2.2 Individual actions: waste
In the UK, we produce around 335 million tonnes of waste per year. Of this, 30 million tonnes is household waste and the majority (nearly 70 per cent) is not recycled. In landfill, biodegradable waste, such as food and garden waste, produces methane (CH4), a powerful greenhouse gas. There are more than 1500 landfill sites in the UK and, in 2001, they produced 25 per cent of the UK's methane emissions. Along with the unnecessary carbon emissions associated with creating waste in the first place, this means that household waste contributes to climate change. Recycling more, preventing waste food and composting at home all help to reduce this impact.
Recycling consumes less energy, and therefore produces less CO2, than extracting and processing raw materials. In 2008, the amount recycled in the UK saved the same amount of CO2 (18 million tonnes) as taking five million cars off the road, even with only 31 per cent of household waste being recycled or composted. Recycling also reduces the need for extracting (mining, quarrying and logging), refining and processing raw materials, all of which cause substantial air and water pollution.
Simple ways to reduce household waste and your carbon footprint
Recycling reminders: Make a note on your calendar or fridge to remind you when your recycling is collected. Nine out of ten UK residents now have access to a doorstep recycling collection.
Whole house recycling: People often recycle in the kitchen but forget other rooms. For example, shampoo bottles can be recycled with other plastic bottles.
Simplicity: Keep your recycling bin next to your main bin so you can take out your rubbish and recycling at the same time. If you don't have a recycling box or bag, contact your local council.
Home composting: Compost your food and garden waste; the breakdown process will use air and not produce methane as it does in landfill.
Reuse: More than 13 billion plastic bags are distributed in the UK every year. That's around 215 per person. Reuse plastic bags as often as you can or use stronger non-disposable ones. China has banned thin plastic carrier bags, while in the USA, the only city to do so is San Francisco. Avoid products with excessive amounts of packaging and, where possible, choose products with reusable containers.
Donations: Unwanted items can be reused via to charity shops or gift communities such as Freecycle.
More than 95 per cent of the recycling collected is actually recycled; the remainder usually comprises the wrong sorts of material or is too dirty to be reprocessed. The recycled material is used to make new products, for example:
All newspapers in the UK are now made from 100 per cent recycled paper.
The UK currently recycles around 50 per cent of its glass containers; this has doubled over the last five years, and any glass product can use up to 80 per cent recycled material.
About 25 two-litre drink bottles make one adult-size fleece jacket.
Activity 2
Find out more about recycling on the following websites.
Recycled Products lists a range of companies that rely on recycled materials for their products and services.
At Recycle Now you can enter your postcode to find your nearest recycling facilities.
On the DEFRA website find recycling figures for your local authority. How do they compare with figures from other areas?
2 How individuals can make changes