It is vitally important that humanity adjusts their behavior in order to live in harmony with the environment. Leaving behind an ecosystem that operates properly for future generations is only possible if everyone does his part. Many businesses, however, are not doing theirs. We can only succeed in keeping the planet green if they are on board. If the actions of businesses do not match those of the citizens, it is counterproductive and no progress can be made. There are several environmental hazards with which businesses tend to be rather careless, but they are particularly casual when it comes to industrial batteries. Materials such as lead, sulfuric acid, cadmium, and alkaline electrolytes are found in these batteries and can damage the environment irreparably if simply thrown out. Proper disposal is required in order to prevent adverse effects to the planet. Waste disposal law requires businesses to take responsibility for the proper processing of waste that they produce as part of their business operations. It clearly states that people must follow certain procedures in relation to used industrial batteries when they have they are no longer needed. As some of the materials that are used to make these batteries are highly toxic, they are actually classified by law as being industrial waste. Many businesses must take the used batteries to professional processors and regionally approved handlers because they do not often have adequate processing facilities on site. Once a battery is used, it must be taken to a plant that is qualified to handle it in order to diminish any harm that might come to the environment. So, if your company uses industrial batteries, what steps are you required by law to take?

- There must be a designated handler of industrial waste who is qualified to do so.

- A specialist subcontractor must be hired to transport used batteries to a processing facility.

- You must keep accurate records of how many batteries you buy, use and pass on to your chosen subcontractor.

Performing these duties is not an option. It is a legal requirement. Large fines are handed down to companies found noncompliant with the legal mandates enforced by the nation. Additionally, fines are not the only financial hardship a business faces if they choose to break the law. Imagine the public relations headache such a company would face. In a world in which it is more important than ever to go green, potential customers and businesses tend to shy away from a business that appears as if they do not care about the environment.

Ask yourself, when was the last time you recycled any batteries? It is quite possible that you never have, which is disappointing, but not surprising, as less than 5% of batteries get recycled. It is a strange anomaly as recycling batteries is no more difficult than recycling paper, plastic, glass, etc. which most of us at least try to recycle these days.

Some people say that recycling batteries is too difficult or inconvenient, but that is no more than an excuse, and a poor one at that. Lots of supermarkets have recycling points for batteries, and you can also find them in some libraries and schools. All you have to do is take your batteries and drop them in a box. Not hard, right? If you cannot think of anywhere in your local area that recycles batteries than do a quick search on Google for ‘recycle batteries + the name of your town’.

Let’s now look at the most common battery types in a bit more detail…

Button batteries :  These batteries, which are used in watches and hearing aids amongst other things, can have the mercury-oxide and silver-oxide reclaimed from them. This means that not only are there environmental benefits but there are economic ones too. For this reason, jewelers and pharmacies are happy to take these expired batteries from you because they can actually make some money from them.

Car batteries : Most modern countries have laws that require car battery sellers to collect old used batteries. The used batteries can be crushed into small pieces, with the plastic components being recycled into new plastic products and the recycled lead being turned back into new batteries or sent elsewhere for other uses.

Household batteries : These are the most common types of batteries and you will surely have at least some of them in use your house at the moment. They are not easy to turn into new batteries, but they should be taken to recycling points anyway. Though they may not be able to be used for any new purpose, at least they will be disposed of properly rather than being left in a landfill to damage the environment.

Now Try : Battery Disposal

Due to the modern attitude to recycling and green issues the waste management business has taken on a somewhat more evident role in our lives, and it is with detailed care that we carry out the disposal of our waste material in order to ensure that the highest level of recycling is carried out.

With greater production costs and haphazard disposal of packaging and other materials both exerting a strong influence on current waste management ideas it is no surprise that the greatest attention is paid to reusing what may be reused and disposing of the remainder with carefull planning.

We cannot single out as alone commercial waste disposal where new ideas are taking shape, for industry in general is now expected to work to strict rules in the area of waste management practices. In cases where there are many staff involved the need for essential services such as skip hire is clearly evident, for better efficiency comes when access to such is simple.

It is accepted that the current approach to waste management is of excellent benefit to the planet as a whole; we have seen widespread pollution of land and sea due to haphazard waste disposal means in the pastof late, and the realisation that a great deal of our daily rubbish can be recycled is set to bring about a massive reduction in landfill usage.

