recycling
This is a subject close to heart to a good majority of us. Our local councils have recycling targets and we
are constantly bombarded with information on this. Let us just add a bit more.
A lot of the things we’re putting in our bins can be used as materials to produce our daily newspaper or that
bottle of catsup. But, in spite of all the information on recycling, they still end up in the landfills.
The government has, in the past years, been making it a lot easier for us. We’ve now got colour-coded bins
for our glass and plastic bottles and paper and garden wastes. For flat dwellers, we’ve got our orange bags
to fill with anything recyclable. Retailers have taken some responsibility as well with recycling banks in their
forecourts. So really, we have no excuse for not recycling at home. Statistics do show that recycling are on the
up. But it never ends there. Out in the streets, it still is commonplace to see paper, plastic bottles, all in the
same bin bound for the landfill.
recycling has its price
Lorries need to pick up your recyclables from your doorstep and their use of petrol
adds to the carbon emissions. Deinking paper uses chemicals that can be harmful to the environment as well as
consuming a lot of water. Recycled paper has a greyish tinge as some of the ink is dispersed. Some solve this
problem by using bleach, which also harms the environment. But recycling is still worth it as more energy is
used in producing from new materials.
did you know...
A good percentage of newspaper in the UK is made from recycled material.
Paper cannot be recycled forever, the fibres get weaker each time. A percentage of virgin pulp needs to be used
for strength. Aluminium and steel, however, can be recycled over and over again without losing its strength.
Most loo rolls and facial tissues uses virgin pulp. That softness is because it is made from a material that is
not recycled and they cannot be recycled once used. The WWF reckons we flush down a total of 270,000 trees worldwide
every single day. Should we all give the recycled unbleached ones a try?
a few recycling tips...
Buy recycled! It’s not enough to be recycling your used papers. We have to close the loop and buy recycled
products as well. When you buy products, look at the packaging. Is it made from recycled materials? Is it
recyclable?
Find out more about waht you put in your bins from Waste Online
out and about...
A few years ago, I was quite happy reading a Metro on the tube. Free, non-challenging read to update myself
with the headlines and to make sure I don’t get stuck looking up at the roof, twiddling my thumbs. I always
take it home to finish reading and recycle. Nowadays, I had to work past my way through people thrusting various
free reading materials at me that it has been a challenge murmuring ‘no, thank you’ so many times. Many must be
thinking they’re so thoughtful after leaving their copy behind on the train for somebody else to read – on the seat,
on the floor, on the baggage racks, in the stairwells. Hmmm. The cleaning companies who clean up after you do
not even recycle those papers, so PLEASE TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU!
But it might be good to know that London Lite and thelondonpaper “voluntarily” pay for recycling bins to
be placed around London after the Westminster City Council has threatened to ban them. I have not seen any
of these recycling bins on my route through London, but it is a good, if a bit late, start. So use them when
you see them.