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Why Should We Recycle?

The recycling rate in the United Kingdom has increased from around 10% in 2000 to over 45% in 2020. It is clear that progress is being made, but there is still a long way to go. But why should we recycle? And what is the best way to do it? Let’s take a closer look.

Why is Recycling Important?

Often people question why they should go to the effort of recycling, and the answer is pretty simple – instead of throwing something into a landfill, there are ways to reuse the product or its material to create something new that we can use again. This, in turn, benefits our planet in many ways. Firstly, natural resources or manmade materials used to make these products are not wasted, ending up in landfills and polluting the land. Waste products that pollute the planet are also damaging to plants and wildlife in a number of ways – for example, animals getting caught and injured in products that are dumped. Finally, fewer products need to be manufactured if we are using old ones leading to a reduction in manufacturing energy use and a smaller carbon footprint. This also leads to lower demand for raw materials, for example, wood, which can help protect ecosystems.

On top of this, recycling can also benefit the economy and help create new jobs. The Green Alliance in the UK predicts that recycling and reuse products could lead to just under half a million new jobs by the year 2035, with around one third of these jobs in low skilled positions where the unemployment rate is at its highest. More jobs mean more taxes and more money invested in the country – it’s a win-win situation.

How To Recycle

Many people would love to recycle more, however, they are confused by the process, and this puts them off. Understanding how to recycle is dependent on two main factors – understanding what items from your home that you can recycle and where you can do this. To help you get started, we have summarised this information below:

Where Can I Recycle?

There are a number of different locations where you can recycle your household waste. The procedures for this will depend on the council area that you are located in. Each council should have a local waste disposal and recycling department where you can find out the following information:

  • What type of recycling containers should you have?
  • When and how is your recycling collected?
  • Which items are accepted for recycling for the council?
  • Are there option additional pickups that you can book (for, example, large furniture)
  • Are there any conditions that would prevent your items from being recycled – for example, cleaning plastic containers?

On top of getting information from your local council, you can also check Waste Connect for a comprehensive reference of recycling points where you can drop off your items around the UK. If you are based outside the UK, many other countries have their own version of this site.

What Can I Recycle?

Most of the materials that you put in the bin can be recycled easily. Some of the most common materials that can be recycled are listed below.

Paper

Paper and cardboard are some of the easiest materials to recycle and make up the largest percentage of materials that are currently recycled in the UK. This can include newspapers and magazines, cardboard packaging, mail and ready meal sleeves.

Plastic

Plastic is one of the materials that can cause severe harm to the environment as it takes so long to degrade – up to 600 years. Making up a large percentage of landfill waste, plastic products can be recycled into new goods, including clothing, bags and other plastic designs. When recycling plastic in your home, ensure that it is clean and has no food waste on it.

Glass

The amount of glass being recycled has increased in the UK over recent years, but it is also important to recognise that glass objects such as jars or bottles can be reused and repurposed in your own home

Metal

Metal tins, drinks cans and tinfoil can all be recycled via recycling bins as long as they are cleaned so as not to be covered in food waste. It is estimated that the UK public drink around 340 drink cans each year, with around 75% of these now being recycled. While this is a great percentage, more can still be done.

Batteries

It is vital that batteries are properly recycled instead of putting them in the bin, as batteries that end in landfills leak harmful chemicals and acids into the land, causing negative environmental effects. There are battery recycling bins at many shops, supermarkets and businesses where you can drop off your used batteries for appropriate disposal.

Electronics

E-waste from used electronics is one of the types of products that are least likely to be recycled. According to Statista, in 2019, the percentage of electronic goods being recycled was only around 17%, so more progress is required in this area. This is of the utmost importance as electronic goods contain damaging chemicals that can harm the environment.

Recycling Tips

Even if you recycle a lot from your household, there are always small improvements that can be made. To help improve your recycling game, take a look at our top tips below.

  • Ensure any material you are recycling is clean – this is because if the materials are dirty, they can contaminate the recycling process, leading to them being taken to landfill despite your good intentions.
  • Choose to buy products from the supermarket that come in fully recyclable packaging – this is becoming more common as brands move to become more eco-friendly.
  • Before throwing out packaging and other items, think about if you can reuse them in a different way. For example, paper and cardboard can be used on fires or plastic containers may be washed and reused.
  • With paper and cardboard boxes, make sure that you flatten them before placing them in your recycling bin, as this saves space.

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