Up to 85% of the material in a typical household bin can be recycled. This means that the material can be collected and sent to a reprocessing factory to be made into new materials.
Recycling is a great way to help the environment, as all materials that are collected for recycling are diverted from going into landfill. Landfill space is rapidly running out, so the more materials that are recycled, the better it is for the environment.
Recycling materials also saves valuable natural resources and energy. If materials were not recycled, ‘virgin’ materials would be used to make new materials. Vast amounts of energy are used in sourcing virgin materials by digging up the landscape or mining, and in the production processes to make new cans, glass, plastic, paper and cardboard.
Did you know that recycling also helps to combat global warming? By using recycled materials instead of virgin materials, energy is saved, which means that less carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is one of the main gases contributing to global warming.
In addition to the environmental benefits of recycling, there are also large financial benefits. Local Authorities have to pay landfill tax for every tonne of waste sent to landfill. These charges are rising sharply every year, so it is now more important than ever that we recycle as much as we can.
There are a number of reasons why we should recycle more, here are some listed below:
Landfill sites are rapidly filling up
We are rapidly running out of landfill sites to bury our rubbish because over 60% of the nation’s rubbish ends up in Landfill Sites. The landfill sites in Essex will be full by 2017.
Digging up the landscape is very damaging to the environment.
Recycling saves valuable raw materials
Recycling decreases the need to use valuable raw materials to make new products. Raw materials would otherwise have to be mined out causing damage to the environment. Why bury something in one place that will just have to be dug out elsewhere, causing double the environmental damage?
6 tonnes of Bauxite has to be mined for every tonne of aluminium produced. Recycling prevents this.
Recycling reduces pollution and saves energy
The manufacture of products using raw materials uses up vast quantities of energy compared to recycling materials to make new products.
Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to power your TV for 20 minutes
Recycling Aluminium saves a staggering 95% of the energy needed to make it from raw materials.
Recycling helps to combat global warming
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane contribute to global warming which is a serious environmental problem.
Recycling reduces energy use and energy useage produces carbon dioxide and biodegradeable materials which are sent to landfill can cause the production of methane.
Source: Rochford Council Website
http://www.rochford.gov.uk/rdc/main.asp?page=1406
