The rate of increase of e-waste in our landfills is comparable to the plastic catastrophe, but it has gotten less attention. E-waste contributes the greatest number of toxins to our landfills and therefore deserves special consideration.
In fact, it makes up 70% of all harmful waste in the world, and only 12.5% of it is recycled in a good way. Mobile phones are the most often discarded personal gadgets (an average of 18 months after purchase!).
A warm blanket might be ideal for a Valentine’s Day quarantine date in the snow and cold! If you or a loved one just received a new heated blanket and have an old one to dispose of, please read on to avoid adding to the e-waste problem.
Electric blankets are not fully recyclable. They have parts that are dangerous for a recycling plant, and a large, twisted blanket can get equipment and gears tangled up. Donating your old blanket would be the best course of action.
In some cases, it’s better to toss an object if you don’t know how to dispose of it, but in this instance, you might cause a fire if you don’t investigate the local regulations.
They Can Be Donated
Donating items to worthy causes dates back to the dawn of time. People have been able to overcome several adversities because of their generosity. And now that you have old blankets, you should donate them to individuals who may be in need.
Here, you may donate to a house for charity. You may also donate to a farm for animals or to the destitute on the streets.
Regardless of how you choose to donate blankets, you should always ensure that they are in good shape. This is so that the recipients can use the blankets effectively for the time being.
How Should It Be Used?
The following are some dos and don’ts when using an electric blanket.
Don’t
- Wet hands or feet can be used to use or insert pins to secure the blanket to the bed.
- Do not use the blanket when it is rucked, folded, or wrinkled; use a hot water bottle along with your electric blanket.
- Do not allow small children to operate the appliance unless the controls have been pre-set by an adult or you are confident that the youngster can use the appliance securely.
Do
- Regularly inspect your blanket for signs of damage or wear.
- Before using, carefully read and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Perform a thorough inspection of the blanket to ensure there are no evident traces of transport-related damage when the blanket was initially purchased.
- If the fuse in a 13 amp plug has to be replaced, a 3 amp BS 1362 fuse must be installed.
- Use the blanket only for the purpose intended by the manufacturer, i.e…, over-blankets should only be positioned above the occupant of the bed and under-blankets should only be positioned under the occupant of the bed.
Are They Recyclable?
Yes, it is possible to recycle your electric blankets. We could stop here, but then we wouldn’t have done our job of teaching you everything we know. So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: why is it possible to recycle your electric blankets?
Again, the short answer is that these blankets are made from parts of fabrics or clothes. And just as it is possible to recycle clothing, it is also viable to recycle blankets. However, this is not all there is to know.
Your blankets may have been plastic-coated to increase their durability. If this type of blanket is used, it cannot be recycled. This is due to the plastic covering, which prevents it from being recycled correctly.
Also, if your blankets are dirty or have changed colors, you might not be able to recycle them. This is because the stain will get on other recyclable items and make it hard to recycle.
Before recycling your blankets, you should ensure that your local recycling site accepts them. Yes, we did say you may recycle; however, it is possible that your local recycling firm might not take the blanket.
This is because producers may construct blankets from a variety of textiles. And if your recycling facility cannot recycle the type of garment material used to make your blankets, it will not accept them.
Before sending your electric blankets for recycling, you must always establish that your local recycling site is prepared to accept them. This would significantly reduce your tension.
How Can You Dispose It?
The most eco-friendly method for disposing of an electric blanket is to not dispose of it at all. By this, I mean ensuring that it does not wind up in a landfill.
You could cut the cord where it comes out of the blanket, turning it into a regular, if not very comfortable, blanket.
You may then attempt to take the blanket to a homeless shelter or charitable organization and donate it as a standard blanket for use against the cold.
If this does not work or is not accepted, dispose of the item at a local recycling center that takes electronic products for salvage. It should not be discarded with household garbage.
Conclusion
Blankets have served us well by making us more comfortable. Almost everyone has a tale about those frigid evenings when they had nothing but their blankets to keep them warm.
As beneficial as this is, we must also be mindful of how we handle these blankets. We can’t wait until later to throw them away or treat them in a way that might hurt the environment.
As you can see, we have supplied you with information on how to properly care for your blanket and save the environment. Always consider the environment in all you do, as it is the only place we have. We must demonstrate it by our behavior.
