Recycling

Recycling Myths

Myth - It is not worth recycling at the moment as the market for recycled materials has fallen

Fact - It is still a better option both financially and environmentally for councils and residents to recycle rather than send to landfill, even if councils face higher storage charges temporarily.

Even if paper is sold for recycling at £10 per tonne that is still better than paying an average of £45, including tax, to send it to landfill.

Myth - Recycling and rubbish all ends up getting thrown away

Fact - This is not true. You may have seen your rubbish and recycling being put into the same lorry.

The different bags are separated by machinery at a factory and all your recycling is recycled.

Myth - There's no point recycling, it doesn't make a difference

Fact - Yes it does. Recycling stops tonnes of rubbish being buried in landfill.

In the UK recycling saves about 10-15 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year - the same as taking 3.5 million cars off the road.

Myth - It takes more energy to recycling something than to make it from scratch

Fact - This is not true. For example making a drinks can out of recycled aluminium saves up to 95% of the energy needed to make one from scratch.

Recycling reduces our use of precious natural resources like water, oil and trees, plus it doesn't create the environmental harm that comes from burying rubbish.