In the last two decades, Argentina recycled more than 4 million tons of plastic, avoiding the emission of 5.7 million tons of CO2. Responsible use of plastics is recommended during the end of the year celebrations.
During the week of the end of the year holidays, the civil association that promotes the circular economy of plastics in Argentina Ecoplas Share different suggestions so that consumption choices during meetings are responsible and positive for the environment. “Meetings and parties are framed within a peak of consumption in society. Today, we have the opportunity to put the circular economy into practice this holiday season,” they warned.
- Rationalize consumption: Know where the products come from, how they reach your hands and use them in an environmentally friendly way.
- Choose products with recycled content: Look for certifications that validate recycled plastic content. As is the case of the INTI-Ecoplas certification or the “La Manito” logo, which guarantee that products contribute to the circular economy from their design.
- Reuse materials: Bottles, bags and other plastics so they can have more lives.
- Prefer recyclable packaging: All plastics can be recycled. Some have seals that tell you they can be easily recycled.
- Repair objects: Remanufacturing allows a used or broken object to become useful again, maintaining the quality of the original.
- Correctly separate your plastics: Facilitate recycling so that they can be transformed into new products. Once the dry recyclables have been separated from the wet ones, the next step is to rinse them and deposit them dry so that they do not stain other materials. For separation, the green bag is used (for the dry ones) and the black bag (for the wet ones). You can also reuse the bags you have around the house.
- Do not leave waste in the environment: Always make sure you arrange them properly.
- If you live in an apartment you can give it to your manager and if you live in a house, you must take the bag to the nearest recyclable container, or to the green points in each location throughout the country.
“Each plastic that is separated and recycled is transformed into a resource that can be reintegrated into new production cycles of the circular economy and avoids generating a negative environmental impact. This may be the case of plastic bottles that are reprocessed and turned into new products or even new bottles. This is also the case of films, noodle packages, pots of cream cheese and ice cream, glasses and trays, among others,” explained Verónica Ramos, Executive Director of Ecoplas.
In the last two decades, Argentina recycled more than 4 million tons of plastic, avoiding the emission of 5.7 million tons of CO2. However, the number of more than 5,000 open dumps in the country shows that there is still much to do. This end of the year, Ecoplas highlights that separating and recycling plastics is a simple and effective way to contribute to caring for the environment and the circular economy.
Small actions, big changes
What can we do as responsible consumers to promote the circular economy? Responsible consumption is something that we can all practice, regardless of age. From the smallest to the oldest, we can consciously choose what we buy and use in our daily lives.
Separating at origin is the first step. Although 41% of Argentines say they separate recyclables in their homes, there is still room to expand this practice and make it more effective. Ramos emphasizes that “plastics can be recycled more than five times, which contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving energy and generating jobs in the recycling industry, which already has more than 140 companies in the country.”
Ecoplas promotes the practice of the 7Rs, which are actions that are interrelated and, if we incorporate them into our routines, we can generate a positive change, ensuring a more sustainable plastic life cycle.
“These dates are an opportunity to reinforce responsible habits that we can apply all year round,” Ramos highlighted. “Education and awareness are essential to move towards a truly circular culture.” “Ecoplas invites Argentines to celebrate in a sustainable way, transforming each action into a contribution to a cleaner and more responsible future.”
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
