Recycle, Renovate and Restore

What should be recycled?

Aluminium foil, batteries, cans and tins, cooking oil, electrical equipment, engine oil, glass, mobile phones, paper, printer cartridges, Tetra Pak cartons, tyres, paint, plastics, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, etc.
Home composting involves garden leaves, food waste, paper, etc. These biodegradable items can be saved from incineration and will provide good quality soil for the next year. Much of the soil on sale in garden centres is from irreplaceable peat bogs from places such as Ireland, so try to buy, if you must, non peat soil. Limestone pavements are also popular rocks seen in garden centres which are precious natural habitats, and get a water butt for the collection of rainwater.


Avoid biological detergents in favour of Ecover, avoid products tested on animals, avoid hardwood furniture where 300 year old trees in rainforests, such as Sumatra, are cut down and transported thousands of miles for a coffee table that is not appreciated. Using precious woods for musical instruments, snooker cues, coffins, etc., is anti social as sustainable woods from quickly grown forests are available. Bamboo is a good source of wood for furniture and recycling furniture can be creative and attractive in home and office.
Be aware that soft furnishings, carpets for instance, mattresses, sofas, etc., often are sprayed with flame retardants and other chemicals "of high concern". These chemicals can leach out from the furniture into the air and be breathed in, causing lung conditions.
Cut flowers are grown in Africa and South America and flown across the workd by air, an expensive and wasteful process. They are grown with huge amounts of pesticides that poison the soil - and those workers involved with their production,some of whom have allergies, cancers and congenital malformations.
Article: Wendy Stokes  https://wendystokes.co.uk