Recycling Tips
Wash your recyclates
Make sure that your recyclates are clean. Not only is this helpful for the reprocessing but it also means that if you have to store the items inside your home they are unlikely to cause unpleasant smells.
Why wash?
Washing your cans gets rid of any unwanted liquids or solids - basically, the stuff that was in them. This helps make the recycling process as efficient as possible, and you'll be doing yourself a favour too - washing the cans, plastics and glass gets rid of any unpleasant smells, and will help keep your recycling box clean.
How to wash
An easy way to wash your plastics, cans and glass is to use the last of the washing up water. If it's not too soapy, you can even use the waste water afterwards on your flowerbeds or veg patch.
Squash your recyclates
Flatten plastic milk bottles and clear plastic drinking bottles as this will give you more room in the box.
Why squash?
Squashed cans and plastic bottles take up so much less room in your recycling box, as well as in the collection vehicle.
Plastic recycling containers at recycling centres are sometimes full to overflowing before they're collected. But if everyone squashed their plastic bottles and cartons first, there would be room in the container - and more plastics could be collected each time.
It's the same with squashed cans. For example, a standard collection sack (twice the size of a black bin liner) can hold around 2kg of uncrushed cans. In terms of the number of cans, 1kg equals approximately 65 cans. But if we crushed the cans, we could fit more than 250 extra cans in the same collection sack, more than twice the amount of crushed cans - as much as 4-5kg!
How to squash
Squashing plastic bottles is easy - just squeeze the air out of them (you can stand on them to do this!!). Follow your local authority instructions on whether to re-seal them with the cap.
To squash a can you need to weaken its sidewalls. So put the can on its side and tread the sidewall first, before flattening the ends in - or taking it outside and stamping on it!
It's even quicker to use a special can crusher tool, and it's especially useful if you often have lots of cans to recycle. You can see an example of a can crusher here: www.naturalcollection.com.
Think about packaging
Domestic polythene is not easily recyclable. Buy loose fruit and vegetables and avoid using the plastic bags or buying the prepacked stuff. Not only will it cut down on packaging but it will also save you money as you will only buy what you need.
Get greener
It is possible to buy at relatively low costs a composter from your local council. You can put raw food waste such as vegetable peelings into this as well as your garden waste. The vast majority of waste still going to landfill from domestic properties is food waste and you will also have the satisfaction of producing your own organic fertiliser.
Tear up cereal packets into small pieces and add the card to your home composter
Make your recycling bin feel good about itself
Make space next to your bin for a recycling container - then it's as simple to recycle as it is to throw it away
Make a deposit at the bottle bank
Bottle banks and blue boxes also take glass jars (like your marmalade jar, pickled onions jar, spice jars ...) and clear glass is especially desireable
Make a shopping list
Make a shopping list so you buy only what you need. Choose a bag for life instead of plastic carrier bags
Buy refills
Buy refills - many cleaning products are available as refills. Try reusable alternatives to throwaway items such as razors
Green garden
Use old egg boxes as seed trays
