How to Properly Recycle When Spring Cleaning

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Spring cleaning is the time of year when you remove all the unwanted materials from your home. It is an annual house cleaning that coincides with the warming temperatures where people open their windows and let the fresh air in. But how can you combine spring cleaning with recycling to get the best of both worlds?

Instead of simply bagging up the trash and letting unwanted items pile up in closets and storage areas, you can employ a recycling system in your home. The result protects the environment and makes cleaning the home during the spring less taxing.

What Can Be Recycled?

There are many items around your home that can be recycled. The first step is locating all nearby recycling centers. Then take the items when ready and earn a little profit when you turn them in. 

  • Aluminum
  • Cardboard
  • Glass
  • Paper 
  • Plastics 
  • Steel & More 

You can rinse out and crush the cans so they can be put into large bags for recycling. Cardboard boxes if strong enough make for good moving boxes. But for those that are torn, thin, or compromised simply fold them up for storage until you take them to the recycling plant. 

Rinse out glass containers. However, you can leave the labels on since they will be removed by the recycling process. Store paper items such as magazines, newspapers, telephone books, and the like in smaller boxes or bags so they are easy to carry. 

Rinsing and crushing plastic bottles for storage saves space and doesn’t attract insects. Certain metals such as steel, copper, and those used in electronic items can be recycled as well. Find recycling centers that accept metal and electric devices after your home cleaning session. 

How Can You Employ Reusable Items?

You can cut down on waste and make your next spring cleaning far less taxing by relying more on reusable items. 

Rags, Sponges, & Towels: Instead of using paper towels, rely more on reusable items such as rags, sponges, and towels for cleanup. You can use a simple homemade cleaner such as one-part vinegar to seven parts water for quick cleaning while not filling up the trash with paper towels. 

Reusable Batteries: Disposable batteries can become quite expensive. Instead, purchase reusable batteries with a charger to save money over the long run. It also means less to throw out during spring cleaning. 

Reusable Bags: Instead of collecting or throwing away plastic bags, rely on reusable bags when you shop. They will hold up more, last far longer, and are washable so they can be reused repeatedly. 

Compost: For both food and yard waste, you can instead put more nutrients into the ground for your lawn or garden by learning to compost. This form of recycling can do wonders for your landscape or garden when properly employed. 

When you plan for your next spring cleaning, be sure to make a quick note of what recycling opportunities are available. Your next house cleaning can include recycling unwanted materials and purchasing goods that can be recycled or have a long life in your home.


Contact Brickley Environmental Today 

With numerous dangers facing your home or business, calling the professionals at Brickley Environmental is a good place to start. We offer our knowledge and experience along with the tools to detect and remove infestations of various types. The services provided by Brickley Environmental include the following. 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Mold Remediation
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal 
  • Demolition 
  • Hazardous Waste Removal

If you are facing any of these issues, call Brickley Environmental today. Our friendly, courteous staff will take your call and answer your questions, so you can make the best-informed decision about what to do next. At Brickley Environmental, we are here to help you. 

The Effect of Electronic Waste on Children

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The advancement of digital devices has changed the world – mostly for the better. However, there is a growing issue of electronic waste or e-waste that is having a devastating effect, particularly on children. The buildup of e-waste over the past couple of decades has been enormous. The health effects are only now being fully seen, especially among children. 

What is Electronic Waste? 

E-waste is the term used to describe electronic products that are on the verge of no longer being useful or useable. This can include electronics such as TVs, smartphones, fax and printer machines, computers, etc. If any of these electronics break or become outdated, that is when they often become eligible for being refurbished or recycled. 

E-waste recycling is a massive market with facilities placed all around the world. It is estimated that more than 18 million children are engaged in e-waste recycling. Although recycling itself is a good thing, certain elements that can be found in electronics can also be harmful to humans, especially children, such as lead and mercury. Such exposure can hinder their mental development and create serious, long-term health issues. 

Electronic Waste Is A Growing Issue

The volume of e-waste around the world has grown by more than 20% just in the past five years. Today, it is estimated that the amount of e-waste created is the equivalent of filling up 350 cruise ships.

As the use of computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices continues to grow, so will the volume of electronic waste. With just over 17% being sent to proper recycling centers, the rest is dumped illegally. This exposes its harmful elements to adults and children. And while the effects on those living in third-world countries are the most apparent, cases of wrongful e-waste and contamination are growing in countries such as the United States and Europe as well. 

The effect on health is considerable. The effect that e-waste has on the environment is quite damaging. With more areas subject to illegal dumping, the underground market for e-waste materials continues to grow. That means more toxic chemicals being released into the environment making for a more dangerous world. 

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If you have electronic or e-waste on your property, Brickley Environmental can help. We offer our knowledge, experience, and equipment that will identify and remove your waste. Our trained technicians understand how to safely remove waste from properties like yours. In addition, we offer several other services as well which include the following. 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Demolition
  • Hazardous Waste Removal 
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal
  • Mold Remediation & More 

For additional information about e-waste, click here to view the EPA website.

Sustainable Management of C&D Materials

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Construction and demolition materials, often known as C&D materials, consist of the basic products used to create residences, buildings, and structures. These materials are used during the construction process, which subsequently means they will have to be broken apart during the demolition phase. 

The result is that such materials will need to be properly disposed of. Quite often during the construction process, materials will be leftover and not used. Such materials include but are not limited to:

  • Asphalt, concrete and bricks or masonry
  • Wood, gypsum, and glass
  • Metal, plastics, and other components

Other components often consist of items salvaged from other projects, such as doors, plumbing, and the like. There are also natural materials that are removed from the property for the purposes of construction, such as soil, trees, stumps, and rocks. 

