Recycling
Did you know that on average every person in the UK throws away their own body weight in rubbish every 7 weeks? Much of the waste materials you throw in the bin (such as paper, plastic, glass and metals) could be recycled.
Why recycle?
Recycling is the reprocessing of materials into new products. There are benefits to recycling materials versus consuming new raw materials:
- Reduction of waste: it reduces the amount of rubbish which would otherwise be sent to landfill sites.
- Reduction in the consumption of raw materials: use of recyclable material reduces the need to consume raw materials - e.g. recycling paper would reduce the need to chop down trees for new paper.
- Energy saving: reprocessing recyclable materials can use less energy compared to virgin production. For example, recycling aluminium uses 95% less energy compared to extracting and processing new aluminium from raw material.
- Environmental protection: extracting, refining and processing raw materials produces substantial air and water pollution - so recycling can reduce the need for this. The energy saved by recycling also means less greenhouse gas emissions (which cause climate change).
What can be recycled?
Many materials can be recycled, including:
- Paper: recycled paper can be produced from waste paper. Usually it is mixed with some fresh wood pulp, as paper can only be recycled a finite number of times before shortening of the paper fibres makes it less versatile in producing recycled paper. However, as the material is biodegradable, it can be recycled as biodegradable waste also.
- Plastic: compared to other materials such as metals and glass, plastic recycling has challenges due to the fact of a massive number of different types of plastics being used in products. These need to be sorted before recycling. For example, plastic bottles are often made of a recyclable plastic, but the lids on the bottles are made from a non-recyclable plastic and must be removed. Plastic products usually have a code number printed on them to help identify which type of plastic it is.
- Glass: glass can be recycled again and again indefinitely as it's structure doesn't degrade when reprocessed. It is usually sorted by colour and then recycled into new glass products or as construction materials.
- Ferrous metals: metals can also be recycled indefinitely. Iron and steel are the world's most recycled materials and can be used to create new top-quality iron and steel products.
- Non-ferrous metals: Aluminium can be 100% recycled into new recycled aluminum which is indistinguishable from raw aluminium. Producing recycled aluminium only takes 5% of the energy needed to mine, transport and refine aluminium ore - so there are large environmental benefits.
- Biodegradable waste: organic materials such as waste food and garden waste can be recycled by biological decomposition into useful materials such as compost or biogas.
- Old clothes and shoes: textiles and shoes can be collected for recycling or donated to charity.
- Other materials and products such as batteries, printer ink cartridges, clothing and textiles, electronics, cardboard, wood and more depending on recycling facilities being available.
Where to recycle?
Recycling sites
There are over 30 recycling sites around the Borough of Kingston where you can take items to be recycled. A list of these, as well as which items they can accept can be found as a link at the bottom of the page.
Street recycling
There are street recycling bins around Kingston, so that if you're passing by with a can, a plastic bottle, a magazine or a newspaper you can recycle instead of throwing it into a waste bin.
Green box collections
Recyclable materials can be placed in a green box and collected from your doorstep for most houses in the borough and some flats have a similar service using orange bags.
Food waste collections
Food waste is collected every week from your doorstep for most houses in the borough. Most of you will have a small kitchen caddy to keep indoors and collect waste, which is then emptied out into a larger brown food waste bin when necessary. A year's supply of biodegradable food bin bags are provided to line the bin. Recycling food waste reduces the amount of rubbish that needs to be sent to landfill sites.
Cardboard collections
You can recycle cardboard, greeting cards and card food packaging (e.g. cereal boxes) by placing it in your cardboard recycling bag, which is emptied weekly with your recycling collections.
Home composting
Food waste and cardboard can be turned into compost for your garden. Composting bins can be ordered at subsidised prices from the Recycle Now website.
Related External Links:
- Recycling sites in Kingston
Find out were your nearest recycling site is and what they can accept. - Recycle Now
Find out more about recycling.