As a result of living in a commercialised world, manufacturing and production have become the most dominant industries across the globe. Although these industries provide us with all of our goods, gadgets and must-haves, the health of the planet is bearing the brunt of this commercialisation. Despite frightening statistics and stories surrounding global warming occupying the front pages and the tops of news bulletins, there is an effective antidote to these greenhouse gases: recycling. As specialists in reclaimed products and reusing old materials, Cawarden Brick & Tile Company Limited outline how using reclaimed products benefit the environment.

1. Manufacturing

The production and manufacturing of any type of product or material has a damaging effect on the environment. With factories, fuel and other harmful ingredients being used around the clock to produce materials on a mass scale, it is no surprise to learn that using reused products will help counterbalance these production lines. By opting to reuse and recycle reclaimed products, you will play your part in reducing the number of products churned out from factories all around the world, thus decreasing the effect of global warming drastically.

Recycling products also uses less energy than sourcing materials from their natural elements. Metal products can be easily recycled, and use much less energy than what is used to smelt an ore. The same can be said for plastic recycling, paper recycling and a whole host of other materials, so to decorate your home with traditional, rustic products and to do your bit for the environment, opt for reclaimed products instead.

2. Deforestation

The rate of deforestation is one of the most alarming points of the global warming discussion. With latest figures suggesting that we lose 18.7 million acres of forest per year, and that over 27 football fields are harvested every second, it is clear to see that something must be done to ease the strain of deforestation. Thankfully, reclaimed timber products are an efficient way of counteracting the effects of deforestation. Timber that has been cared for properly and treated regularly will last for years, even if they have been used beforehand. Not only will you be benefiting the planet, but you will also save your bank account some distress. Wooden floorboards and furniture can fetch for hefty sums, but reclaimed timber products are substantially cheaper, yet there is no compromise on quality.

3. Transportation

On the subject of deforestation, there is another issue that comes with this practice. With the majority of wood harvested from areas such as Brazil, West Africa, North Australia and Russia, and with that, comes transportation. Once the trees have been felled, the wood then sets sail on their long journeys to the commercial hotspots, such as America, China and the UK. Transporting and importing these products pose another threat to the environment in the form of air miles and fuel consumption. By reducing the amount of wood that is needed, you not only reduce the amount of trees that are chopped down, but you also significantly reduce the amount of fuel that is used to ship these materials all over the world. Sourcing reclaimed products from within your own country allows you to retain the quality of wooden products, but it also counteracts the damaging effects of vehicles and machines needed to provide you with those products.

4. Packaging

It is not only the products and materials themselves that damages the environment, but the packaging they come in, too. As a result of this, the packaging is also one of the biggest contributing factors to the waste and landfill problem. According to statistics from National Geographic, over 90 percent of plastic is not recycled, and other studies suggest that 41 percent of cardboard and paper recycling is contaminated and cannot be recycled, providing an insight into the reality of the landfill problem in the UK. When opting for reclaimed products, all packaging is removed and you play your part in counteracting the current issue facing landfill sites.

Knowing What to Recycling

One of the most poignant issues surrounding the issues of recycling is knowing what to recycle and how to recycle. In the UK, rejected recyclable waste has increased by 84 percent since 2011, equating to over 338,000 tonnes of contaminated waste. With the amount of contaminated waste increasing year on year, we have outlined some of the most common recycling mistakes to help halt this rise in contaminated waste.

Plastic Bags

Many homeowners use plastic bags to collect their rubbish before putting them into their bins. However, if you are to do this, make sure you only place non-recyclable products, such as food waste, into the plastic bags, and not materials that can be recycled. Plastic bags cannot be recycled, so if you place any recyclable materials into these bags, those materials will end up at the landfill with the rest of your food waste.

Batteries

Knowing what to recycle is the most important part of recycling. One of the most innocuous ways of contaminating a batch of recyclable goods is including batteries into your recycling bins. To ensure all your goods make it to the appropriate destination, be sure to include your batteries in your general waste bin.

Contact Cawarden Brick & Tile Company Limited

At Cawarden Brick & Tile Company Limited, we accommodate for your desire to play your part in protecting the environment and have an array of quality, reclaimed products to choose from. Whether you want to invest in some timber floorboards, garden items or special paving bricks, we can provide industry standard materials to your home. For more information on all of our products and services, contact Cawarden Brick & Tile Company Limited today on 01889 574066 to speak to a member of our friendly and professional team. Alternatively, you can leave us a message via our online contact form and we will be in touch as soon as possible.,/p>