Let’s get recycling right

Rossendale Council is supporting national Recycle Week.

Organised by Recycle Now, it is encouraging residents to go “above and beyond” to protect the environment by getting their recycling right.

This means not only recycling but making sure that we put the right things in the right bin.

Recycle Now, the national recycling campaign for England, says people are more motivated than ever to care about the environment thanks to things like the hit TV show Blue Planet II and the campaign to cut unnecessary plastic.

As a nation we are recycling more than ever but new research shows that 76 per cent of UK households add one or more items to their recycling collection that is not accepted locally. Meanwhile 54 per cent put at least one item in the general rubbish that could be recycled.

Rossendale residents can check out what should and shouldn’t go in each bin online.

Or take a look at this video where Councillor Jackie Oakes, Rossendale Council’s portfolio holder for operations, explains what plastic items can and can’t be recycled.

Councillor Oakes said:

Every little bit of recycling makes a difference and we are really grateful for everyone’s efforts.

But putting the incorrect items in bins can cause problems further along the recycling process – which in some cases can even result a load of recyclable items being rejected. That’s why we are urging people to help us win the recycling challenge by putting the right things in the right bin.

Find out more about Recycle Week, and use the Recycling Locator to find out what to recycle where you live, here.

Did you know?

• Your grey bin is for paper and cardboard: newspapers, magazines/brochures, catalogues, office paper, envelopes, junk mail, telephone directories, greetings cards and shredded paper.
• The blue bin is for glass, cans and plastics: aerosol cans, food and drinks cans, coloured food trays, tin foil, glass bottles and jars, and plastic bottles – eg milk, soft drinks, water, shampoo/conditioner, detergent, washing up liquid, tubs and pots.
• Your green bin is for food waste, non-recyclable items, plastic carrier bags, other non-recyclable plastics and disposable nappies.
• The brown bin is for garden waste: cut flowers, windfall fruit, grass cuttings, hedge clippings, leaves, plants, twigs and small branches.