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We all know
the benefits of aluminum cans; they are light, easily moldable and can be held
in a soft grip. But are they always responsibly disposed of? Can we do more to
safely protect our green spaces from these metal objects? This article explores
how a small scale project can help protect the local environment through
recycling in the most responsible way.
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We all see aluminum
drink cans littered outside whilst going about our daily lives. Yet we don’t
all pick them up and recycle them. But why? I think the reason lies in
recycling habits within a localized area. If there are no recycling points
dotted about alongside waste bins then it is difficult for any environmentally
conscious walker to rid themselves of their empty cans. The only solution is to
keep it until they get home, but even with a carry bag it can be a messy
business.
Nevertheless, it remains
an important pursuit to rid our green spaces and roadsides of these metal
receptacles. If not for their unsightly appearance – they really do not
camouflage well in any landscape – then thought should be taken for those small
insects who are drawn to the sticky, sweet drops still left inside. For
example, one particularly discolored can became home to a nest of ants so I was
unable to recycle it. On my travels in the UK I have also found slugs, snails
and earwigs fall victim to the can trap.
These little creatures
and our environment more widely needs protecting, so just over a month ago I
decided to start can collecting. The rules were simple to follow; I would go
about the normal course of my day, keeping a plastic carry bag (that would
otherwise have been reused as a rubbish sack in my house) tucked inside my
rucksack, picking up any cans I saw along my route. There has been three
surprising consequences of this straightforward action; I have become more
aware of the litter that people disperse in my local area, I have found that
social pressures can at times be difficult to suppress, and I have seen so many
cans that they sometimes fail to stay in just one bag.
Read more
at: The
Ecologist
Photo
Credit: Shutterstock
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