Everything you need to know about recycling

Recycling plastic packaging has huge benefits for the environment. It is now a responsibility of local authorities to recycle more packaging and reduce the amount of material sent to landfill.

Campaigns such as the national government-backed Pledge 4 Plastics have been put together to help better communicate the positive benefits that recycling brings. The national initiative aims to boost plastic recycling in the UK and achieve real behaviour change through consistent and simple messages.

We have put together some interesting facts about how recycling plastics benefits both the environment and economy:

• By recycling, the need for raw materials decreases – saving energy and carbon emissions. For example, recycling one tonne of plastic bottles saves three-quarters of a tonne of carbon (2,500 miles in a car).
• It costs up to £78 million every year to dispose of plastic bottles, tubs and pots not collected for recycling – money that local authorities could use on other essential services.
• The amount of recycling has undoubtedly increased but there is still more that can be done. Less than 60 per cent of plastic bottles and 30 per cent of plastic pots, tubs and trays are collected for recycling in the UK

Most people know the importance of recycling and show support for the practice, yet many make the wrong decisions when it comes to disposing of their waste. Recycling on the go is on the rise but there is much more that could be done.

Something as simple as good bin design can help reinforce messages and make it easier for users to dispose of waste responsibly. Factors such as waste separation, WRAP approved signage and colour coding all encourage people to recycle.

Amberol make it easier for people to recycle and local authorities to meet recycling targets by providing a wide range of both indoor and outdoor public bins. Our Olympic Dual Recycling Bin has specially shaped apertures for bottles and paper to encourage recycling. One of our most popular bins, it can be found on some of the busiest streets in the UK.

To find out more about the range of bins available and how we can help you, call 01773 830 930 or email sales@amberol.co.uk.