Agenda 21

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At Home 11 - Recycling: paper, metal and glass
Remember the 4 R's: Reduce - Reuse - Recycle - Re-think
Paper, steel and glass: the facts Every year we use enough paper to cut down a forest the size of Wales. Packaging accounts for 33% of all municipal waste by weight and as much as 50% by volume For every ton of recycled crushed glass used in the manufacturing process, some 1.2 tons of raw materials are saved - and the production of the recycled glass uses 50% less water and gives off 20% less air pollution. The recycling of scrap steel by steel mills and foundries leads to an 86% reduction in air pollution, a 75% reduction in water pollution and a 40% reduction in water use
What can I do? Recycle your paper, metal and glass. Recycle at Home Organise an effective home recycling service for glass, plastics, aluminium, steel cans clothes and plastic. Separate items you intend to donate to charity. Buy goods with less packaging. If a product is excessively packaged, tell the shop where you bought it that you think it is overpackaged. Better still, ring or write to the manufacturer.
How can I do it? Buy Recycled Buy recycled if possible. Recycled items available in a supermarket include: toilet Rolls, rubbish sacks, recycled plastic buckets, etc. Buy Recycled website This is targeted more at business, but has some products for household use. Refill schemes Ask about refill schemes to use refillable bottles for body lotions and shampoos. The Body Shop provide a refill service on many products.
Smart thinking Ask your council for help Can your council help you recycle? If not, ask them why not. Most councils have a list of their recycling sites on their website.
Further information The Buy Recycled website is mainly targeted at business but has some products available for domestic customers. Aluminium recycling website Wastewatch Waste Watch is a charity whose inspiration and values derive from a desire to protect the environment by ensuring the sustainable use and disposal of scarce resources, primarily by advocating waste reduction, re-use and recycling of materials. These values provide the basis of our work with community and voluntary organisations, local authorities, educational institutions, businesses and individual members of the public, all of whom share our desire for an improved environment and the reduction of waste. Wastewatch Europa House Ground Floor 13-17 Ironmonger Row London EC1V 3QG Tel: 0171 253 6266 Fax: 0171 253 5962 Navigation: Green Living > At Home 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 > 10 > 11 > 12