Words by Smiley Team
Recycling isn’t a zero-emissions process, from the lorries that transport waste to the energy needed to process rubbish. One major alternative is to go zero waste, but failing that, we can offset the emissions from recycling by planting trees. On this premise, the charity, Global Recycling Foundation (GRF), has pledged on Global Recycling Day to plant 250,000 trees by 2030.
Kicking off the endeavour by planting the first 250 trees, is Susie Burrage, a fourth-generation recycling specialist at the recycling centre Recycled Products Ltd.
“I’ve always had a passion for recycling,” she said. “At school, I used to collect tin cans and sell them to my father in return for money.”
From early beginnings, she has moved on to become president of the British Metals Recycling Association and an ambassador for the GRF, which organises Global Recycling Day.
“Recycling protects the environment, it reduces pollution, it mitigates climate change, and the list goes on. It’s a fabulous thing,” she said.
Susie is well aware that recycling alone cannot tackle the climate crisis, especially due to the emissions that it produces. Recycling certain products can result in net emissions of up to about 8,000kg of CO2 per tonne of material processed.
By planting 250,000 trees, Susie and her colleagues will help capture over 5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. Together with a team of about 15 workers, they are planting beech saplings in the Chilterns, where the species is commonly found growing naturally. By planting native trees that fit the natural criteria of the habitat, they are providing the optimum conditions for local biodiversity to flourish.
But they can’t do it without your help. Founding president of the Foundation, Ranjit Baxi, said: “We are seeking the support of individuals and companies, directly or indirectly linked to the global recycling and environmental industry, to help us to meet this goal. By sponsoring the planting of 250,000 trees we can capture over 5 million tons of CO2 emissions which will have a dramatic impact on the damaging effects of climate change.
“We anticipate that together with the sponsorship and backing of the corporate world and all our friends in the environmental industry we may even exceed our goal of 250,000 trees by 2030.”
To support the initiative, they are asking their co-sponsors to contact the Global Recycling Foundation which will help coordinate the plantation and publicise contributions across their platforms. To contribute, get in touch via [email protected].