In industrial terms it is important to remember that waste management is not just concerned with skip hire and similar but extends to many more detailed practices. Waste is commonplace and it is important to be certain a professional in the field has analysed any project in order to see where savings can be achieved.

Every one of us can have an effect in the recycling world by taking a close look at what we waste at home: if you have a look in your kitchen you will realise that there is a great deal of unnecessary packaging, and though manufacturers are gradually coming around to tackling the problem, it is up to us to be sensible and separate that which can be recycled from all that can’t be reused.

The subject of waste management is not just a concern to industrial and household waste, as it is a fact that there are many other times when skip hire services become a necessary requirement. Public events, for example, often see crowds of people in a defined space, and in these cases such facilities are a necessary requirement.

It is easy to present a case for efficient and value for money waste management methods and it is to the benefit of us all that things are now the norm. With the reduction in plain waste being sent to landfill we can expect to see a far greater emphasis on recycling material that is fit for the purpose from now on.

During the World War II, resources were scarce and Governments ran massive recycling campaigns to ensure as little as possible was wasted. Here are a few examples of what was recycled and for what reason…

- Metal and tine were recycled for use in aircraft, tanks and weapons.

- Left over food provided feed for pigs, chickens and goats and people would bring their scraps to communal bins.

- Rubber was collected to make tires.

- Boiled bones were used to make glue for aircraft or made into glycerin for bombs.

Households were also encouraged to repair belongings as opposed to just buying new ones. Campaigns like ‘Make Do & Mend’ gave advice on how to recycle textiles and patch up their worn out clothes. As a result, knitting soared in popularity around this time.

On war time rations, families had to plan meals carefully so as to minimize wastage. With no fridges or freezers, perishable food had to be purchased in small quantities and substitutes had to be found for foods that were no longer available. Meat fat was saved to make pastry, and even the cream from milk was collected in a jar and shaken to make butter and buttermilk.

It is sad that it took people so long to recognize the importance of recycling, and also that it took such miserable circumstances to bring it to our attention. Nowadays, we know the importance of recycling to preserve the Earth’s resources and to reduce pollution.

However, we are still failing to recycle a lot of items that are recyclable. The reasons for recycling are different now from what they were 60 years ago, but we can still take inspiration from our grandparents.

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Ware 4 Recycling Bins Ltd have been promoting cost effective recycling bins, trolleys and waste containers for over 5 years.

Below are some of the environmental and money saving benefits of recycling paper…

Saves Trees – The most obvious reason to recycle paper is for saving trees which provide vital oxygen for the planet. Just 1 ton of recycled paper saves at least 16 of them.

Wildlife Preservation – Recycling paper helps protect the habitats of beautiful birds, insects and a wide variety of wildlife that lives in those trees.

Cheaper Paper – Everyone likes to save money and recycled paper is often cheaper than ‘new’ paper. Over the course of a life-time, you could save yourself well over a thousand dollars by opting for the recycled versions of the paper products that you regularly buy.

Less Water Consumption – To make ‘new’ paper requires vast amounts of water, whereas the process of recycling paper uses up much less of this important resource.

Saves Electricity – Over 400 kilowatt hours of energy are saved by recycling paper instead of making a fresh 1 ton batch, and that could be used in heating and lighting homes instead.

Reduces Oil Dependence – Oil production has some horrific effects on the environment and any chance to reduce oil consumption should be taken. Saving 2 barrels per ton of recycled paper really makes a difference in the long term.

Less Pollution – Paper can burn in municipal waste incinerators that can spew out all kinds of air pollutants. When many incinerators are in urban locations, everyone would benefit from breathing better air if there were fewer of them.

Creates Jobs – Recycling paper is good for communities. Someone has to actually do all that recycling which means more jobs are created. With the global recession in full swing this is a welcome side effect of recycling paper.

Sets A Precedent – Paper is probably the easiest thing to recycle, so it is a good starting point for those who do not currently recycle at all. Having gotten into the habit of recycling paper, and seeing that it really is not difficult, people are more likely to start recycling other items too.

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This article is brought to you by ‘Paper Log Maker‘. To learn more about them please visit http://www.paperlogmaker.org.uk