The phrase ‚’sustainable living’, gets thrown about quite a lot these days, and unfortunately it’s quite a vague phrase on its own. In fact, ’sustainable living’ has become something of a buzz phrase that plenty of people hear and simply ignore, much like ‚’green initiatives’ or ‚ ‘reducing carbon footprints’. People hear these things, and know that they generally have to do with improving the quality of the environment. However, many people do not quite understand the steps involved in these initiatives and ideas, beyond converting to hybrid cars and making sure to recycle plastic and glass bottles. In fact, there is plenty that individual people can do to help improve the overall quality of the environment and sustainability of manufactured products. Fortunately, there are a number of major companies, such as mobile service provider O2, that are working hard at getting the word out on how people can help.

One thing that a lot of people need to be specifically educated on is what exactly constitutes ‚ ‘recyclable material’. The fact is, what you can recycle is not strictly limited only to the glass and plastic that you are used to simply tossing into your recycling bin. In fact, there is a huge range of household materials that you can recycle, some for the use of their parts, some for reuse as whole products, and some simply to prevent trashing the environment with excess waste. For example, did you know that your out-of-use electronic products are recyclable? Everything from old computers to old mobile phones can be put to great use if you simply take the time to dispose of them properly.

Why recycle these products, you may ask? Well, for starters, the most sensible response is why NOT recycle them? Generally, people simply allow such things as old computers and outgrown mobile phones to rest unused in closets and drawers, never to be touched or put to use again. So, for starters, there is no attractive alternative option to recycling ‚ you may as well do some good!

As for what good, exactly, you will be doing, you should know that recycling old electronics saves a great deal of helpful materials. Mobile phones and other pieces of electronic equipment are made up of a variety of valuable metals and plastics, and saving these materials for reuse is a big help. Additionally, many of your used electronics may be able to be booted up for reuse by people who receive them as donations,  not only does this help other people, but it also cuts down on the need to manufacture more products, which ultimately cuts down on carbon footprints! All of these are extremely worthy reasons to look into doing your part in an increasingly eco-friendly world by looking to recycle a bit more.

Guest editorial provided by 02.co.uk

This month I have written a blog post for www.energyrethinking.org about the importance of recycling and although as a nation we are improving, lots more needs to be done.

But rather than just explain the benefits of recycling, which you can find on many fantastically helpful and practical sites, e.g. www.Recyclenow.com, www.recycle.co.uk. I have shared products and ideas that I have found which take recycling one step further

Here’s the post if you missed it: http://www.energyrethinking.org/earth-mummy

Now you’ve read it you may be wondering where you can find out about these products, well here they are:

Eco Hen Ark
Raised garden beds
- Chic Water tanks and Garden bird feeders – both designed by Claire Potter Design

So when you decide to buy (well, why wouldn’t you?) please don’t forget to tell them that you heard about them from The Queen of Easy Green.

Have fun and happy recycling!