Achieving proper waste management is essential in order to avoid the destruction of nature. Consumer society produces a shocking amount of waste and this must be recycled in order to stop the environmental degradation of our frail island. According to certain studies carried out by the Cabildo of Lanzarote, everyday, each person on this island produces 1.70 kg of waste. Much of this waste could be avoided by consuming more responsibly, eliminating unnecessary packaging, non returnable bottles and single use products.

If we keep in mind that the composition of a garbage bag is: 45 % organic materials, 21 % paper and cardboard, 8% glass, 6% plastic, 5% metallic products, 15 % others, we can see how easy it is to reduce the garbage amount we send to the rubbish dump, as more than 80% of this waste may be recovered.

ADVANTAGES OF RECYCLING

Recycling completely eliminates waste and changes it into useful products.

It is cheaper than rubbish dumps or incineration and in addition, profits may be obtained.

It may save natural resources, e.g. you can obtain aluminium from aluminium cans.

We can use old papers to make new ones, or we can keep cutting down trees.

We can refine used lube oils or we can keep on using virgin oil to produce it. Considering the world’s petroleum reserves it is estimated that these shall last for only 35 years.

Energy may be saved, e.g.: to manufacture a ton of recycled paper uses only 60% of the energy to produce a ton of virgin paper.

By recycling only one aluminium can, we can save the amount of energy equivalent to having a TV on for three hours.

If we reduce energy consumption, primitive lands would be protected against petroleum extraction, refinery pollution would be reduced and we would depend, to a minor extent, on foreign petroleum supplies.

Recycling helps to fight against many environmental problems, such as:

The greenhouse effect, water pollution, ozone depletion, soil erosion, acid rain... On our island we currently have 4 recycling centres.

ADVICE

The key is to think about the future. Before buying a product and its corresponding packaging, think about the waste it will produce. Think about the packaging as part of the product. You pay for what you get and as packaging is designed to be immediately thrown away, what you are buying is only well presented waste.

Choose reusable containers, recyclable containers (glass, aluminium), or those that may be used as compost (paper) -Buy unpackaged products. - Buy reusable products (rechargeable batteries)

Use cloth bags to carry your shopping. This is very important. In the Canaries, shopping bags are free; if we would pay for them, as in other European countries, this non recyclable waste would be reduced.

METALS ALUMINIUM

Aluminium is one of the most valuable materials for recycling. It is much cheaper to recycle an aluminium can than to manufacture it using new metal. Other aluminium articles such as screens, window frames, garden furniture... should be deposited in a recycling centre “punto limpio”. Aerosol cans, although technically recyclable, the recycling process is very expensive and the products obtained are difficult to sell. Generally, propellants are flammable and sometimes they explode within the waste transport trucks. The best solution is to avoid buying them.

Let’s recycle paper, glass, cans and avoid throwing oil down the drain. Collect your used oils, paints, ink cartridges, etc... in proper containers and then deposit them in a recycling centre “punto limpio”. Future generations will thank you. This serious problem of waste treatment is particularly relevant on the frail island of La Graciosa, where waste must be transported to Lanzarote to be recycled.