Helping residents to recycle right during National Recycle Week

Recycling is something most Derbyshire residents already do and as a nation we are recycling more than ever before. But there is more to be done! Derbyshire County Council is putting the call out to residents to get behind Recycle Week and keep up the momentum in driving down the county’s waste.

Recycle Week runs from 24 – 30 September. It celebrates the fact that we are recycling more but is focusing this year on getting the recycling right. The national campaign organised by Recycle Now puts out the clarion call to people to recycle more, recycle right and be proud of what they’re doing – because it matters.

Over three quarters of UK households (76%) add one or more items to their recycling collection that is not accepted locally, which can be problematic in the recycling process. Meanwhile more than half (54%) put at least one item in the general rubbish that could be recycled.

• Recycle more of these items: aerosols (empty), plastic cosmetic bottles such as shampoo, shower gel (rinsed out) and plastic cleaning bottles including bleach (emptied, lids on, triggers can also be recycled).
• Make sure these never go in the recycling bin: plastic bags, film or food wrappings (e.g. crisp packets, potato bags, bubble wrap); tissue and kitchen roll; dirty nappies.

Anyone who is unsure about how to recycle a specific item or would like further information on recycling can visit Derbyshire County Council‘s website.

Councillor Simon Spencer Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure said:

“This year many of us have taken more notice of our impact on the environment. Programmes like Blue Planet II have inspired people up and down the country to cut their use of plastic – especially single use plastic.”

“All of this helps as does recycling more and making sure we get our recycling right. There’s also a sound economic argument for recycling. It currently costs Derbyshire County Council £34 million a year to dispose of waste that could have been recycled at source.”