Busting Common Myths About E-Waste
Now that summer has finally arrived, many families are hitting the road for those long awaited vacations, which typically means packing meals for roadside picnics. Though many recycling bills are being processed across the U.S., the global plastic waste crisis continues to be an issue. Out of the 8.3 billion tons of plastic in the world, about 6.3 billion tons is trash, and most is never recycled. In 2018 only 8.7 percent of the world’s plastic waste was recycled in the U.S. Recycling not only keeps our environment clean, but contributes overall to a more sustainable future. Below are some recycling apps to help keep your Summer travels a little greener.
ShareWaste: While traveling, most choose to eat meals at rest stops and end up throwing away many plastic baggies and utensils. ShareWaste has a global map that connects users who want to be more eco-friendly with people in the area who are willing to share their compost bin, worm farms, recycling bins etc. with a simple message through the app.
Recycle Nation: Many people want to recycle, but just don’t have the knowledge on where to start, or what materials can even be recycled. Recycle Nation is an app designed to improve recycling knowledge via one of the most comprehensive recycling databases in the world. Recycle Nation helps users determine what items are recyclable, and which are not, and provides a map of nearby recycling locations for recyclable items as well as hours of operation, and even directions.
Recycle Right: Much like the previous app, the Recycle Right app provides knowledge of which items go in which recycling bin, and locations of the nearest recycling drop-off sites. Recycle Right also has an A-Z materials recycle guide, and provides information for all kinds of recyclable materials, including car batteries. The app provides “Handy Tips” on composting, how to create worm farms, and includes a section for “Leftover Recipes” for users who would like to reduce food waste.
RecycleSmart: In a partnership with Planet Ark, this app uses a list of over 500 Australian councils, and allows users to find nearby recycling drop-off locations and special waste facilities. Like other recycling apps, RecycleSmart enables users to browse through a menu of items and learn which items are recyclable or compostable. However, unlike most other apps, RecycleSmart also enables users to report recycling issues in their region in order to help improve recycling rates.
Whether you’re eating sandwiches on the beach or backpacking through the mountains this summer, recycling is an important part of keeping our planet clean, and these apps are a great way to make sure your vacation is eco-friendly.
These apps are available on both IOS and Android devices.
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