What is the hardest thing to recycle?

What is compost?

Climate Summit SpecialDo you know which are the 10 most difficult products to recycle? We show you some of the most complicated products in your day-to-day life to reuse. By Cristina Crespo GarayPublished 8 Aug 2018 16:24 CESTPhoto by UnsplashThis story is part of Planet or Plastic? a multi-year initiative to raise awareness about the global plastic waste crisis. Learn how you can reduce your use of single-use plastics and take the pledge.

A sustainable future necessarily involves integrating the habit of reducing, recycling and reusing into all areas of our lives. But can we recycle all materials? Here are some of the most difficult products to reuse.

As they cannot be separated from the product they contain, coffee capsules cannot be considered as packaging and put in the yellow container. Despite the fact that brands are developing methods to minimize the impact of this waste, this increasingly used product is becoming one of the most difficult packaging to recycle.

Recycling

When recycled, electricity consumption is 80% lower for the production of the new part, causing less environmental impact and avoiding the extraction of new raw materials. It is estimated that recycled scrap currently accounts for more than 40% of the world’s steel needs, produced in electric furnaces.

The recycling of cement allows the reuse of rubble, also reducing construction costs. A special shredder is used for recycling, they are able to operate from uncontaminated cement waste, i.e. pure cement, with no traces of wood, plastics, paper or similar construction materials.

Recycling gypsum in construction is feasible, but it is a material that if disposed of incorrectly can emit hydrogen sulfide, which is flammable and highly toxic, contaminating soil and groundwater.

As they cannot be separated from the product they contain, coffee capsules cannot be considered as packaging and be included in the yellow container. Although brands are developing methods to minimize the impact of this waste, this increasingly used product is becoming one of the most difficult packaging to recycle.

Plastics that are difficult to recycle

Some common consumer products are packaged with a mixture of materials that makes them difficult to separate and recycle, such as cardboard cartons or polystyrene and aluminum plastics used for liquid and refrigerated foods. The recycling of these materials can be carried out in plants with the necessary technology and at a high cost, due to the fact that their components must be separated.

The Aquae Foundation calculates that 1 liter of oil can contaminate 1,000 liters of water. In addition, the grease they contain can cause blockages in pipes and pipes, and when it reaches rivers and seas, it creates a surface film that affects the living beings that inhabit them.Therefore, due to its great impact on the environment, it is essential to recycle the oil and, therefore, clean points and urban containers should be used.In this other article of EcologíaVerde we tell you more about What to do with used cooking oil.

Products impossible to recycle

Plastics in particular have proven difficult to recycle.composite products are particularly difficult to recycle because of the need to separate polymer fractions from other materials.these may be difficult to recycle but their use in automobiles has the effect of lightening the vehicle and thus reducing the fuel consumption.plastics in particular have proven difficult to recycle.composite products are particularly difficult to recycle because of the need to separate polymer fractions from other materials.these may be difficult to recycle but their use in automobiles has the effect of lightening the vehicle and thus reducing the fuel consumption. Plastics may be difficult to recycle but their use in automobiles has the effect of lightening the vehicle and thus reducing the fuel consumption.plastic bottles are one of the most waste found in garbage dumps and that are more difficult to recycle. Workers from the conventional energy sector for exampleare much more difficult to recycle for the wind power sector than shipbuilding workers.