Recycling 101: The Ultimate Guide to Saving Money and the Planet
Do you want to save money and the planet at the same time? Do you want to learn how to recycle more and waste less? Do you want to discover the secrets of the UK recycling market and its trends? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this is the post for you. In this ultimate guide to recycling, we will show you why recycling is important and the correct way to do it. We will also share some tips and tricks on how to reduce your waste and reuse items that you already have. Whether you are a beginner or a pro at recycling, this guide will help you improve your recycling habits and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Why recycling is important.
You may think that recycling is just a nice thing to do, but it’s much more than that. Recycling has a huge impact on the environment, the economy, and society. Here are some of the amazing benefits of recycling:
Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions. When you recycle, waste doesn’t rot in landfills and release methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. You also save energy and resources that would be used to make new products from scratch. According to the UK government, recycling saved 18.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2017, which is like taking 3.9 million cars off the road.
Recycling saves money and resources. When you recycle, you use less non-renewable materials. You also reduce the need for importing raw materials from abroad, which has environmental and social costs. For example, recycling one tonne of paper can save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 4,100 kWh of electricity. Recycling also saves money for local authorities and taxpayers by reducing waste disposal fees.
Recycling boosts the economy. Recycling is a thriving industry that employs thousands of people and generates billions in revenue. According to WRAP, the UK recycling sector employs over 100,000 people and has a turnover of £6.8 billion. Recycling also supports other sectors such as manufacturing, retail, and construction, by providing them with recycled materials and products.
Recycling improves public health and well-being. Recycling reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or incinerators, which can pollute the air, water, and soil, causing health problems for humans and animals. Recycling can also improve the quality of life for people living in developing countries, where waste management is often poor or non-existent. By recycling items such as plastic bottles, cans, or clothes, you can help provide income and resources for people in need.
As you can see, recycling is not only good for the environment, but also for your wallet, your community, and your health. But how do you recycle correctly? In the next section, we will give you some actionable advice on how to recycle different types of materials.
How to recycle correctly
Recycling correctly is easier than you think. You just need to follow some simple rules and guidelines to make sure your recyclables are clean, sorted, and accepted by your local recycling scheme. Let’s look at recycling some common materials:
Paper and cardboard: Paper and cardboard are among the most common and easy materials to recycle. But they need to be clean and dry. Before recycling, remove any staples, tape, or plastic tape from paper and cardboard. Flatten cardboard boxes to save space. Do not recycle paper or cardboard that is wet, greasy, or contaminated with food or liquids, such as pizza boxes, paper towels, or tissues. These items can ruin the quality of the recycled paper and cause problems in the recycling process.
Metal: Metal cans are also widely recycled and easy to prepare. But they need to be rinsed and squashed. Before recycling, rinse metal cans to remove all food residue and liquids. Squash metal cans to save space and reduce the risk of sharp edges. Do not recycle metal items that are not packaging, such as cutlery, pots, pans, or wires. These items can damage the recycling machinery and should be taken to a scrap metal dealer or a household waste recycling centre instead.
Plastic: Plastic is one of the most challenging materials to recycle, due to the different types and grades of plastic that require different recycling processes. The easiest way to know if a plastic item can be recycled is to check the label or packaging for the recycling symbol and number. The most common types of plastic that can be recycled are PET, HDPE, and PP, which are used for bottles, containers, and tubs. Before recycling, rinse and squash plastic bottles and replace the caps. Do not recycle plastic items that have no recycling symbol or number, such as film, bags, wrappers, or polystyrene. These items are not accepted by most recycling schemes and should be put in general waste instead.
Glass: Glass bottles and jars are also widely recycled and easy to prepare. But they need to be rinsed and sorted by colour. Before recycling, rinse glass bottles and jars to remove any food residue or liquids. Sort glass bottles and jars by colour (clear, green, or brown) and put them in the appropriate recycling bin or box. Do not recycle glass items that are not bottles or jars, such as drinking glasses, plates, mirrors, or light bulbs. These items have different properties and melting points than glass packaging and can contaminate the recycled glass.
By following these tips you can recycle correctly and help improve the quality of recycled materials. But remember recycling is not enough to tackle the waste problem. You also need to reduce your waste and reuse items that you already have. In the next section, we will show you how to do that.
How to reduce waste and reuse items
Recycling is a great way to deal with the waste that we produce, but it is not the best solution. Recycling still uses energy and resources, and not everything can be recycled. That’s why it is important to follow the waste hierarchy, which prioritises reducing and reusing waste over recycling and disposing of it. Here are some examples of how to reduce waste and reuse items:
Reduce waste: The best way to reduce waste is to avoid creating it in the first place. This means buying less stuff, choosing products that have less packaging or no packaging at all, and refusing items that you don’t need or want. For example, you can reduce waste by using a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic bottles, bringing your own bag when shopping instead of using plastic bags, or saying no to junk mail and flyers.
Reuse items: The second-best way to reduce waste is to reuse items that you already have. This means finding new ways to use old or unwanted items, repairing items that are broken or damaged, or donating or selling items that are still in good condition. For example, you can reuse items by using old jars or containers for storage, fixing or mending clothes or furniture, or giving away or selling books or toys that you no longer use.
Upcycle items: The third best way to reduce waste is to upcycle items that you already own. This means transforming waste materials into new products that have a higher value or quality. Upcycling is a creative and fun way to give new life to old items and make something unique and useful. For example, you can upcycle old clothes into bags or cushions, old bottles into vases or lamps, or old magazines into collages or coasters.
By reducing waste and reusing items, you’ll save money, space, and resources, and prevent waste from ending up in landfills or incinerators. You can also express your personality and style with your own creations. Reducing waste and reusing items are essential steps to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle.
Conclusion
Recycling is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect the environment and save money. By recycling, you can reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills, conserve natural resources, save energy, and create new products. Recycling also helps the economy by creating jobs and revenue for the recycling industry. But recycling is not enough to tackle the waste problem. You also need to reduce your waste and reuse items that you already have. By following the tips and advice in this guide, you can improve your recycling habits and contribute to a more sustainable future.
If you want to learn more about recycling or get some help with your recycling questions, you can check out these resources:
Recycle Now: The national recycling campaign for England
WRAP: A leading organisation working on waste reduction and resource efficiency
Recycle for Wales: The national recycling campaign for Wales
Zero Waste Scotland: A circular economy organisation that supports waste reduction and recycling
Recycle for Northern Ireland: A website that provides information on recycling in Northern Ireland
Thank you for reading this post and taking action to recycle more and waste less. Together, we can make a difference!
