My ancient printer printed out the paperwork to remind me to do it and to list everything ready for sending off the results.
I did something similar back in 2019 (this is different to Zero Waste Weeks that happen in September each year) and also investigated what we can recycle in Suffolk but since 2019 we've had Covid and the recycling centre in Stowmarket (AKA The Tip) closed and then re-opened but only if you booked a slot online and they liked that so much they've carried on the same system ever since, not making it easier to drop things in as you pass by.
I've read about a new eco group in Stowmarket who collect some things for Terracycle, namely
- medicine blister packs
- dental hygiene products and packaging
- cheese nets and wrappers
- plastic stationery e.g. pens, correction fluid bottles, mechanical pencils
- flat and empty crisp packets
but only on the 4th Thursday of the month in the town centre between 10am and 12noon (or 9.30-11.30 depending where you read about it).
But then I found Asda have a big plastic recycling bin and take more - hopefully it's then sent somewhere to be recycled into something and not just chucked or exported.
Anyway, I collected all the plastic for the week on a tray in the kitchen and filled in my chart and logged the results. I'm not sure it was a typical week as there didn't seem much. Although multiplied by 52 the heap would be quite frightening.
After uploading my results some of these went into recycling bin and I've started a box for taking the relevant bits to Stowmarket................... See the halo😇
Our Tesco’s have been doing the same recycling for some time now and it looks quiet popular as whenever we take our dustbin bag full down once a month the large bag holders are always full and they have now got two of them.Judging by the over full dustbins in our street each week the youngsters don’t seem to recycle much at all despite living on a lot of takeaway meals.Wendy
ReplyDelete< puts on sunglasses to shield from glare of halo >. xx
ReplyDeleteI think we need far more education/information about recycling. We have one large wheelie bin for all recycling and a small bin for waste food which is used for composting. However there are a number of items which I'm not sure about. Those ones that say 'not widely recycled', what does that mean? Is any black plastic recyclable? Councils need to be more proactive and make sure residents are clear about what can be recycled and where, as I'm sure the majority of the general public can't be bothered or have the time to do the research for themselves.
ReplyDeleteOur Tesco's has the same system too. Powys Council has you break up your recycling into newpapers/card; bottles; hard plastics/tins. Anything else goes in the wheely bin bag. Buying "naked" products is very difficult and fruit and veg normally more expensive that way. Silly.
ReplyDeleteThe pharmacy in Superdrug have a bin for blister packs where they are recycled.I saved mine up for 6 months and took them in one go. Slightly embarrassed by how much I had but good to know it wasn’t going into landfill
ReplyDeleteAs well as council-supplied box for paper, box for glass, small bags for food waste, large bag for card and a large bag for 'solid plastic' and tins, (garden waste has to be paid for as extra), we take thin plastic wrappers/bags to Tesco. Our 'other waste' bag is always tiny.. We do have large compost bins for garden/veg waste, although our council also issued plastic compost bins to everyone who wanted them.
ReplyDeleteI blame the manufacturers. How can we try to use less unless they change what they put things in.
ReplyDeleteInteresting fact, if you have cats (we do) and you feed them pouches (we use tins), the large Pets at home stores will take the used pouches for recycling.
ReplyDeleteWas happy to spot that Superdrug stores have recycling boxes for medicine blister packs. Terracycle sounds helpful. Hopefully there will be more groups like the Stowmarket one starting up.
ReplyDeleteWow that's interesting. I like that there is a box for the plastics. It doesn't seem like people care too much here. I do recycle as much as I can, but we still seem to have a lot of rubbish. I know we have to cut down but to be honest it's taken a back seat recently and I do really need to make more of an effort
ReplyDeleteI can see your halo shining from here :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that so many places make it difficult for us to be able to recycle things easily. A two hour slot on the 4th Thursday of the month is not easy to remember ... BUT better than nothing.
Well done Sue on your recycling. I know you have a compost heap too; I was wondering if you put shredded paper on it? It seems to freshen and dry out the compost if it's mixed through.
ReplyDeleteMy comment is straying from your original subject I know but I like compost-talk!
DeleteI love your white lilacs in your header.
I put some torn up paper in and used kitchen roll but newspaper is best and I don't often have a newspaper, I need a new shredder too
DeleteWe have a large blue container for recycling and a large green container for garbage. It is picked up once a week by the appropriate trucks. Our blue container is always a lot more full than our green container but I have never counted it. Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteI realise the emphasis should be on reducing our single use plastic, but I do wish recycling bins could be accessed more easily. X
ReplyDeleteI do recycle and wonder where all the plastic goes ultimately. In the US, landfills have been a big problem. For a while, trash/plastic was shipped out of the country. Incineration seems to factor in as well.
ReplyDeleteI seem to get quite a lot into recycle once a fortnight but often wonder where exactly it goes.
ReplyDeleteThank you to everyone for comments above
ReplyDeleteWe have a excellent recycling program in my town.
ReplyDeleteWe have "single stream" for most recyclables; it's sorted at the plant. I do wonder about its destination.
ReplyDeleteI love my recycle bin. I can put things in there and they are sorted out by people paid to do so. There are still some plastics that are not recyclable but hopefully very soon.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I was surprised how little plastic we generated in the week - and most of it was recyclable. But it requires effort to sort out the "soft" plastics and take them to the supermarket!
ReplyDelete