Almost all of us recycle at home without thinking twice. But new research from Wales Recycles shows that when people are enjoying festivals, days out, attractions and events, they can often let their guard down. The music. The food. The fun. Sound familiar?
The good news is that recycling facilities are now available in more places than ever before across Wales. Once you place an item in the right bin, something brilliant happens next.
The journey starts here
Every great tour starts somewhere. For your recycling, it starts with one simple choice. Choosing the right bin is what sets the journey in motion. And it’s a journey that stays surprisingly close to home. More than 90% of recycling collected in Wales is processed within the UK, and more than half never leaves Wales at all.
Stop 1: Behind the scenes
Once collected from our site, recyclable materials head to specialist facilities where they’re sorted into different material streams.
Glass with glass. Metal with metal. Plastic with plastic. Paper and card with paper and card. Food waste is collected separately.
Keeping materials separate is what makes high-quality recycling possible. That’s why the simple action of choosing the right bin matters so much.
A bottle in the bottle recycling bin can become something new. A bottle in the wrong bin will never get the chance.
Metal: Built for the comeback tour
Recycled metal uses up to 95% less energy than producing metal from raw materials.
Metal materials like cans, foil and aerosol are sorted, melted and reprocessed into new metal products and can be recycled again and again without losing quality.
Glass: The endless encore
Like metal, glass can also be recycled forever.
At specialist facilities, glass is crushed, cleaned and melted down before being turned into new bottles and jars. Again. And again. And again.
One correctly recycled bottle could begin countless new journeys.
Plastic: More power than you think
After being sorted, plastic is cleaned, shredded and processed into recycled material ready to become new packaging and products.
What starts life as a drinks bottle could become something entirely different tomorrow. But only if it makes it into the right bin.
Food waste: The surprise headliner
Did you know your food waste in Wrexham is used to create soil improver, which is available for residents to collect at the three recycling centres throughout the year?
So, if you’re not already recycling your food waste, why not start recycling your leftovers and turn it into something useful? And then when you need to do a bit of gardening you can come and collect some free soil improver. Sounds like a good idea, huh?
All inedible food waste, from apple cores and inedible peelings to tea bags and eggshells, they all have a role to play.
David A Bithell, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Environment, said: “We want to spread the message that it’s important to recycle everything you can, at all times. Many of us are used to recycling at home, but we need to keep to the same standards when we’re out travelling. That’s why we’re proud to support Wales Recycles’ Be Mighty. Recycle. campaign this summer.”
Send your recyclables back on tour when you’re out and about this summer
So, whether you’re enjoying events like ours, or day-tripping with the family, make sure your recyclables find their way into the right bin, wherever you are.
Learn more about what can be recycled on our website.
2 easy ways to get our free food caddy liners – Wrexham Council News
When are my bins collected? Check your bin day and sign up for reminders.
