Recycling is an exciting concept since it not only refers to the recycling of a product/resource more than once but it also refers to the recycling of waste and by-products for functional and/or practical purposes.

Water, for example, can be recycled throughout the house and the garden over again. A domestic sewage treatment plant allows black and grey water to be recycled for further use in the garden, to top up a swimming pool, or channelled back into the cistern of a toilet. Bath water can be recycled into the garden to irrigate the plants ( .. and assuming you use biodegradable products … which is a simple purchasing habit to get into if you are not already doing it ..).
Biodiesel, for example, is a vegetable oiled-based fuel that is produced from recycled cooking oil (although it can also be made from canola or soy oil) and used to run specific models of diesel engines – cars, busses, generators, etc. It is biodegradable and non-toxic and produces roughly sixty to seventy percent less carbon emissions.

The important thing about re-cycling is that it encourages us to use what is available and limits the need to PRODUCE MORE. Bearing in mind that some recycling processes still incur the need for production (and therefore energy) and while it is not always practical to recycle everything, a re-cycling mentality will go a far way in reducing our consumption levels and the necessity to continually produce more…

Rainwater Tanks:
Rain water can be collected off roofs and stored in rain water tanks. This serves to reduce the amount of water provided by the municipality and therefore reduces the pressure placed on national rivers, dams etc. It also has the added benefit of reducing the monthly household water costs.

Water treatment systems:
Water treatment devices can be installed to provide households with re-usable water for irrigating the garden, topping up swimming pools, etc (such as the lilliput® system – see PRODUCT RANGE)

Organic matter:
One of the easiest things to recycle is all the organic waste from the kitchen. For those who have herb and vegetable gardens it is easy to set up a compost heap and throw the organic matter into the compost and have free, hands on compost for your garden.

For those who do not have a large garden /herb and vegetable gardens organic matter can easily be thrown into a small worm farm that can be set up outside and takes up very little space, especially those worm farms that come in tiers. There is abundant information on setting up an easy-to-use worm farm on the internet. A worm farm is not always practical but it has the function of easily and neatly turning your organic leftovers into excellent compost for your garden.

A recycling station:
Create a mini recycling station at home: this can be in the form of big black bins or bags or boxes. Label them according to the items you most collect and throw away. The most common categories for a recycling station would be: paper, glass, plastic, tins, organic matter,

Clothing/Fabrics:
Recycle your clothing. When that outfit is no longer “fashionable” or is “too small/too big” recycle it/dye it/ pass it on …

All too often a towel which has faded gets tossed away - which, if you are on the receiving end of it is not a bad thing. However, choose to freshen up old towels by having them died – this extends their lifespan. Once this is not longer possible pass it on, or cut it up into dishcloths, floors swabs, etc …

PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL IF YOU HAVE ANY GOOD PRACTICAL IDEAS/TIPS or OUTLETS FOR RECYCLED GOODS THAT CAN BE ADDED TO OUR LIST

info@solien.co.za