Starting on Monday (27 September), Recycle Week runs until 1 October around resource charity WRAP’s theme ‘Recycling – It’s worth it!’.
The resource charity said that insights from WRAP’s annual recycling tracker have shaped the theme of this year’s Recycle Week. According to WRAP’s insights, over half the UK population would like to know more about what their recycling gets turned into.
Each day of the campaign focuses on a different material and what they can be recycled back into – including items that people think cannot be recycled, such as shampoo bottles and aerosol cans.
London
Veolia in London is marking this year’s Recycle Week by asking residents to reduce, reuse and recycle more plastics to support their #PlasticsPledge campaign.
The waste management company announced it is also offering free reusable bags at events for residents who take the pledge.
Londoners consume more plastic bottled water than anywhere else in England, but London has the lowest recycling rate in the UK, according to Veolia.
“By supporting our #PlasticsPledge and adopting just one of the top tips above, Londoners really can make a difference to help reduce waste and create a more sustainable capital,” said Rochelle D’Cruz, regional communications manager for Veolia in London.
Ealing council is also spreading the word at supermarkets across the borough, to provide information on the benefits of recycling and what people can do to improve their recycling habits.
Cllr Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said: “There’s so much that can be recycled and even those who recycle regularly will be surprised by items that could be added into the recycle bin. I encourage everyone to take a look at what they are throwing in the rubbish and see whether there’s anything they can recycle instead.”
Northern Ireland
Chief executive of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), David Small, launched Recycle Week at Woodvale Community gardens by promoting the benefits of compost produced directly from the recycling of food waste.
This year, Northern Ireland is focusing on the recycling of food waste and councils are marking the campaign with local events and activities.
Mr Small said: “Food waste makes up a significant proportion of the household waste we throw out each week, with over 70% of the food waste dumped in landfills coming from households. However, making the effort to recycle this food waste will greatly contribute to improving the environment, supporting the economy and creating jobs in Northern Ireland.”
Scotland
Scotland marked the first day of Recycle Week by lighting its largest music venue, The SSE Hydro, green.
Zero Waste Scotland is urging people and households to become waste warriors and do their bit by recycling as much as they can.
Peter Duthie chief executive, Scottish Event Campus, said: “The Scottish Event Campus is aware of the potential impact events staged at the venue can have on the environment. To ensure we operate in an environmentally sustainable way, we adopt many environmentally friendly working practices. We are delighted to support this worthwhile initiative by lighting The SSE Hydro green for Recycle Week”.
Merseyside
Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority has launched Recycling week by teaming up with Veolia to urge Merseyside and Halton residents to recycle their used cooking oil.
Running from 25 September for two months, every litre of used cooking oil recycled at the centres will be used to generate electricity and be turned into a donation for Alder Hey Children’s Charity.
The collected oil will be taken to Living Fuels’ recycling facility and recovered into LF100 biofuel used to generate electricity.
Jeff Sears, director at resource management company Veolia, explained: “It is estimated that £88m per year is spent on removing pipe blockages. We are proud to offer residents a sustainable way to dispose of used cooking oil that will also be turned into a donation to support the great work that Alder Hey Children’s Charity do.”
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