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INVESTOR IN PEOPLE
  


 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
The Definition  of  Recycling

The Oxford dictionary definition of recycling is:

To return to the previous stage of the cyclic  process, especially converting   waste to reusable basic materials .
 


   national waste strategy
  England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own National Waste Strategy. The strategy outlines how the UK Government plans to increase the recovery and disposal of rubbish. The amount of rubbish that needs to be recovered and recycled needs to increase so the UK can meet the European target of recovering at least 50% of all packaging waste. The UK also needs to look at ways of reducing the amount of packaging we use and to develop end markets for recycled materials.

 

What are the main types of paper in everyday use which can be recycled?

 
       
  1. Computer print out paper
    2.  
  2. Office white paper
    3.  
  3. Newspapers, magazines, telephone directories and pamphlets
    4.  
  4. Cardboard
    5.  
  5. Mixed or coloured paper
    6.  
 

There are also grades of paper and board collected mainly from agricultural and industrial sources. There are actually about 50 different grades of paper for paper recycling companies to grapple with.

Each household produces about 1 tonne of rubbish annually, amounting to about 27 million tonnes for the UK each year. The amount of rubbish we throw away continues to increase for a number of reasons, for example:

  • New packaging materials and technology is being developed, which may increase the amount of packaging around a product but reduce the amount of rubbish created by damaged goods
  • Lifestyle changes, for example a greater reliance on fast food. Fast food generally requires more packaging for hygiene and safety reasons.
  • Increasing affluence.
  • More leisure time.

Modern rubbish compared to pre-1960s rubbish, contains many more products that don't break down when they're put in the ground, such as plastics and chemicals. Packaging waste makes up about a quarter of all the rubbish you put in your bin.

Your local council and other organisations are looking at ways they can increase the amount of packaging recovered from your dustbin. Your council is required by law to recycle or compost, on average, 17% of household rubbish by 2003, and 25% of household rubbish by 2005. The government have set an even higher target of at least 33% household recycling and composting by 2015.