminium drinks cans are usually recycled into ingots at a special 'closed-loop' plant in. This is the ultimate recycling process for environmental efficiency and used cans are often recycled, made into new cans, filled and put back on the shelf in just six weeks.

Foil and other aluminium is generally recycled with other aluminium scraps such as window frames and road signs, and cast into engine components for vehicles, which makes them lighter and more fuel efficient.

Steel can be infinitely recycled and because it is such a widely used material, the ranges of possible uses for it are endless.

Recycled steel can be found in incredibly diverse variety of products including:

• bicycle frames
• pipes
• train tracks
• ship hulls
• cars
• bridges
• paperclips
• food and drinks cans.

Steel can be infinitely recycled and because it is such a widely used material, the ranges of possible uses for it are endless.

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The song for today is "Starman" by David Bowie

TTFN

 

What happens after we put PET (Triangle number 1) plastic in the yellow bin on Menorca?

 Polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate or PET is a type of thermoplastic polymer, or commonly a type of plastic, which is obtained synthetically from petroleum. It is a recyclable but not biodegradable material, widely used in beverage and textile packaging. The containers of this material that are deposited in the yellow containers of Menorca arrive at the Milà sorting plant where they are classified and packed for shipment to recycling companies in Spain.

Here are photos and text to explain the process!

1. From the offices of the plant in Valencia (this is the one Menorca sends the plastic to) you can see a large area of ​​bales from different selection plants in Spain, which are first untied and then unraveled at a rate of 4 tons / hour.

2. The discarded bottles then go through a magnet to remove the metal parts and through a label scraper.

 

3. The first selection of the bottles is made through a ballistic separator that separates them according to their size, density and shape (rolling and non-rolling).

4. Next, a second separation is performed by type of material using infrared, and by color using artificial vision. It is at this time when the process lines are duplicated and a first manual quality control is carried out. This duplication of lines is very important in order not to stop the plant in the event of possible breakdowns or scheduled maintenance..

5. Both process lines go to a wet mill where the bottles are crushed and the first washing of the material is carried out.

 

6. The resulting product is blown off and directed to the beginning of the wash belt where the labels and caps are first separated by flotation. The caps are only centrifuged and stored for sale, since it is a material with a lot of output that can be paid at € 200 / ton on average.

7. The material then goes through two stages of washing at 85-90ºC and centrifugation. Detergent and antifoam are used in the wash, which is eliminated in the rinse. The water is filtered and recirculated in the process, while the residual batch, approximately 40 tons / month with 50% humidity, is destined for composting.

8. Finally, a quality control is carried out on each 1,000 kg bag of PET LIGHT BLUE flakes, to determine the purity of the material prior to marketing.

  

PET LIGHT BLUE flakes are extruded to make reels of PET foil that will be the base material to produce new PET containers.
 

 
 

I am still a little confused as to what happens to HDPE (triangle number 2) Plastic and PS (triangle number 6) Polystyrene it looks like more investigation is needed!

The blog song for today is: "Confusion" by ELO (electric light orchestra)

TTFN

 

Cleaning with natural ingredients - Part 2 Bicarbonate of soda

 

Cleaning With Bicarbonate of Soda

Bicarbonate of soda can do more than keep your fridge smelling fresh and aid with baking. Its odour absorbing properties are useful throughout the home. It is a mild abrasive that can remove stains without scratching. Additionally, bicarbonate of soda is completely nontoxic. And unlike vinegar, it doesn’t have a strong smell. Try bicarbonate of soda for some of these household cleaning tasks.

In the kitchen:

• Remove stains from coffee and tea mugs: Fill mugs with 1 part bicarbonate of soda and 2 parts water and let sit overnight. Scrub and rinse in the morning.
• Remove odours from food containers: Rub a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water over the inside of the container. Let it sit for a day or two and wash it off. Repeat, if necessary.
• Clean spills in the oven: Make a paste of 1/2 cup bicarbonate of soda and 3 tablespoons water. Smear the paste over the spills avoiding the heating elements. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, or for bad spills, overnight. Wipe up paste and loosened spill with a damp dish cloth. Wipe oven the interior with water or a 3:1 mixture of water and distilled vinegar. (Note: If you have a self-cleaning oven, don’t use this method.)

In the bathroom:

• Clean hairbrushes and combs: Remove any hair from the bristles, then immerse brushes and combs in a bicarbonate of soda/water solution. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes, then rinse well in hot water.

Throughout the home:

• Remove odours from upholstered furniture: Simply sprinkle the fabric with bicarbonate of soda and then vacuum.
• Erase crayon marks from white walls: Make a paste of equal parts baking soda and water, apply it to walls, let dry, and then wipe away. (Note: This method not recommended for coloured walls.)
• Freshen carpets and rugs: Sprinkle the carpet or rug with bicarbonate of soda, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then vacuum.

Miscellaneous:

• Remove burnt food from a grill grate: Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on the grill grate and scrub with a brush. Rinse and wipe clean.
• Clean lawn furniture: Mix 1/2 cup bicarbonate of soda with 200ml of warm water. Wipe down furniture and rinse. 

One of the best uses I have found for Bicarbonate of soda is skin irritation.  I have used it often to deal with itchy skin such as chicken pox and dermatitis.  The simplest way to use it is to put 2 big tablespoons in the bath (nothing else) and sit in the bath for at least 15 mins.  The other way is to make it into a paste using cooled, previously boiled water and put it directly on the irritatated parts.  It stops the itching sensation and the temptation to scratch, it is especially effective with chicken pox on kids!

The blog song for today is: "Our House" by Madness

 

TTFN

 

The Menorca Preservation Fund - helping to keep Menorca beautiful.

Meet the heroes who are tackling the problem of plastic here on Menorca, they are part of an organisation who are determined to keep our island beautiful! I have copied the text from their website outlining their vision.

"Menorca, which was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993, enjoys a combination of beautiful natural landscapes, wonderful flora and fauna and spectacular marine ecosystems, which need protecting and preserving in order to ensure its sustainability.

The key remit of the fund is to pool money from people who love Menorca, as we do, and to distribute those funds to local organisations, working on the most effective campaigns and projects which aim to protect and restore the island’s natural environment.

We particularly focus on five areas: marine conservation, landscape conservation (including local food), and the smart and sensible management of waste, fresh water and energy."

I am very pleased to have been recommended this organisation and hope to become involved in some of the cleanups here.

 

A big round of applause to these volunteers!  If you would like to volunteer or find out more information you can visit their website - https://menorcapreservationfund.org/

To volunteer there is a registration process and a small annual fee, I think it is worth it to contribute to the natural beauty of our little island.

The blog song of today is "Wishing Well" by Free

TTFN