Waste & Rubbish Recycling Facts

When learning facts about waste management, we come to understand that it’s not all rubbish (I tried there) but it’s based on the impact of the environment, health and economics. Facts can be fun and educational for kids which is a great thing as the future is theirs.

Did You Say 7 Times?

Let’s kick start the topic with cardboard, most of us know that recycling can be recycled but did you know that it can in fact be recycled at least 7 times. Okay, you may be thinking, why 7. Well each time the recycling process happens, the fibres become short and continuing that process means that the fibres become too weak to recycle again. But honestly, up to 7 times is better than no times and it saves on raw materials to produce it new.

Glass Bottles And Its Energy

Drinking a beer or your favourite drink in a glass bottle, well did you know that if you recycled it, you can help save energy, you may be wondering how on earth (I tried here again – earth, environment), bottles save energy. Well, it is pretty amazing to think that just by recycling one glass bottle can power a laptop for half an hour and a lightbulb for around 4 hours.

Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled continuously with no end, unlike other materials the glass does not lose its quality. If glass is thrown away without recycling, it will end up in a landfill where it does not decompose. Recycling is very important.

Recycling Carton

Next time you buy food or drinks, check out cartons. If you are a wine drinker, there are even wine in cartons being sold! Yep, it’s recyclable! What can cartons be recycled into? Tissues, paper and even towels. What’s amazing is that they can even be recycled into eco-friendly building materials such as ceiling tiles, floor underlay and roof cover boards. Cartons are made from paper, plastic and long-life products have aluminium foil. A high percentage of the product is paper.

A Short Understanding Of Wildlife And Plastic

Lets not forget what we as humans can do to help protect wildlife, as an example according to WWF, ‘Ocean plastic pollution harms marine life in two ways: through ingestion and entanglement. Globally, more than 240 wildlife species, including whales, are known to have ingested plastic, which can result in internal injuries and death’.

Recycling Paper

Can be 100% recycled but ever wondered what the process is? Well, once collected from recycling bins, it is then taken to a recycling centre where it then goes through a process of extracting other fibres contaminating the paper such as plastic. It then needs to be graded for quality as is separated into different grades. The papers are then broken down and shredded. Certain types of chemicals are then added to a huge amount of water which breaks down the fibres and separates them.

The next part of the process is to soak the paper into hot water which creates a pulp, where they can remove more contaminants from the paper. Oh and of course de-inking would occur at this time too (once all contaminants are gone). The pulp will go through a bleaching stage and will be ready for it’s final steps.

The pulp will then be ready for the paper machine, it will go through a process of drying and rolled through steam heated rollers and prepared for reusing in your office, home or school.

Some Random Waste Facts

According to Recycle More:

‘Around 30 million tonnes of household waste is generated in the UK every year, of which 5.9 million tonnes is packaging’.

‘In total, a staggering 6.6 million tonnes of food waste comes from our homes each year in the UK, at a cost of £14 billion. Of that, 4.5 million tonnes is food that could have been eaten, which works out to around eight meals per household each week*. This ‘edible’ element of household food waste is responsible for 14 million tonnes of CO2e alone – as much greenhouse gas produced as flying from London to Perth more than 4.5 million times’.

‘Up to 40% less fuel is used to transport drinks in plastic bottles compared to glass bottles’.

‘In the UK we throw away 13 billion steel cans every year, stacked on top of each other, you could make 3 piles of cans that would reach the moon!’

So what we have understood is that by doing the right thing, we can all help save the environment and protect our planet. We will be saving on raw materials, conserving energy, and reducing water and air pollution!

We need to save our natural resources and reduce greenhouse gases.

Covering London & Essex, the team at London Rubbish Collection ensure that the guidelines are followed and are not just friendly people, we are environmentally friendly people.

Check out our services which include recycling.