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A to Z of Waste and Recycling

As suppliers of products for the capture and containment of waste and recyclables, these 2 subjects are always fresh in our minds here at Cromwell Polythene. We are continually trying to encourage and educate people on matter such as recycling and waste management. As such we have devised an A-Z of handy tips, tricks or just facts about recycling and waste you may find interesting!

A – Aluminium Foil can be recycled, however before you place it in the bin, make sure it is clean and that you scrunch it into a little ball first.

B – Bottles can be very easily re-used several times before they can then be recycled. The ‘single-use’ plastic label is a choice not a requirement.

C – Contamination needs to be avoided when it comes to recycling. This means we need to read all recycling instructions, labels and guidelines from Local Authorities carefully before we dispose of our waste.

D – DIY fixing – before you throw out any broken goods, try and have them repaired them first.

E – Energy – when thinking about plastic alternatives we must consider other environmental impacts such as energy when swapping from plastics. Paper, cotton and glass use  more energy to produce, increasing their carbon footprint far surpassing that of plastic.

F –  Food Caddy’s are an excellent way you can reduce your food waste. Place your excess food, peelings or leftovers in a food caddy and allow them to decompose naturally, creating compost!

G – ‘Go Green‘ – try reducing your carbon footprint in small ways, like walking instead of driving, taking a shower instead of having a bath or dry your clothes naturally instead of in a tumble-dryer.

H – Harvest your own crops! Instead of buying excess fruit and vegetables at the supermarket, try growing your own, save money and food waste.

I – Ink Cartridges should never be placed in the general waste or standard recycling bins, the ink inside them can be very toxic for the environment. There are hundreds, if not thousands of companies that deal with ink cartridge recycling. Simply do your research and find one that suits you.

J – Junk mail is an often neglected piece of waste, but nevertheless it is an issue. To reduce this you should contact the junk mail senders and ask them to remove you from their mailing list, or place a ‘No Junk Mail’ sign on your letter box. All junk mail should be recycled.

K – Keep a bag handy at all times. Whether this is to be used at the supermarket or when shopping to avoid buying unnecessary carriers or even to use as a rubbish bin on the go, a bag will always come in useful.

L – Carry out or get involved in a litter pick. This will help reduce waste pollution and prevent it from entering our oceans and river.

N – Say ‘No’ to plastic straws. Due to their size, they’re not easily recycled. Simply enjoy your beverage without a straw, they are not a necessity.

O – Only buy what you need. One of the main causes of household waste is impulsive or excessive purchasing, which you either do not need or forget about, leaving it to decay and then as such be disposed of. Instead, only purchase items that you need, this will prevent waste, in particular food waste.

P – Pre-planning your meals will allow you to create a shopping list to follow which will help prevent excessive purchasing.

Q – Quit unnecessary purchasing – before you buy anything, stop and think about whether or not you need this item or whether it is just a desire.

R – Reuse and then recycle – carrier bags, plastic bottles and containers can all be washed and reused before they are placed into the recycling bin.

M – Our Multi-trip recycling bags are of varying capacities, typically  ranging from50- 90 litres. They’re also colour coded in line with common industry practice and are designed to be used many times over.

S – Segregation is vital when it comes to recycling, you must ensure you separate your waste properly when placing it in your recycling bags or bin , this will prevent contamination.

T – Tupperware is a great way to reduce both packaging and food waste. You can use Tupperware as a lunchbox and take a pre-prepared meal on the go with you, whether this is to work or school, this will help to reduce the excess packaging you’d use if you bought a meal on the go.

U – Take any unwanted clothing and household items to charity or 2nd hand shops instead of just throwing them in the bin. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

V – There are various different types of waste that require different method of recycling. It is important you check to see how each item is recycled in order to correctly segregate and not contaminate the recycling.

W – Wash your recyclables before they go in the appropriate bin – this is to avoid cross-contamination.

X – Ask the (e)Xperts if you are ever unsure of whether an item can or should be recycled, do some research and find out.

Y – You are responsible for your own recycling and waste, make sure you are taking every step possible to reduce your waste consumption.

Z – Zero Waste – join us and millions of others in the campaign for Zero Waste, these simple steps above can dramatically help in this challenge.

Keep an eye on our blog for more, recycle now also has some great advice.