Today (Thursday, March 18) is Global Recycling Day, and we’re being asked to think about what we throw away – seeing not waste, but opportunity.
Global Recycling Day was created in 2018 to help recognise, and celebrate, the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet. It’s a day for the world to come together and put the planet first.
We’re fully supportive of this in Wrexham and we have our own Decarbonisation Action Plan as we look to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030.
Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Recycling is one of the easiest, and best ways we can tackle climate change from within our own homes. Doing so helps to conserve natural resources and save energy, which slows down the effects of climate change. We should be proud of our recycling efforts so far, but we must keep going, and aim to do even better. Let’s continue recycling everything we can, from all around the home, to improve our local recycling figures and help get Wales to number one.”
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Want to read some interesting facts about recycling in Wales? Have a look at these…
Recycling facts about Wales:
• Wales is the world’s third best recycling nation. We’re first in the UK by a long way.
• In Wales we recycle 65% of our waste. In 2009 this figure was 37%.
• 92% of us are regular recyclers.
• 55% of people in Wales were recycling more things in 2020 than in 2019.
• Young adults in Wales have made the biggest year-on-year improvement, with 80% of 18-34-year-olds saying they recycled more in 2020 than in 2019.
• Welsh Government has set a target to recycle 70% of our waste by 2025 and become a zero-waste nation by 2050.
Food recycling:
• Recycling food waste directly helps to tackle climate change.
• 80% of people in Wales recycle their food waste.
• 6 recycled tea bags could produce enough electricity to boil a kettle for another cuppa.
• 1 recycled banana peel can produce enough energy to charge 2 smartphones.
• A caddy full of food waste can generate enough electricity to power a typical home for 1 hour.
Glass and metal recycling:
• Both glass and metal can be recycled again and again without losing any of its quality.
• Around 95% less energy is used to make glass and metal items from recycled materials compared with using ‘raw’ or ‘virgin’ materials.
• Glass and metal items that can be recycled from the bedroom and bathroom include perfume & aftershave bottles, and deodorant, hairspray & shaving gel aerosols.
• Recycling 1 empty drinks can saves enough energy to power a shower for more than 5 minutes.
• Recycling 1 aerosol can saves enough energy to power a TV for 8 hours.
• Recycling 1 glass wine bottle stops nearly 4,000 cars’ worth of CO2 getting into our atmosphere.
73% of people in Wales recycle their empty aerosol cans. https://t.co/VqJsyF2tS2 #BeMightyRecycle pic.twitter.com/isIxSgie8d
— Wrexham Council (@wrexhamcbc) March 15, 2021
Plastic recycling:
• Most household plastic items can be recycled.
• Plastic bottles that can be recycled from the bathroom include hand wash, body wash, shampoo and conditioner bottles, bubble bath bottles and plastic cleaning product bottles.
• 85% of Welsh citizens recycle their plastic toiletry bottles. 88% recycle plastic drinks bottles.
• It takes 75% less energy to make a plastic bottle from recycled plastic compared with using ‘raw’ or ‘virgin’ materials.
• Recycling 1 cleaner bottle saves enough energy to charge 6 iPads.
• Recycling 1 bleach bottle saves enough energy to boil a kettle 3 times.
• Recycling three 500ml drinks bottle saves enough energy to power a fridge for 4 hours.
Card and paper recycling:
• 86% of people in Wales recycle their cardboard.
• Cardboard that can be recycled from the bathroom include toothpaste boxes, toiletry boxes and toilet roll tubes.
• 1 recycled toilet roll tube saves enough energy to charge your smartphone twice.
Become a Mighty Recycler and help get Wales to number one – 8 TOP TIPS
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