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Recycle Now week encourages waste recycling

Councils all over the country put on roadshows as part the Recycle Now week this year, giving visitors a chance to see how waste is processed and reused. Experts and council representatives were also on hand to discuss opportunities for residents to cut down on the waste they produce, and how to increase the materials they can recycle.
The week was launched by Denise Van Outen, and other events included a record-attempt and a troup of can-can girls.

Schools in Devon got involved, getting children to build animals with recycled materials. Teignbridge executive for environmental services, Cllr Gordon Hook, said: “The theme of this week encourages our customers to think of fun ways to reuse their products and reduce the amount of waste going to be recycled or sent to landfill. From what we’ve seen so far, our local young people have come up with some fascinating creations.”

The week also saw a celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the first glass bottle bank in the UK. Since then 23 billion or more glass jars and bottles have been recycled through bottle banks. David Workman, director general of trade federation British Glass, said: “UK consumers have come a long way since 1977 and now recycle 50% of all our glass. Everyone can play their part no matter how small from perfume bottles, to beer bottles and jam jars, it all goes to helping our environment.”

The week emphasised the ‘transformation’ of material through recycling, and Amanda Barry Hirst, head of PR for Recycle Now, said: “Recycling is one of the most practical and convenient things we can all do to help our environment. The UK has experienced significant growth in recycling rates, and nine out of ten homes now have doorstep collections. Recycle Now Week aims to inspire us all to do our bit.”