6 important recycling tips to remember

Recycling is important every day of the year, but Recycle Week – which falls in September each year – is a time to remind, inspire, and encourage people how important it is for the planet.

This year, Recycle Now is working with TV Presenter and Invictus Games Medallist JJ Chalmers for its Recycle Week campaign. JJ is a keen environmentalist and is partnering with Recycle Now to inspire the nation to ‘Step It Up’ in the fight against climate change. 

“I’m thrilled to be part of this year’s campaign," he said. "I’m passionate about the environment and how we can battle climate change. I really want to encourage people to look at what they are doing and how they can Step It Up and do even more… even better.”

Read more inspirational stories about people helping the planet. 

Every year, Recycle Week unites retailers, brands, waste management companies, trade associations, national and local governments and the media to focus on how recycling can play a part in limiting the pressure we put on the planet through our use of natural resources.

This year the campaign is focusing on climate change and how by doing the simple act of recycling we can all help make a huge difference to our planet. Recycle Now is asking the nation to ‘Step It Up’ and be more effective recyclers by checking items a little closer.

The call comes after the brand’s latest Tracker Survey showed that while we are now very much a nation of recyclers with 9 out of 10 people recycling, still, some 55% of households put items in the general rubbish that could be recycled.

Sarah Clayton, head of citizen behaviour change at WRAP, said: “Now more than ever it’s vital we do everything we can to protect our planet and go that extra mile. Most of us recycle, but we need to do more to combat climate change. We need people to look at what they are putting in their bins and ensure they’re the right things. It all adds up."

Brighten your day with a daily dose of positive news. 

Looking for some tips? Here are six pieces of advice from Recycle Now, part of WRAP charity. 

1. Putting the right stuff in the right bin is important. The wrong stuff is called contamination and when contaminated, it can potentially result in the whole lorry full being sent to landfill. Remember these three tips: Leave metal caps and lids on glass jars and bottles. Empty and rinse all containers. And don't forget to recycle items from all rooms in the house. 
2. Be wary of things that can't be recycled. Glass cookware, Pyrex and ovenware, drinking glasses and ceramics – although it may sound unusual, these items cannot be collected for recycling from your home. Use the Recycling Locator to find your nearest recycling facility for these items.
3. Don't forget the bathroom. Lots of things in the bathroom can be recycled, but people often forget! Toothpaste boxes, plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles, shower gel containers, liquid soap bottles, bleach bottles – just make sre you empty, rinse, and replace the lids on them.
4. Swot up on labels. It's good to learn what all the recycling symbols mean (which you can do here). Not all packaging will have a recycling label but this doesn't mean you can't recycle it!
5. Some local authorities are different in what you can and can’t recycle. Check Recycle Now’s recycling locator to find out what you can recycle from home and where your nearest recycling drop off point is. You can also use the 'What to do with guide' if you want some information on how to recycle a specific item
6. Don’t forget you can recycle your electricals! The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations came into force in January 2007 with an aim to reduce the amount of this waste going to landfill and improve recovery and recycling rates. You can enter your postcode here to find out your nearest electrical recycling points.

Find out more tips, advice, and information on recycling on Recycle Now's website.