Richmondshire District Council

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Reduce, Re-use, Recycle

Why should we Reduce, Re-use and Recycle?

The UK produces millions of tonnes of household rubbish every year. Richmondshire residents alone produced 18,700 tonnes of household waste in 2007/2008. Central government has now set statutory targets for the recycling and recovery of household waste.

There are many important reasons why we should reduce, re-use and recycle our household waste.
 

Save Resources

Many of the products that we put in our rubbish bins have a value and can be used again. Instead of gardeners using peat as a soil improver, they can make compost at home from vegetable peelings and grass cuttings.
 
Recycling items such as glass conserves the natural resources used to make glass from raw materials.
 

Save Energy

Making new aluminium cans from recycled cans uses 20 times less energy than making cans from raw materials.
 

Save Space

Last year Richmondshire residents achieved a recycling rate of 43.5%, over 10% up on the previous year which is partly due to the introduction of the alternate weekly collection and expansion of kerbside recycling schemes across the district. Despite this great achievement, over 10,565 tonnes of rubbish were still sent to landfill. In the UK we are fast running out of landfill space and by reducing, re-using and recycling our waste space available for landfill will last longer.
 

Protect the Environment

By reducing the amount of waste we produce and recycling as much as possible, we reduce the need to mine raw materials, which is often damaging to the surrounding area.
 

Help Charities

Many charities and community groups raise money through re-using and recycling.  Local charities like Help the Aged re-use and recycle many items including stamps, foreign currency, toner cartridges and mobile phones.  To find out more please see the Help the Aged website
 

Dealing with Waste

When dealing with waste it is not just a matter of recycling. We need to change the way we deal with the waste that we produce, by reducing, re-using and recycling as much as we can.
 

Reduce

By reducing the amount of waste we produce in the first place we lessen the problems of dealing with the waste mountain.
 

Re-use

Some items can only be used once and then have to be thrown away. By increasing the number of items we buy that are re-usable, we reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill.
 

Repair

Rather than throwing materials away, check to see if they can be repaired cheaply and re-used. This can save money and will reduce the waste we produce. Even if you no longer want the item, your local charity shop may be willing to take it and fix it before selling it on.
 

Recycle

If you cannot re-use your waste then you can recycle items such as glass, cans, plastic bottles and paper at your local kerbside recycling scheme or recycling centre. Why not "Drop before you shop"? To save energy on trips to the recycling centre, combine your weekly trip to the supermarket with your trip to the recycling centre.

Recover

At present no energy is recovered from the waste that is produced in Richmondshire.
 

Disposal

Any waste that cannot be reduced, re-used, repaired, recycled or recovered must be disposed of, generally to landfill.
 
For further information or to report missed collections, excess waste or collection of bulky household waste (chairs or sofas) please contact:
Helpline: 01748 828777
Email: recycling@richmondshire.gov.uk
 

Last updated: 27 October 2009
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