Many of us have got the basics of recycling sorted now, so here are a few extra recycling tips to improve upon your current efforts and kick it up a notch, writes Lucy Ravenhall.
None of these tips require much effort — just a little thought and a change of habit is all it takes!
1. Recycle throughout the house
A lot of recycling is often done in the kitchen, however products that are recyclable are probably present in most rooms in your house. The bathroom is a hotspot for recycling, with all the shampoo, liquid soap and shower gel bottles, for example. Try placing small bins in each room of your home to encourage everyone to get involved in sorting the waste and recycling as much as possible.
2. Avoid single-use plastics
Single-use plastics such as cups, straws and cutlery may be convenient, but with a little forethought their purpose can be eliminated and so can the waste they produce. When you know you’re going to be eating on-the-go, just take a reusable cup and some reusable cutlery with you. Most of us can go without a straw, but if you do need or want one you can buy alternatives which are made of stainless steel or bamboo.
3. Buy recycled goods
Support recycling by purchasing recycled goods, such as toilet paper and kitchen roll, instead of automatically grabbing your usual choice. This reduces the amount of virgin materials being used to produce things and keeps the recycling loop open — there’s no point in recycling paper products into new paper products if nobody is going to buy them!
4. Buy recyclable goods
When you are shopping, keep an eye out for items that can be recycled once you have finished with them. Don’t automatically buy the cheapest item — sometimes it is better to spend a little more money and have something that will last longer or that is made from more recyclable materials. The longer something lasts before it breaks, the better it is for your wallet and for the environment.
5. Give things away
If you no longer have a use for something, let it go: donate it to charity, gift it to a friend or family member, or list it on an online marketplace. This way, you get rid of junk from your house and someone will be reusing an item instead of buying new, which again cuts down on the use of virgin materials.
This article was brought to you by Lucy Ravenhall from Armley-based skip hire company, Forge Skip Hire.