There's so much information around about recycling that it can become confusing to keep track of it all. Everyone understands some things, such as the effects of dumping waste in the ocean, or the negative impact of filling landfill sites with rubbish that should be recycled.
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There are also many things that people might NOT know about recycling! The countless little-known facts reinforce the importance of recycling for the future of our planet. Read on to find out the stuff you didn't know about the eco-friendly way of life...
Cardboard
Cardboard recycling is catching on in a big way: did you know that around 80% of grocers and retailers now recycle cardboard? This is a good thing, since recycling cardboard uses only 75% of the energy it takes to make new cardboard.
You may not know:
- Around five billion corrugated cardboard boxes are used every year in the UK
- 70% of corrugated cardboard boxes are recycled
- Recycling one ton of cardboard saves 46 gallons of oil that would be used to make new cardboard
- The use of corrugated packaging is increasing by more than 4% annually, making recycling vital
Amazingly, you can even build a house from recycled cardboard! Peter Ryan, an architect from Melbourne, Australia, built his house almost entirely from cardboard. The basic structure is made from plywood, with corrugated cardboard panelling used in the walls, roof and floors.
Glass
Glass has amazing longevity - in fact, it can be recycled and re-manufactured an infinite number of times and will never wear out! It would take around 4,000 years for a modern glass bottle to decompose, emphasising the value of recycling glass.
Despite the obvious benefits of recycling glass:
- Only around 50% of bottles and jars are recycled each year in the UK
- We're lagging behind Finland and Switzerland, who recycle more than 90% of their glass
- UK bars and restaurants dump more than 200,000 tonnes of glass annually into landfill
- Most glazing, refurbishment and demolition glass waste is currently not re-melted to make new glass
Recycled glass can be used to make a wide range of products. Glass is 100% recyclable and can be endlessly reprocessed, without losing its quality. Recycled glass can be made into glass wool insulation for homes, which helps with energy efficiency too.
Paper
Paper accounts for around 70% of the total waste in offices. You may not realise it when you're jotting down rough notes in your A4 pad, or leaving post-it notes all over your desk, but they may all end up adding to the waste mountains at landfill sites.
By recycling paper, you can:
- Save 7,000 gallons of water by making one ton of recycled paper instead of making new paper
- Save between 3,000 to 4,000 kWh of electricity for every ton of recycled paper
- Help to save trees, which are vital to our planet's survival
- Keep landfill free for other waste that can't be recycled
You don't have to send old paper to recycling facilities in order to make good use of it. There are plenty of craft ideas for adults and kids, encouraging you to learn how to turn paper into everything from bowls and baskets to angels, robots and even lampshades!
General facts
Recycling rates in the UK have improved dramatically over the past 20 years. The recycling rate for household waste in England has grown from just 11.2% in 2000 to almost 50% today. Wales has the best recycling rate of the home nations - the Welsh recycle 64% of all household waste.
There are significant differences in the recycling rate among the 345 local authorities in England. According to government statistics, some districts are recycling 65% of household waste, while others are seriously lagging behind, recycling only 17% of waste.
We do NOT sell single-use plastics!
Solent Plastics provides a range of recycling bins that are suitable for the home and office, so everyone can do their bit to help the environment. Give us a call on 01794 514478 for more details.