“In 2008, recycling household waste saved the same amount of CO2 that nearly a million return flights from London to Sydney would produce.” (Source: www.directgov.co.uk)
Recycling materials in the home or business reduces the waste output of your home and/office, and drastically cuts down on the need for landfill space. It also reduces the demand for, use of, and ultimately the production of new materials, thereby saving the energy invested and wasted in the mass production of new materials.
Depending on your location, your local council or government will have provided information on the types of household waste that can be recycled, and will have set times when recycling will be collected, as well as special containment units for sorting and collection of your recycling.
Recycling fact: Recycling just one aluminium can saves enough energy to run a television set for three hours!
Basic recycling materials
Plastic containers, plastic milk and water bottles.
Household cleaning products bottles.
All glass packaging (all bottles and jars & wine bottles but no cookware or pyrex).
All cardboard food and goods packaging
All newspapers, magazines, mail circulars, wrapping paper and waste paper.
Metals such as aerosols, drinks cans, food cans, tin foil
Recycling home appliances and electronics at recycling centers and charity shops
As well as the more standardized household waste listed above that can be recycled, the possibilities of recycling and minimizing the environmental impact of your home or business extends into home appliances, electrical goods, and even furniture! In the UK we throw out 1m tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) a year!
Recycling centres will accept most white goods such as fridges and freezers, and most consumer, textile and electronic items can be recycled and donated for re-use at local charity centres and charity shops.
- Waste electronics such as TV’s, computers, Fridges/Freezers and cookers can be recycled at recycling centres, or through the community recycling site www.uk.freecycle.org . Check if your nearest recycling centre accepts the relevant goods, then make sure you ask someone at the facility to dispose of your item for you. Your local authority will also collect bulky white goods items such as fridges and washing machines for you, although they may charge you for this service.
- Textiles such as clothes and shoes can also be recycled at appointed local textile recycling bins provided by your local authority. Alternatively, you can take textile items into charities and shope yourself for recycling and re-using.
- Consumer items such as CD’s, Toys, musical instruments etc can all be recycled at local charities and charity shops, donated to local charities or sold and re-used at carboot sales and markets.
Recycling energy efficient light bulbs
The UK government gives the following information on direct.gov.co.uk about recycling CFL light bulbs:
“Energy saving bulbs contain a small amount of mercury – just enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. The mercury can’t escape from a light bulb when it is being used, but you must be careful of how you recycle them.” (http://www.directgov.co.uk/)
You should not throw CFL bulbs into the normal rubbish, or into the household recycling bins provided by your local council, as the mercury could escape if the bulb gets broken. In most parts of the UK, CFL bulbs can be recycled at your local waste and recycling centre. You can find your nearest recycling centre by contacting your local council.
Avoiding food waste
Up to one third of purchased food in the UK ends up being thrown away or wasted. More awareness of the efficiency with which we purchase, store and ultimately use our food can greatly help reduce the amount of food we waste. Having fridges, freezers and cupboards stocked with long life ingredients can help this transitory waste of food products.
According to the Energy saving trust:
“Wasted food is a waste of money and, when sent to landfill, a major contributor to climate change because it breaks down to produce methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. If we in the UK stopped wasting food that could have been eaten, for example by using up extra portions rather than throwing them away, it would have the same impact on carbon emissions as taking one in five cars off our roads.” (www.energysavingtrust.co.uk)
Other steps – Re-using, Freecycle
- The UK distributes roughly 13 billion plastic bags every year. Reuse your plastic bags as often as you can or buy a stronger, reusable shopping bag. Join a gift community recycling community such as the increasingly popular Freecycle. (www.uk.freecycle.com )
- Reducing the amount of uneccessary mail that comes through your door can greatly reduce paper consumption of the home. Banks offer secure online banking and many companies offer secure online billing processes that do away with the need for mail correspondence.
- If you make a note in your kitchen (on your fridge, above the bin etc), it will provide a visual reminder of the day/dates your recycling is collected. “Nine out of ten UK residents now have access to a doorstep recycling collection.” (Energy Saving Trust UK).
- Make it easier to remember to recycle by putting your recycling bin next to your main bin
- Have different boxes for different materials and label them accordingly, making it easier to separate appropriate materials for collection.
- People often recycle in the kitchen but forget other rooms. Recycle the waste from all the bins in your house. For example, if your council accepts plastic bottles for recycling then all plastic bottles can go into your collection, including shampoo bottles from the bathroom.
For UK residents, find out where your nearest recycling centre is, along with lots of helpful information and tips on recycling, here:
http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/
(Information sourced from Energy Saving Trust UK, DirectGov.co.uk and Responsibletravel.com) 
