How Can I Recycle?

How Can I Recycle?



Every year, each Londoner produces over a tonne of waste – this is likely to be the equivalent of 200 black bin bags each*. There are over 7 million people in London each contributing to this, between them generating a theoretical 1.5 billion black bags of rubbish each year.



Currently only 10% of this waste is recycled but up to 80% of the average household can be diverted from the bin.



Many London Boroughs have kerbside collection schemes, (visit www.recycleforlondon.com to see if your house does), but even if you don‘‘t, there are over 2,500 recycling sites within the Greater London area.



Items that can be recycled either through kerbside collection schemes or recycling centers include:



Paper – Paper to be recycled should be kept clean and dry. Paper including junk mail, telephone directories that use white pages, Birthday and Christmas cards and wrapping paper, can be recycled either by taking it to paper banks or through collection services.

Cardboard – All plastic must be removed from the cardboard before it can be recycled. Flattening cardboard boxes before putting them in collection boxes is a great way to save space further in the collection process.

Glass – Most glass containers can be recycled including jam jars, beer and wine bottles, and coffee jars. Glass can be taken to local bottle banks or collected in kerbside collection schemes.

Kitchen and green waste – You can recycle all sorts of kitchen and green waste through composting to produce rich fertilizer for the garden. Waste suitable for composting includes, fruit and vegetable scraps, tea bags, garden waste, and gerbil, hamster and rabbit bedding.

Plastic – Plastic drink bottles are those most commonly recycled. There is often a kerbside collection service in place for these or some supermarkets provide recycling banks.



As well as recycling you can cut down on the amount of waste your household produces in a few simple steps.



Register with the mailing preference service at www.mpsonline.org.uk to cut down the amount of junk-mail you receive.





By purchasing a ‘‘bag for life‘‘ from your local supermarket you can cut down the amount of plastic bags used.





Buy in bulk and refills and save on packaging