Why should I recycle?

This may seem obvious to us but when we're out promoting composting and recycling with Shropshire Master Composters some times people actually challenge us as to why we should recycle at all.  To which of course we say it is absolutely vital that everyone recycles absolutely everything that they possibly can.  It may not seem much for each household to recycle a few cans or bottles but there are about half a million people across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and so together we create thousands of tonnes of waste and as they say 'every little helps'. 

Fortunately this sort of query is a rarity and audits have shown that around 75% of Shropshire's residents regularly recycle which is good news, but its really important that we all recycle as much as possible.  But we have come up with a few good reasons to recycle.

1. Recycling is easy

Alot of people have gone to a huge effort to provide people with recycling collection services. So all you have to do is put the recycling out for collection on the right day and its all done for you. Once you get into the habit its really not much effort for everyone to use these services.

2. Recycling is green

If you don't recycle it means more of the earths resources will get used up making new products. Recycling also reduces the need for landfill sites which can be polluting.

3. Recycling creates jobs

Sorting recycling is a labour intensive process and as such research has shown that recycling creates ten times more jobs than landfilling waste does.

4. Recycling saves energy

Using recycled material instead of new saves energy e.g. recycling aluminium cans uses 20 times less energy than making cans from the raw material.

5. Recycling saves CO2

The UK’s current recycling activities save over 15 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year. That's the same as 10% of all emissions from the transport sector - so its like taking 3.5 million cars off the road!

6. Recycling saves money

Landfilling waste is very expensive and so if we don't recycle more it increases the cost of waste management - not a good use of public spending. 

7. Recycling helps the economy

Your recycling provides material for UK industry to make new things. Recycling supports high tech and manufacturing businesses which are especially important to the UK economy.