Sorting waste, conserving resources, shopping sensibly. These are all steps that each of us can take. The workshops held at FINIDR in August focused on how to make these a regular part of everyday life.
In the last issue of Finidrak, we outlined FINIDR’s main objectives and activities in the areas of sustainability and corporate social responsibility for this year.
One of the key pillars is raising staff awareness of energy saving, the responsible use of resources and waste prevention.
It was precisely this topic that was the focus of the August workshops entitled ‘The Circular Economy in Everyday Life – How Our Daily Decisions Can Contribute to a More Sustainable Future’, organised for our staff by CirkArena, a research and development centre for the circular economy.
During the workshops, we looked at the differences between the linear economy, based on the ‘make – use – dispose’ principle, and the circular economy, which aims to keep materials and products in circulation for as long as possible. But it wasn’t just about theory. We discussed specific situations from everyday life and looked for ways in which our decisions could help reduce resource consumption and waste generation.
Did you know that…?
You don’t need to wash out yoghurt pots?
Simply empty them thoroughly or scrape them out with a spoon and put them in the plastics bin. Small traces of residue don’t matter, and washing them out unnecessarily just means higher water consumption.
‘Paper’ coffee cups don’t automatically go in the paper bin?
Many disposable paper coffee cups contain a thin plastic layer and therefore belong in mixed waste. The plastic lid goes in the plastics bin.
Do paper egg cartons go in the paper bin?
If they are clean and dry, they can safely be sorted into the paper bin. Modern recycling technology can handle them. Standard cartons made from compressed paper pulp can also be used in home compost, ideally torn into smaller pieces.
Do spray cans only go in the metal bin if they are completely empty?
If there is any remaining contents or pressure inside, they are classified as hazardous waste and must be handed in at a collection point or recycling centre.
Do medicine blister packs not go in the plastics bin?
They are made of a composite material that cannot be easily separated during standard processing. Empty blister packs therefore belong in mixed waste. Expired or unused medicines should be returned to a pharmacy.
When sorting waste, it is important to consider not only the material but also any contamination, and to follow the rules of your local authority or waste collection scheme.
