Becoming a Green citizen is a trend - that more and more people are doing to solve the problem of the environment. One of the required skills to have a sustainable lifestyle is waste sorting. In this article, we will explain the benefits of waste sorting and recycling packaging.  

“Rewards” from sorting waste 

By waste sorting and recycling, we will achieve more and more “rewards” for the economy, the environment, and ourselves.  

For the economy

All countries in the world are changing from linear economies to circular economies, where waste from one industry becomes raw materials for other industries. This movement encourages the recycling waste of materials, reducing foreign dependency on raw materials between countries. It likewise creates more jobs, and economic opportunities, and encourages the development of technologies. According to a report by The National Recycling Coalition, recycling has created 1.1 million jobs, $236 billion in gross annual sales, and $37 billion in annual payroll. (NEMS)

After sorting, we can separate trash to recycle into new materials for other industries. It will reduce the demand for non-renewable resources. In addition, making products from recyclables helps save energy. Do you know it takes 95% less energy to recycle aluminum than to make it from raw materials? (source: NEMS)

Plastic household waste can make these multi-use plastic chairs

For the environment

Sorting and recycling packaging waste reduce the amount of trash in the landfills, oceans, and the demand for wide incinerators. Every year, plastic debris kills over 100,000 mammals and a million seabirds (Source: UN). Recycling waste improves the land, water, and air pollution, and protects ecosystems and wild animal species. 

This process helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because it lowers the demand for materials from fuel sources. It is a fact that 24% of greenhouse gas in the US in 2020 came from the industry. Burning fuel for power or heat, and through chemical reactions during the production of new products from raw materials, produces direct emissions (Source: EPA).

 

Sorting and recycling packaging waste reduces the amount of trash in the landfills, saves energy and protects the ecosystems.

For ourselves

Practicing waste sorting habits helps educate and raise awareness about the environment among other people, especially children. Kids can learn that they should have responsibilities and actions to protect the environment. 

A better living environment decreases health problems that relate to pollution, such as fine dust and microplastics. Microplastics from packaging waste can be the reason for cancers and destroy DNA (Source: Weforum). Air pollution due to fine dust, which came from mining and burning fossil fuel, can lead to breathing problems, skin allergies, or even heart attack and lungs cancer (Source: EPA)

Sorting and recycling packaging waste can be a way to save money. The kitchen decomposes garbage like eggshells and vegetable peels can become fertilizers for your garden. Non-biodegradable waste, like glass bottles, can be reused for different purposes, such as glass vases or storage bottles for tea, coffee, and dry foods. 

How are countries in the world sorting waste and recycling?

To build circular economies, several countries have many activities and policies regarding waste sorting and recycling. 

Japan has been well-known for its strict rules in waste sorting and its sophisticated waste recycling and management system. Waste in Japan is divided into four big groups: combustible, incombustible, recyclable, and oversized garbage (Source: JW). Thanks to the proper garbage disposal and the development of technologies, old PET bottles are melted into plastic. It can become the material to produce new PET bottles (source: Japantimes) or other products, such as clothes or carpets. 

In the period 2000 to 2014, up to 80% of waste collected in the Netherlands is recycled. Waste is considered a resource, there are many policies and activities to promote waste sorting and recycling. People also know many environmentally friendly constructions made from recycled materials: Recycled Park in Rotterdam, Drijvende Paviljoen restaurant, Bobbing forest, etc. 

Floating park in Rotterdam, Netherlands made from plastic waste

Waste sorting and recycling are planned and started in many different cities in Vietnam such as Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Hoi An, etc. At the same time, many projects of making packaging, and recycling materials are operating, for example, recycled milk cartons (Tetra Pak Vietnam), eco corrugated roofing sheets (Dong Tien packaging and paper co., ltd).

Having a waste sorting habit can be considered the very first step to becoming a green citizen. PRO VN is going along to support the companies and consumers shifting into a circular economic model through a more accessible and sustainable packaging collection and recycling process. Read more about the type of packaging waste that PRO VN is collecting at: https://provietnam.com.vn/phan-loai/