Let's Not Let Devon Go To Waste!

Monday: Recycling Glass

Glass takes up to 4,000 years to decompose in a landfill, yet can be recycled indefinitely.

Over 80% of the glass collected for recycling is used in the UK, the majority of it to make new glass bottles and jars.

In Devon we recycle 21,788 tonnes of glass equivalent to over 43,576,000 bottles or jars – enough energy to power a computer for all Devon residents for 4 days (source ONS)

Tuesday: Recycling Textiles

Clothing (known as textiles) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the Country. The trend for buying cheaper ‘disposable’ clothing means fewer people use charity shops and we throw about 1.5 million tonnes away, around 80% of which are sent to landfill.

Despite most old clothing being sent to landfill, it's one of the easiest things to recycle through charity shops, doorstep collections and jumble sales or selling old clothing on websites like eBay, Preloved and at Clothes Swaps.

One tonne of textiles is worth around £400 with even higher prices paid for higher quality, clean material.

Wednesday: Recycling Tins and Cans

Aluminium

The energy saved by recycling just one aluminium can would run a fridge for 1 hour, boil a kettle 3 times or power a television for 3 hours.

Aluminium can be recycled endlessly with no loss of quality, it takes less energy, and material, to produce aluminium compared to steel and as it's lighter this reduces transport costs. However recycled aluminium saves 95% of the energy needed to produce it from scratch.

Steel

80% of our tins and cans are made from steel and it can be recycled endlessly with no loss of quality. Steel cans preserve food naturally and do not need additives.

Steel cans are approximately 35% lighter than they were 20 years ago and one tonne of recycled steel saves two tonnes of raw materials. This is a 70% energy saving.

Thursday: Recycling Paper

All of the newsprint manufactured here in the UK is now made from 100% recycled paper;

In Devon we recycle 27,111 tonnes of paper that’s 460,887 trees saved. Which means we save of over 500 acres of trees per year - (based on Forestry Commission tree per acre figure )

It takes just seven days for a newspaper to be recycled into new newsprint and sold in Devon and production of recycled paper reduces air pollution by 95%.

Friday: Recycling Plastic

Plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose! A UN report in June 2006 estimated that on every square mile of ocean there are 46,000 pieces of plastic debris floating!

One recycled plastic bottle saves enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours and it takes just 25 two litre drink bottles to make one adult size fleece.

Each year food shops give away enough carrier bags to cover the whole of London! By switching to a ‘Bag for Life’ the average person can prevent around 300 plastic bags ending up in landfill sites each year!