Recycling is good… but we could do better this November

Recycling is good…

From the water and energy used in production, to the fuel used in delivery, every new item we buy comes with an environmental price tag. More people than ever are conscious of this and are careful to ensure they recycle things like the packaging from their new purchases, as well as any old, broken or unwanted items that are being replaced..

Recycling is good, but 68% of UK adults mistakenly believe recycling is the best thing they can do to reduce the environmental impact of the things they buy. Buying fewer new things and keeping the stuff we already have in use for as long as possible is better for the environment than recycling, and it’s often cheaper than buying new too.

A further 85% of people believe that recycling is a form of waste prevention. Recycling doesn’t prevent waste, it’s just a better way of dealing with waste than alternatives such as sending it to landfill.

Do better this November

To highlight these better options, environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy are asking people to adopt a “Buy Less Mindset” this November. Throughout the month they will be encouraging UK residents to:

• swap the way they shop and to focus on pre-loved purchases of durable, repairable and long-lasting items wherever possible,
• reuse and revitalise items they already own rather than buying new
• rehome any items they no longer have a use for
• consider recycling items only if they’ve reached the end of their useful life You’ll find additional information on our Reuse pages, and our article on Sharing to reduce waste and save money.