Recycle Week 2021: What’s going on in your area?

If there was ever a moment to take stock of your recycling habits and double down on your waste management processes, it’s Recycle Week 2021 (September 20-26).

Recycle Now’s annual event – now in its 18th year – encourages businesses, public bodies and individuals to review their recycling knowledge and ask themselves what more they could be doing.

This year’s theme is “Step It Up”, which turns the spotlight on climate change and the fact we’re not doing enough recycling to stop it.

Here’s what to look out for during Recycle Week 2021 in a few of the areas SunSkips serves, as well as what you can do to be part of the solution.

Why is Recycle Week so important?

According to Recycle Now, more than half (55%) of UK households still throw recyclable waste into the general rubbish bin.

Not only that, the waste we are recycling is often rejected for either being too small, dirty or simply non-recyclable.

In Suffolk alone, about 10,000 tonnes (roughly 20%) of waste collected from residents is rejected, meaning there’s a huge amount of recyclable material going to waste.

But recycling saves the UK 18 million tonnes of CO2 a year (it takes less energy to recycle than to make brand new things), so we all have the potential to make a big impact simply by putting our rubbish in the right bin.

What’s happening locally for Recycle Week 2021?

Being passionate about both recycling and the local community, SunSkips is always happy to spread the word about local initiatives to promote Recycle Week.

MORE: How SunSkips’ recycling screening line works

Throughout Recycle Week 2021, Suffolk Recycling is giving residents the chance to win £100 to spend at EcoHug (but you better know your stuff, because you’ll need to answer a few questions about local recycling).

Cllr James Mallinder, chair of Suffolk Waste Partnership, said, “People across Suffolk already recycle a great deal of their waste, either in their bins at home or by taking recyclable or reusable items to their local recycling centre, bottle banks or by donating to charities.

“This superb effort will not only make the most of the planet’s precious resources, but it is an effective way to help tackle the climate emergency that all local authorities have signed up to address in Suffolk.”

MORE: Suffolk recycling: Less than 1% of cardboard processed in UK

Also, look out for local landmarks Felixstowe Pier, Ipswich Town Hall and The Apex in Bury St Edmunds, which will be lit up in green to mark Recycle Week 2021.

Did anyone see @TheApexVenue in Bury St Edmunds lit up green last night? It’s been lit green all week to highlight #RecycleWeek ♻

There are two other buildings being lit green in Suffolk this week. Let us know if you spot them! pic.twitter.com/BiQxfj2Hjg

— Suffolk Recycling (@suffolkrecycle) September 21, 2021

 

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A post shared by Felixstowe Pier (@felixstowepier)

SunSkips’ top five Recycle Week tips

It’s hard to know where to start when stepping up your recycling game, so here’s a few easy-to-action tips that’ll get you on your way to becoming a better recycler in minutes flat…

• When you recycle plastic bottles, be sure to screw the lid back on, rather than throw it in loose. Small pieces of plastic can be rejected from the recycling process, whereas if it’s attached to the bottle, it’ll probably make it through.
• Check out your local supermarkets to see if they’re collecting certain types of recyclable materials that aren’t picked up by your local authority, specifically plastic bags, batteries and crisp packets.
• Don’t recycle at all! Yes, you heard right. Recycling is actually the last resort for your waste, and you should first consider if you can refuse, reduce, reuse, or repurpose before you bite the bullet and recycle.
• Give your glass jars a decent clean-out before you put them in the recycling. Similar to small pieces of plastic, dirty recycling can also be rejected at the recycling centre (it doesn’t have to be spotless, just rinse out well).
• Stop wishcycling! Wishcycling is the act of putting things that actually aren’t recyclable into the recycling and hoping for the best. Crisp packets are a good example of this. Your local authority should have clear information about what can and can’t be collected for recycling in your area.

If you’re having a clear-out this Recycle Week, you can trust SunSkips to recycle as much of your waste as possible. Book your skip online or give us a call on 01449 360 036 or 01223 976 496.