Dr Liz Goodwin
Posted by
Dr Liz Goodwin, CEO

Thanks a billion - recycling is paying off

13 March 2009

Around 3.5 billion aluminium drinks cans were recycled last year in the UK. One of the posters used in the Recycle Now spring campaign

More than one billion pounds – that’s the staggering value of the materials all of us, as householders, have been recycling since 2003. This is great news because it really helps to show the value of recycling – especially important at a time when some people are asking if it’s worth recycling given the fall in material prices.

Of course it’s worth it. Our latest figures speak for themselves in terms of the financial and environmental savings we can all contribute to.
 
We’re all making much more use of our valuable resources. Recycling paper, glass, plastics, aluminium and steel currently saves more than 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually in the UK. That’s equivalent to taking five million cars off the road every year. This new data also helps to demonstrate how using a recycled material instead of virgin material, can save that virgin resource.

As a country, we currently use around three times as much resource as the planet can sustain or put another way, we're living in a way that assumes we have three Earths to support us.  So, it is crucial we find ways of reducing how much we consume. Recycling is a great way of doing that and it is having clear results. Since 2003 we have sent nearly 34 million tonnes of our waste for recycling - enough to cover an area the size of the city of London 40 times over in waste one metre deep.

However, recycling isn't the only answer; we also need to get better at designing things which use fewer resources over their lifetime.  There are great innovations happening and there’s an appetite for change. Retailers are already finding better ways of supplying us with what we want – but in less packaging.

Our efforts to recycle more, waste less and reduce how much we consume are making a real difference. And best of all, they don’t have to cost the earth.

Source stats

Current UK recycling of paper, glass, plastics, aluminium and steel is estimated to save more than 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year through avoided primary material production (equivalent to annual use of 5 million cars).

Source: Defra http://www.defra.gov.uk/ENVIRONMENT/WASTE/strategy/index.htm

Posted in:
|Achievement |Climate change |Households |Thank you |Recycle Now

9 comments

Comments

  • John Costigane

    March 16 2009

    Hi Liz, I agree that the media have a lot ot answer for, includng the BBC for which we all have to pay. Recycling services are not uniform yet, so reduce/reuse is equally important for householders to attack the plastic packaging waste leviathon. As a Zero Waste enthusiast, I have seen many improvements and more recently refillable systems, from Ecover, and container use, particularly at Lush, have helped reduce recyclables as well. The Zero Waste Easter Egg phenomenon is very welcome, even though 100% is not achieved. The whole point of the trend is to encourage everyone to be part of it.

  • a 13 year old child

    March 19 2009

    I have no clue what this means... you should try making a less compplicatd website for children because some might have to a report on this topic.

  • Liz Goodwin

    March 20 2009

    Thanks for your comment. I'm pleased to say that WRAP does have a site about recycling that is less technical and business focussed...it is called www.recyclenow.com. There's loads of really useful facts and figures you can use for homework.

  • RaiulBaztepo

    March 30 2009

    Hello! Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource! PS: Sorry for my bad english, I'v just started to learn this language ;) Your, Raiul Baztepo

  • John Costigane

    April 02 2009

    Hi Again Liz, The announcement of Recycle Week June 22-28 this year, with a Lets Waste Less booklet is a good way to promote further improvement. Zero Waste enthusiasts, like myself and many others, attack the waste issue in many ways. Home Container use is one outstanding way, for loose item purchases. This has a major impact on packaging used, in fact Zero Waste Packaging is used. Could I therefore encourage you to mention prominently this reusable packaging in your booklet. It is a natural addition to fabric shopping bags and smaller reusable bags (eg Onya). Plastic bottle use is reduced markedly for example in home cosmetics/toiletries. Purchases of meat/fish similarly placed in well sealed types. There are other ways to head for Zero Waste but this is my favourite option.

  • PiterKokoniz

    April 08 2009

    Hello My name is Piter Kokoniz. Only want to tell, that your posts are really interesting And want to ask you: what was the reasson for you to start this blog? Sorry for my bad english Thank you! Your Piter Kokoniz, from Latvia

  • Arianafrag

    May 13 2009

    Great point and very interesting food for thought. I'm not sure I have any clients I can replicate this with, but will bear in mind for the future. Regards

  • Tony Langham

    May 31 2009

    Having seen little change in packaging and overwrapping and knowing from your own dept that polystyrene isn't recycled becuase there's no profit in it it looks very glum. Lots of website with lots of spin/pictures and pretty websites BUT nothing changed really. Where is the funding to make sure we have a recyling centre for plastics in Salisbury; last company went bust. all one has to do is ask the binmen ,oops,sorry I forgot my politi speak- waste recycling operatives.

  • John Costigane

    June 08 2009

    Hi Again Liz, The news that M&S are using 50% rPET in salad packs, with the used pack recycled at store, is welcome news. This full cycle setup should prevent recyclate ending up in landfill which has happened so often in new practices which have fallen well-short in reality. I also welcome M&S taking up the Zero Waste challenge through this London trial. If this can be repeated countrywide, we will promote the good news on our various websites to add to the campaign.

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