Buy Recycled

 

A recycled product is one that is made in whole or in part from materials recovered from waste. 100% post consumer waste content means that the product is made solely from recovered household or commercial waste. Pre-consumer waste content means that the product is made from waste recovered during processing e.g. mill offcuts. The higher the post consumer waste content, the more desirable the product is in terms of supporting recycling markets.

 

 

Buying recycled products supports recycling collections by stimulating demand for the materials, thus stabilising prices. It conserves resources and stimulates research into product quality and new uses for waste. A wide variety of products are available with recycled content: newsprint, writing and copier paper, composters and retread tyres are everyday examples.

 

Your recyclables become the raw materials manufacturers use to produce new items. For example, newspapers are recycled in to new high quality newsprint. Aluminium drinks cans are recycled in to new cans. Motor oil is processed into new motor oil or used as fuel.

 

 

False. Aluminium, steel and glass can be recycled repeatedly without loss in quality. Paper does suffer quality reduction as paper fibres shorten which limits the number of times it can be recycled. Even so, high quality recycled paper is readily available.

 

 

False. Many recycled products offer significant savings in terms of energy and water as well as primary raw materials. For example every tonne of recycled paper saves trees, electricity, and water resulting in 74% less air pollution than manufacturing a tonnes of paper from virgin wood pulp.

 

Be positive. Start with a few changes in what you buy. Dont forget that buying recycled is an important part of overall waste prevention.

 

Try to Reduce, Re-use and Recycle your waste at all times. Take a fresh look at what you buy and the possibilities for reducing waste.

 

 

1. Avoid over-packaging. Could you buy the same product unwrapped? Do you need to buy items individually wrapped? If so, is the wrapping material made from recycled or recyclable materials?

 

2. Look out for items such as recycled kitchen rolls, tissues, refuse sacks, recycled writing paper and envelopes.

 

3. Recycle your rags rather than buying new cloths to use as dusters etc.

 

4. Use proper cups, plates and cutlery rather than plastic or paper disposable items.

 

5. Choose longer-life, energy efficient and rechargeable products.

 

6. Keep asking questions at your local store about the availability of recycled products. Congratulate your store manager when new recycled content ranges are stocked.

 

7. Help spread the word, tell other people that you are buying recycled products in preference to others.

 

There are ever growing opportunities to close the recycling loop. So look for products made from recycled materials and buy them.