Recycle Together to make Wales Number 1

Every Tuesday evening there is a slight panic in our house. Early Wednesday morning is our bin day – and mummy runs around like crazy on a Tuesday evening making sure that everything we have used and are finished with is in the right bag to be put out. Sound familiar? But why is it so important?….

We have teamed up with the Welsh Government to help promote recycling in Wales, and we were amazed to read what energy is produced by recycling certain items.

Wales Recycles has teamed up with Bluestone National Park Resort to offer a lucky Mighty Recycler the chance to win a fabulous staycation for four people. Visit the Wales Recycles website for full details.

We have found out some fascinating facts about recycling – for example, do you know what happens to our food waste? I have to admit I had no idea – I mean I did think who on earth would want it?

I was really amazed to find out that our food waste goes to an anaerobic digestion facility, where it is turned into renewable energy to power homes and communities. Anaerobic digestion involves the natural breakdown of food into methane and carbon dioxide gas. These gases are then used to generate electricity to power homes and the local community. How cool is that?

80% of us in Wales use our food recycling service, but we do not recycle all we can. As well as cooked and uncooked food we can recycle –

Peelings

Banana skins

Fruit cores, pips and stalks
Teabags
Coffee grounds
Egg shells
Bones

• Almost a quarter of our rubbish is made up of food waste – almost all of which could have been recycled.
• When food waste is recycled it is converted into green energy, which is used to power our homes. This reduces the need for non-renewable energy and helps to tackle climate change.
• With people consuming more food in the home during lockdown and while working at home, it’s more important than ever to make sure all food waste is being recycled.
• More information here: www.walesrecycles.org.uk/food

We are currently third-best in the world at recycling and we want to reach Number 1!

Mummy explains to me, and shows me at every meal and snack time what we can recycle, and I know to put all my fruit waste, and meals that I couldn’t finish into our food waste bag/caddy.

Other recycling I know about is all my magazines go into the paper bin when I have finished with them, my plastic drink bottle if I have had a drink when we are out -goes in the big red bag – although I do have reusable drinks bottles to take to school every day, it is only if we are out and about and I forget it. I know to recycle all the paper and cardboard packaging which comes with all the stuff Mummy and my sisters ordered online during lockdown. And – all the drinks bottles – both plastic and glass – Mummy I am looking at you!

I didn’t realise that so many of our bathroom items can be recycled including aerosols, shampoo, conditioner and shower gel bottles. One thing Mummy and I get a bit confused about is whether to include lids or not – well here are the answers:

Plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles – empty and rinse items, replace lids/tops.
Shower gel containers – empty and rinse items, replace lids/tops

Liquid soap bottles – empty, rinse, and remove pump dispenser (throw pump into the rubbish bin)

Bleach bottles – empty, replace lid
Bathroom cleaners – rinse and replace the trigger spray.

Empty deodorant aerosols and hairspray – ensure empty and remove plastic caps (recycle with plastics).

If you are still confused about what can or can’t be recycled then check out this page with provides official tips on how to recycle each type of item, sorted by products from A to Z: www.walesrecycles.org.uk/what-to-do-with

This is the biggest ever campaign about recycling that has been launched in Wales and we need all of us to recycle all of our waste, all of the time. Even my teen brother thinks recycling is cool – he contributes with his beer and soft drink bottles, deodorant cans, toiletries bottles, but doesn’t really with our food waste as he tends to eat everything!

He was impressed though to learn that recycling 2 banana peels generates enough electricity to charge 1 iPad
, recycling 35 teabags would generate enough electricity to power a TV for one hour and recycling a caddy full of food waste would generate enough electricity to boil a kettle three times. So that’s his You Tube, TV and coffee sorted!

If you would like to know more – here are some useful links:

https://walesrecycles.org.uk/be-mighty-recycle

To check what can be recycled in your local authority, use the Recycling Locator. If you would like to integrate the widget on your website, visit: www.walesrecycles.org.uk/about-recycling-locator

This post is in collaboration with Wales Recycles and The Welsh Government.