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Recycle Technical Waste

Replicating nature's nutrient cycle by creating closed loops for the recycling and reuse of those man made (technical) elements of our consumption delivers efficiency, reduces cost and resource use and protects the environment.

We have concentrated, extracted and combined raw natural elements into new and unique elements such as plastics, aluminium, mercury, acids, and so on. Recently we have realised that to use these resources efficiently and avoid them spoiling the environment we need to create closed loops that allow us to move these technical materials from one use to another in the same way nature cycles nutrients, water, or energy throughout its ecosystems. In this manner we need to see one person's technical "waste" as the feedstock for another's technical process and product.

Recycling plastics, paper, metal, and glass are all steps in this direction. The end point is that all man made products and materials are able to be recycled and reused.

How to do it now!

Purchase recycled products - To complete the recycling loop we need to purchase recycled products. (see our 'Purchase Recycled Goods' action)

Recycle your e-waste (computers, printers, monitors etc...) - The proliferation of information technology has led to an increasing need to recycle used or obsolete computing equipment.

However, before deciding to send your old computer to a recycler, consider donating it to a community group, local charity, school or family member. If you can't usefully pass it on, these organisations will be able to help:

  • Recycling Near You (National) - Planet Ark list of recycling locations for e-waste
  • ewaste (National) - home or office pick up of your unwanted computers.
  • MRI (Aust) - home or office pick up of your unwanted computers.

Recycle your mobile phones - For every mobile phone in use, there are two more sitting unused in a draw somewhere! Mobile phones contain nickel, cobalt, cadmium, gold, silver and plastics which can be recycled and re-used. Most mobile phone retailers have recycling boxes. Alternatively, call Mobile Muster for a full list of drop-off locations or try the Mobile Phone Recycling website.

Why this action is important?

In order to reduce the strain our ongoing consumption is putting on the environment, we need to use less and use it many times (ideally, perpetually). Creating closed loops by recycling all that we can moves us in this direction.