The things that I helped to prepare for further recycling
are:
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic cups
- Newspapers
- Normal papers
--- Note: I am not sure if it was the same for each places,
but at least, this is how I did it in the branch where everything will be
recycled. ---
Plastic Bottles
Right, on top of the list is plastic bottles. In doing this,
a container and a plastic sack are needed. To prepare the plastic bottles, the cap
of the bottle needs to be removed and placed in a container. Then, the bottle would
be stepped over and over until its completely flat. Easy right? :D
 |
| The stepped bottle (missed some though) |
Although this is the main outline of the process, the bottle
should also be classified by its color.
If the bottles that are being prepared is transparent and the other is colored,
then the two bottles must be separated. The easiest example for both colors
would be the plastic bottle for Aqua and the plastic bottle for Sprite.
Plastic Cups
Next type is the plastic cups. For this type, a trash can
and maybe a plastic sack is needed. The preparation for the plastic cups would
be cutting the brand out with either scissors or cutter or your hands (as long
it cuts the brand cleanly). It’s a short method, really. The end result would
be like this:
 |
| The plastic cup after the brand at the top is cut out. |
Like the plastic bottles, if the top of the cup is colored, it will be separated from the transparent
ones.
--- Random information: In Indonesian language (or my first
language), such cups are called Gelas
Kopi. (Direct translation: ‘Coffee glass’) ---
Newspapers
My personal favorite: Newspapers! I like this type since… I
only need a roll of plastic rope for this one. All we need to do to prepare the
newspaper is simply opening it, like the image below:
 |
| Before... |
 |
| And after. |
After the newspapers piled up (up to each person on how tall
they want), tie it up, and ta-da~ it’s done!
 |
| The newspapers tied up. |
Unlike plastic cups and bottles, the newspapers are
separated based on their sizes, so well… Easier to separate? (in my opinion,
that is. :> )
Normal Papers
[Not sure about the title, but oh well. I got no other
names.]
So for the papers… There are many ways to separate it,
though in my opinion, its mainly three groups. First one is the paper that is
mostly white or close to white. The second one is the group of papers that are
white but either smaller than A5, ripped or taped, or a combination of the two, or envelopes.
It can also be the papers that are between close to white and colored, such as
fax papers. The last group is the colored paper. Because there are three
groups, three plastic sacks are needed.
 |
| The first group of the papers: white papers. |
 |
| The second group of the papers: smaller than A5, ripped or taped, fax papers, and envelopes. |
 |
| The third group of the papers: coloured papers. |
[Inner voice: I find this the hardest one since its
classified in such way that some papers may seem to be the second group but can
also belong to the first group and so on. :< ]
I tried asking the people that prepared these materials and
they said that the plastic bottles are stepped so that the plastic sack can
contain more plastic bottles. As for the newspapers… It is just so that the
newspapers would not get separated and neater.
[Inner voice: I think there are some other reasons on
stepping the bottles…]
Another thing that I asked is why are the colored ones
separated from the transparent ones. It seems that transparent ones are sold in
a higher price since there are more variety in terms of choices for transparent
ones.
--- Food for thoughts: I would say that if there are some water
that’s left in the plastic bottle or cup, it’s best to finish it (if it belongs
to you in the first place) or use it to water the plants since… I can’t really
tell if someone is recycling his or her own things or not. It somewhat makes me
sad to see a lot of water that is left in the bottle while recycling it,
especially when I had a thought that not everyone gets clean water to drink. ---
Well, that’s all for what I did for recycling… Or preparing
the things that will be recycled. I hope that this can be useful for those
people who want to help recycling or help the people that are in charge of
preparing the things that will be recycled!
