UK households produced 30.5 million tonnes of waste in 2003/04, of which 17% was collected for recycling. (source: defra.gov.uk) This figure is still quite low compared to some of our neighbouring EU countries, some recycling over 50% fo their waste. There is still a great deal of waste which could be recycled that ends up in landfill sites which is harmful to the environment.
Recycling is an excellent way of saving energy and conserving the environment. Did you know that:
- 1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours.
- 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes.
- 1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours.
- 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials.
Some Interesting Facts
- Up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be recycled.
- The unreleased energy contained in the average dustbin each year could power a television for 5,000 hours.
- The largest lake in the Britain could be filled with rubbish from the UK in 8 months.
- On average, 16% of the money you spend on a product pays for the packaging, which ultimately ends up as rubbish.
- As much as 50% of waste in the average dustbin could be composted.
- Up to 80% of a vehicle can be recycled.
- 9 out of 10 people would recycle more if it were made easier.
3 comments:
We have kerbside collections for paper,tin cans,cardboard and the like,Why not glass?
many households have lot's of glass waste,but probably throw it in the general waste bin,rather than drive to the local recycling centre.
Could it be because there is an excess of green glass,from imported bottles?Therfore not profitable?
i think that every body needs to take some responsibility for their own rubbish and the council has to take some responsibilty for the management
Cost should not come in to it , but it always does, and when somebody finds a way to make mony from waste then we will have the answer
Waste could be easily sorted and reduce the burden on the individual. Now - I base the following statement on the fact that sorting waste and preparing it for recycling is a valid, and very important role in society. We know this to be true - right?
So - get people in prison / on community service to do it. Its a valuable contribution, not difficult to do, no more strenuous than a factory job, and can't possibly be degrading based on the above statement.
That way we can separate as we are now, but the general waste could be separated even more effectively, and the lazy irresponsible members of society who don't separate don't adversely affect our efforts.
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