The blue recycling container is the one we normally know as the paper and cardboard container, but not all kinds of paper and cardboard should go to the blue container, so it is common to make mistakes when it comes to recycling these types of products, such as packaging boxes, used paper, etc. A common mistake is to throw away the bricks or bottles of milk and juice, because from the outside they may look like simple cardboard, but the bricks go to the yellow container.
To clarify what is recycled in the blue containerAt Ecologista Verde we have prepared this article. read on and learn how to properly recycle in the blue bin.
What is recycled in the blue container: the waste that is thrown away here
The blue container is the container for recycling of paper and cardboard packaging. Among these wastes are:
- Paper or cardboard bags
- Cardboard boxes
- Shoe boxes
- Cardboard egg cups
- Notebooks
- Advertising brochures
- Paper
- Gif.webpt Wrap
- Newspapers
- Journals
- Envelopes
- Rolls or cardboard tubes of toilet and kitchen paper
In this other Green Ecologist article we tell you more about How to recycle paper at home.
Waste that should not be thrown into the blue container
Also exist paper or cardboard waste that should NOT be disposed of in the blue container. It is precisely in these exceptions where most arise recycling errors. Among these wastes are:
- Used tissues, napkins, or kitchen paper.
- Wet or dirty cardboard. for example, pizza boxes, as they are often stained with oil. This is because recycling becomes more difficult.
- Metallized or laminated papers, waxed or with paraffin.
- Type packaging brick and plastic bags.
- Disposable cardboard cups or glasses and plates.
- Photo or fax paper.
- Used compresses, diapers, paper towels and hygiene papers.
- Thermal papers.
- White cork trays.
- Cellophane papers.
- Paper with adhesive or glue residue.
- Carbonless paper and carbon paper.
- Aluminum foils.
Tips to recycle correctly in the blue container
These are some good practices for using the blue container:
- To know what can be thrown in the blue bin And why not.
- It is highly recommended cut or fold paper and cardboard before throwing them into the blue container. In this way, it will be more comfortable and easy to dispose of and they will take up less space in the container so that they can fit more.
- Take care not to leave the large cardboard boxes unmounted next to the container. It does not take much effort to fold or crush them and throw them into the container.
- Always try to reuse paper and cardboard bags to store this kind of waste. Thus, when we go to throw this type of waste into the container, we should not remove it from the bag and we can deposit it all together, thus throwing away a single full bag.
- Must remove staples, clips, tape and all other materials other than paper and cardboard.
Recycling figures in the blue container in Spain
The percentages of recycling of paper and cardboard in Spain are very high, around the 83% of the paper and cardboard we use, is recycled. It was estimated that during 2014, some 4.4 million tons of paper and cardboard waste were transformed into recyclable materials. Among these wastes, 12% (about 528,000 tons) came from municipal systems for the selective collection of containers and packaging and from citizen collaboration and the other 88% (3.5 million tons) from commercial and industrial collection systems, that are promoted by private companies.
Among these 4.4 million tons, up to 80% (3.5 million tons) were destined for the Spanish market and 20% for other markets (6% for the European market and 14% for the Asian market). In addition, the paper industry imported 1.5 million tons. 99% of this import came from the European market, mainly from France and Portugal. This import is due to the need to meet the demand for some qualities that have deficits in the Spanish market, such as whites, due to changes in consumption and reading habits.
These recycling data They have made it possible for no paper mill in Spain to have been forced to halt its production due to a lack of recycled raw material and there has also been great energy savings, avoiding the emission of around 4 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, which represents 11% of CO2 emitted compared to the previous year. In short, in the last ten years the management has undergone a great transformation thanks to the different Community directives applied, which have diverted materials from landfill and incineration to obtaining recycled raw materials.
A fundamental role in this transformation has been that of the recovery and recycling sector, which has provided the necessary resources and investments to be able to turn waste into raw materials to be inserted again in the system and has improved the environmental and economic efficiency of past production systems, being a very important basis for the development of the concept of circular economy.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is recycled in the blue container, we recommend that you enter our Recycling and waste management category.
