According to figures from Defra for 2003/04*, households in the UK produced a massive 30.5 million tonnes of waste in that time period. Read more to find out what can be done to help

2. • ACCORDING TO FIGURES FROM DEFRA FOR 2003/04*, HOUSEHOLDS IN THEUK PRODUCED A MASSIVE
30.5 MILLION TONNES OF WASTE IN THAT TIME PERIOD. YET ONLY 17% OF IT WAS COLLECTED FOR
RECYCLING. WE ARE LAGGING BEHIND OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, SOMEOF WHICH MANAGE TO
RECYCLE OVER 50% OF THEIR UNWANTED REFUSE.

3. • RECYCLING NOT ONLY KEEPS REUSABLE THINGS FROM ENDING UP IN LANDFILL, BUT IT ALSO CONSERVES
A LOT OF ENERGY. IT CUTS DOWN ON ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW PRODUCTION PROJECTS, AS WELL
AS MINIMISING THE RUNNING COSTS AND FUEL NEEDED TO OPERATE RUBBISH DISPOSAL MACHINERY.
• HERE ARE SOME MORE FACTS AND FIGURES TO CONSIDER. IT ALL STARTSWITH A SINGLE ITEM…

4. ENERGY SAVINGS
• ONE SINGLE RECYCLED TIN CAN WOULD SAVE ENOUGH ENERGY TO RUN A TVFOR THREE HOURS, WHILE
THE AMOUNT FOR A GLASS BOTTLE WOULD POWER A COMPUTER FOR 25 MINUTES. ONE RECYCLED
PLASTIC BOTTLE WOULD POWER A 60-WATT LIGHT BULB FOR THREE WHOLE HOURS. THEN THERE IS
RECYCLED PAPER, WHICH COSTS 70% LESS ENERGY TO MAKE THAN PAPER MADE FROM RAW MATERIALS.

5. MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
• THE AMOUNT OF RUBBISH WE JUST THROW AWAY IN THE UK COULD FILL THE LARGEST LAKE IN BRITAIN
IN JUST EIGHT MONTHS. YET UP TO 60% OF THAT RUBBISH COULD BE RECYCLED. PACKAGING IS A HUGE
PROBLEM TOO, COSTING ON AVERAGE 16% OF THE OVERALL PRICE PAID FOR THE PRODUCT. YET IT IS
OFTEN MADE FROM HARD-TO-RECYCLE, OR EVEN NON-RECYCLABLE MATERIALS. UP TO 80% OF A
SCRAPPED VEHICLE CAN BE RECYCLED, AND NINE OUT OF TEN PEOPLE ADMIT THAT THEY WOULD RECYCLE
MORE IF IT WAS EASIER TO DO SO.

6. HOW TO RECYCLE
• OBVIOUS MATERIALS TO RECYCLE INCLUDE PAPER, CARDBOARD, TINS, PLASTIC BOTTLES AND GLASS.
THESE CAN USUALLY BE EASILY HANDLED BY LOCAL COUNCILS, THROUGH KERBSIDE COLLECTIONS ETC.
AND TAKEN AWAY TO BE TURNED BACK INTO USEFUL PRODUCTS, THUS SAVING ENERGY AND
PRODUCTION COSTS. RECYCLING VEGETABLE PEELINGS, TEA BAGS AND OTHER UNCOOKED FOOD
RETURNS ENERGY BACK TO THE SOIL IN THE FORM OF COMPOSTING.
• YET OTHER, TRICKIER ITEMS, SUCH AS BATTERIES, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND BUILDING SUPPLIES CAN
ALSO BE RECONDITIONED TO SAVE ENERGY, IF SORTED IN THE RIGHT WAY. CHECK YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL’S
WEBPAGES TO SEE HOW THEY RECOMMEND GETTING RID OF THESE KINDS OFITEMS.

7. RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE
• COMPANIES THAT MAKE NEW PRODUCTS FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS USE 30%LESS ENERGY. THEY ALSO
DON’T HAVE TO USE UP PRECIOUS RESOURCES SUCH AS WOOD, OIL OR METAL ORE. WHEN DE-
CLUTTERING OR CLEARING OUT A PROPERTY THEREFORE, THINK ABOUT WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED. A JUNK
CLEARANCE EXPERT WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP ADVISE YOU ON WHAT TO SETASIDE, AND HOW TO RECYCLE
IT PROPERLY. MANY WILL TAKE THE JOB ON FOR YOU TOO, MAKING SURETHEY FOLLOW CORRECT
LEGISLATION AND BEST PRACTICE ADVICE. SAVING ENERGY WHILE GETTING RID OF UNWANTED JUNK
REALLY CAN OFFER THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

8. SOURCES
• WWW.RECYCLING-GUIDE.ORG.UK
• WWW.ANYCLEAR.COM