Fewer resources get wasted while your average consumer saves money because they’re focusing on DIY, not shopping around. It’s a win for everyone who isn’t out to maximize their profits at any cost. Remember, you’re not just aiming to recycle plastic chocolate chip cookie containers and soda bottles—there are a ton of different materials that you need to account for. Among them are aluminum, cardboard, electronics, food waste, glass, steel, tires, paper, textiles, yard trimmings, and wood, as well as a range of plastic, polyethylene, and polypropylene containers. On top of those, you have metal, paper, plastic, textile, tire, and wood recycling facilities, as well as transfer stations and wood secondary processors. Each place needs specific machinery, technology, systems, and expertise to run properly. This involves cultivating more self-awareness while shopping and educating people about the impact their actions have on the environment. If you make the problem relatable and relevant, you’ll have more people on your side than by just appealing to some lofty, faraway goals. Few people are going to walk five minutes to throw out their bag o’plastic and paper if there’s a general waste bin a few seconds away from them. Meanwhile, you want everyone to have clear instructions about what they can and can’t recycle. At the same time, companies need to take their eco-friendly stances seriously: though packaging can help protect products, there are egregious examples that show how wasteful and anti-environment some businesses can be. If you feel motivated to join the group, all you have to do is answer a few simple questions so that the administrator team running the whole thing knows you’re not a bot or a spammer. And in this day and age, that extra layer of verification goes a long way to keep any online community more authentic. Meanwhile, all the members are expected to treat each other respectfully and with kindness. It’s only natural to have heated debates once in a while (this is social media, after all!), but this doesn’t mean that politeness can be yeeted out of the window entirely. Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.