Wales is already the third best recycling nation in the world, and the Mighty Mission to get us to number one continues into Recycle Week 2021 from 20 to 26 September.
Recycling plays an essential role in tackling climate change and it’s a simple thing that everyone can do to help make a real impact. The Council has taken steps in recent years to improve further such as increasing the range of materials that can be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centre, and would like to thank residents and the community for their continued efforts in improving our recycling rate in Blaenau Gwent.
Recycling is now the norm in Wales, with over 92% of us recycling regularly as part of our daily routine. We’re recycling fruit and vegetable peelings, eggshells, tea bags and plate scrapings in our food caddies; recycling from every room including the bathroom and bedroom, and recycling tricky items such as empty aerosols.
However, almost half of us are still not recycling everything we can, so if we’re to help Wales reach the coveted top spot we need to step it up and recycle even more.
To learn more about the mighty mission, visit www.walesrecycles.org.uk, look out for campaign activity across the Wales Recycles social channels, or join the conversation using #RecycleWeek and #BeMightyRecycle.
Become a mighty recycler, protect the planet and help get Wales to number in the world by doing the following:
If it’s plastic and bottle shaped, recycle it
Most of us recycle. In fact, over 88% of us recycle plastic bottles such as drinks bottles, cleaning product bottles and toiletry bottles. Don't forget to empty, crush and replace the lids before recycling. Trigger sprays can be left on cleaning bottles.
Give it a quick rinse
For pots, tubs and trays, just give them a quick rinse before recycling them; remember to remove the plastic film. There’s no need to get every spot of food off, and dishwashing them is a step too far – and a waste of energy!
Recycle aerosol cans from every room
Metal recyclables such as aerosol cans can be recycled again and again and again without losing quality. Don’t forget to recycle empty aerosol cans from your bedroom and bathroom, such as hairspray, deodorant and shaving gel aerosols. Recycling just two aerosol cans saves enough energy to power a DJ set for one hour.
Recycle all your food waste
When recycled, your food waste is turned into renewable energy. Just one recycled banana peel would create enough energy to charge two smartphones. Whilst 80% of us recycle our food waste, some food waste still ends up in the rubbish bin. Don’t forget waste such as teabags & coffee grounds, eggshells, bones and peelings can all be recycled.
Remove food from card packaging
Remove chunks of food from paper and card packaging before recycling. For example, you can put in the pizza box, just make sure that any food has been removed.
Use the scrunch test
Not sure if a piece of paper can be recycled? Try scrunching it up in your hand. If it doesn’t spring back, then it can be recycled. It’s a good test to use with wrapping paper. And if you’re recycling birthday cards, tear off any glittery bits first.
Give it a quick squish
Give cans and plastic bottles a quick squish – that’ll save room in your recycling container and make them more efficient to transport. Scrunch foil items loosely together to help them get through the sorting process without getting lost.
If you’re not sure, check
If you’re not sure if, how or where you can recycle an item, visit Wales Recycles’ Recycling Locator at www.walesrecycles.org.uk/local-recycling. Just put in your postcode and the answer will pop up.
To find out what happens to your recycling and where it goes, you can visit My Recycling Wales website where you will find some really useful information.