10 things you didn't know you can recycle
So you’ve got a recycling routine that works for you. You know it inside and out and there’s not one empty plastic milk bottle or food can in sight in the kitchen – they’re all patiently waiting to be collected for recycling. The job is done! But is it really?
A new survey from Recycle Now looked at why people recycle and what areas of the home we need to get better at recycling in. One of the rooms that has a lot of easily recyclable products in, is the bathroom.
Bathroom recycling
There are lots of items in the bathroom waiting to be recycled that can make a huge difference. For instance, if everyone in the UK recycled one toothpaste box, it would save enough energy to run a fridge in over 2,000 homes for a year. Here's a handy list to remind you:
- Toothpaste boxes - flatten
- Toilet roll tubes - flatten
- Plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles - empty and rinse items, replace lids/tops
- Shower gel containers - empty and rinse items, replace lids/tops
- Liquid soap bottles - empty, rinse and remove pump dispenser (throw pump into the rubbish bin)
- Bleach bottles - empty, replace lid
- Bathroom cleaners - rinse and replace the trigger spray
Recycling in the bedroom
If everyone in the UK recycled one aluminium deodorant aerosol, enough energy would be saved to run a TV in over 151,000 homes for a year. Amazing isn't it? Items to look out for include:
- Empty tissue boxes - remove any plastic insert and flatten
- Old magazines
- Empty deodorant aerosols and hairspray - ensure empty and remove plastic caps (recycle with plastics)
Moving on to the living room...
Did you know that it takes seven days for a recycled newspaper to come back as newspaper again? You could be reading your favourite newspaper on recycled paper in no time at all! In this room you can often find these items for recycling:
- Envelopes
- Newspapers
- Cardboard packaging from online shopping - remove packaging tape and flatten to save space in your recycling bin
Even air fresheners can make a difference - if one aluminium air freshener aerosol is recycled by everyone in the UK; enough energy could be saved to vacuum over 876,000 homes for a year – that’s a lot of tidy homes!
Back to the kitchen
Along with the usual drinks bottles in the kitchen, remember to check the cupboard under the sink! Items often forgotten include:
- Washing-up liquid bottles - empty and rinse
- Bleach bottles - empty, replace lid
- Surface cleaner bottles - rinse and replace the trigger spray
- Washing liquid and conditioner bottles - empty and rinse
- Aerosols tins of furniture polish and air fresheners - ensure empty and remove plastic caps (recycle with plastics)
- Empty dishwasher tablet boxes and kitchen wrap boxes - flatten to save space in your recycling bin