Amount of C&D Material Debris

In the US alone, the amount of C&D material either created by demolition or leftover from construction is estimated to be 600 million tons each year. This is more than twice the amount of municipal solid waste that is generated. 

It is true that demolition is responsible for around 90% of the C&D material produced. Roughly 455 million tons were reused in some manner with the remaining being sent to landfills. 

Benefits of Reducing C&D Material Disposal

While a considerable amount of C&D material is being reused or repurposed, there are still nearly 145 million tons that are not. The advantages of reducing the amount of material generated are considerable. These include:

  • Fewer disposal facilities
  • Reduce building & demolition expenses
  • Offset environmental impact
  • Reduce use of landfill space 

Creating less overall waste is also beneficial because certain types of waste materials simply cannot be repurposed. By reducing the amount that is generated, more can be repurposed or recycled. This also helps the environment. 

In addition to the cleaner air, land, and waterways, the reduction of C&D materials provides benefits across the board. By focusing on how much C&D materials are used, the construction process can become more efficient and waste less material. For demolition practices, finding ways to properly reuse or repurpose materials leads to greater efficiency, less waste, and more jobs as companies form.

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

For those who are interested in the proper disposal of construction and demolition materials, Brickley Environmental has the knowledge, experience, and equipment to do the job. Over the years, Brickley Environmental has helped many home and business owners dispose of unwanted materials, including those used in construction and demolition. 

Call today and find out more about how Brickley Environmental can help you clean up a construction or demolition site. Contact us today and discover what Brickley Environmental can offer you. 

For more information on sustainable management of construction and demolition materials, click here to visit the EPA website.

The Hazards of E-Waste

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What was once an issue that barely caused a ripple is now being seen as a major problem. Electronic waste or E-Waste has increased many-fold over the past few years. Currently, around six million pounds of discarded electronic devices are being processed each month at one plant in Fresno run by ERI. That is a fraction of what is being discarded by Americans every month. 

With a new generation of 5G devices, the number of devices that will soon be hitting the recycling bins will be astounding. And while it is good that many of these devices will either be recycled whole or have their important components such as aluminum, copper, and steel removed so they can be reused, it is still a massive issue. 

Why E-Waste is Growing

The answer is simple, the thirst for the latest, fastest electronics means that more people are getting rid of their older ones even if they still are in good condition. Consider that from 2010 to 2017, Americans increased their spending on new communication devices and telephones almost five times over. However, the $71 billion spent in 2017 may be dwarfed by the amount that will be spent on a new generation of devices that promises even faster download speeds. 

The introduction of 5G will result in a changeover of devices that may be on a greater scale compared to when people switched from black and white televisions to color. This transition is great for businesses that produce 5G devices but represents a massive challenge for the proper recycling and disposal of older gadgets, mobile devices, and other components that are not up to the 5G standards. 

Hazardous Waste From Electronic Devices

You may be surprised to learn about the hazardous materials found inside many devices. Substances such as mercury and beryllium pose dangers to the health of the environment and all living things that come into contact with these materials. Although their presence in individual devices is quite small and generally harmless, when added together with other disposed materials, it represents a significant problem. 

Currently, only 19 states have laws governing the disposal of E-Waste. This means 31 states in which electronic waste can be dumped into landfills. Even in the states that ban such practices, it is left to the consumer to properly dispose of or recycle their old devices. 

One way to address the situation is to make electronic devices sturdier and more resilient. This means having batteries that can easily be replaced. Modern rechargeable batteries are often good for only two years. Not being able to replace them only sends the devices to the garbage bin. 

That is why better solutions are needed if business owners and consumers are to address the growing issue of electronic waste.  

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If you are facing a situation with electronic waste or E-Waste, Brickley Environmental has the knowledge, experience, and equipment needed to help solve your problem. We offer a wide range of waste management solutions in the Southern California area.

For more information on E-Waste, click here to visit the EPA website.

Recycling Programs Initiated for Unwanted Electronic Equipment and Styrofoam Products

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Recently, the residents of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, gained access to a new, free recycling center for unwanted electronic devices and some forms of Styrofoam. Thanks to a grant by the Environmental Commission, this new program promises to be more convenient for residents to dispose of unwanted waste materials.

Electronic Devices

The devices that qualify for proper recycling in the new facility include, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Monitors, televisions, and computers
  • Tablets, laptops, and e-readers
  • Printers, copy machines, and fax machines

Before dropping off your electronic items for recycling, you may want to consider selling or donating the ones that are still in working condition. There are several places that accept donations where people can use electronic devices for their needs. In some cases, you may want to remove all your information from the drive itself.

Given the amount of electronic waste in the US, having a place to recycle such devices provides the citizens of Berkeley Heights a way to get rid of the unwanted materials with a clear conscious. It also provides a means to recycle parts, wiring, and components into new products. This approach will help save money over the long run by reusing old materials.

Styrofoam

A new recycling program for products made from Styrofoam has also been launched in Berkeley Heights. The products that may be recycled should have all adhesives, stickers, and tape removed before disposing of. Some of the products that qualify include the following:

  • Packaging foam for furniture and appliances
  • Block form foam
  • White clean foam

Be advised that there are several products made from Styrofoam that cannot be included for recycling purposes, such as foodservice foam, dark-colored foam, egg cartons, peanut foam, cardboard foam, and foam that is dirty or wet.

This may be of concern to residents who have considerable amounts of Styrofoam products but cannot have them recycled because of the additional inks and coloring that is present. This is why egg cartons are not allowed even though they are mostly made from Styrofoam.

Brickley Environmental Offers Answers

If you have questions about what to do with the waste generated by Styrofoam or old electronic devices in your residence, office, or facility, call Brickley Environmental today and get the answers you need.