10-Year Challenge – and the Real Problems We Are Facing …

A few weeks back, the 10-year challenge was probably the most talked about topic amongst Brexit and Trump’s Polar Vortex theory, which brings us back to the actual problem – climate change. To bring you up to speed if you’re the type to shy away from social media or like to hide under a rock, the challenge consisted of posting a selfie of yourself taken in 2019 and compare it to one taken in 2009 and you win if you look better now. Congratulations, you found a filter, but it does pose the question, are we really winning?

To dig a little deeper than the surface of an online social photo many people used the hype to highlight more important changes that have taken place in the last decade and illustrate the effects climate change has had on the world in this time. We cannot ignore the fact the Arctic is melting; coral reefs are dying and our love for the sea no longer exists. Sorry Trump, Polar Vortex aside, Global Warming has won this battle!

Waste is one of the biggest problems and all joking aside, at least the 10-year challenge has highlighted the negative impact our lack of recycling has had on the environment. Toxic chemicals are constantly being released from waste piled up in landfill sites and through some simple changes we can help to reduce the amount of pollution caused by our rubbish. Recycling is such a crucial part in aiding the environment and we can do it from home, school and at work. Look at some of the effortless ways we can introduce recycling into our daily routine’s:

Recycle old technology –

Recycling at work is straightforward and often simple to introduce and maintain in the office, it may also save you money but most importantly it will help towards protecting the environment. One of the many ways offices and workplaces can limit the amount of waste they are responsible for is to recycle old technology. Aside from laptops, smartphones and batteries, printer cartridges can also be used again. Take a look at the long list of electronic devices that can be recycled here: http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/computing/recycle-technology-smartphone-batteries-printer-cartridge-laptop-tablet-11364214855182.

Have an old unused iPad?  iPad-Recycle offers a service where you can recoup money from your old iPads/Apple accessories. Do your part for the climate and get something in return.

Buy recycled paper and print on both sides –

Imagine how many pieces of paper a business might go through a day, now multiple that by a week, a month, a year… you get the picture. By using recycled paper and printing on both sides we can utilise the material and again restrict the amount of waste we generate. If we then need to dispose of the paper we’ve used, recycle it. To paint a picture of the benefits we would reap by contributing to recycling in work; a ton of paper would save 17 trees, perhaps if every working establishment was onboard, we might be able to salvage what is left of the Amazon rainforest. Let’s not stop at the paper we use to work on, why not recycle the newspapers we read on our lunchbreak too.

Use recycling bins –

As well as recycling in the office we can implement the same changes at home. The use of recycling bins is imperative to help reduce Global Warming. It is important to make sure both places are equipped with bins to maximise our reuse of plastic, paper and metal. More and more companies are providing businesses and homeowners with the tools to recycle effectively such as recycling boxes with a secure cover. These will not only conceal the waste but will stop any of it blowing away when put outside for collection. Keep your recycling contained with these recycling box lids.

Reuse your morning coffee cup –

According to the Independent only one per cent of single use takeaway coffee cups are recycled. Reuse your morning coffee cup and invest in a dependable vessel you can use every morning. Most people may assume takeaway coffee cups are recyclable however, they are made up of a small plastic lining which can have a significant impact on the environment if we are constantly throwing them away.

Hopefully after reading this article, we hope you have found at least one form of recycling to implement into your daily routine.