Top tips for recycling

Years of experience working in the waste disposal

If you have been searching online for top tips for recycling, you can find the information that you need right here. Recycling is essential in 2023 since it helps us cut our carbon footprint and stops reusable materials from going to a landfill. However, some people are unsure about which types of household waste can and cannot be recycled. Whether you need assistance with recycling or require eco-friendly skip hire in Washington, help is available. 

Check what you can and can’t recycle 

Many goods end up in household bins when they should go to local recycling centres. These can include pots, pans and electrical items. If you are ever unsure about whether you can recycle something and where to put it, it’s always best to check with your local authority.

Clean goods before you recycle them

You should ensure that any materials you wish to recycle are free from food residue. This kind of residue can contaminate the other materials, making them unsuitable for recycling. Make sure you’re rinsing items thoroughly so they don’t have residue on them and let them dry before you add them to your recycling bin. 

Remove plastic film from goods

Plastic film can’t be recycled. If this kind of film does end up at a recycling facility, it can become tangled within the machinery and cause big problems. Make sure you remove all plastic film from trays, tubs, plastic pots and bottles before you go ahead and recycle these items.

Keep the lids on plastic bottles

Whilst it is possible to recycle the lids on plastic bottles, they can slip through the machinery which is used for recycling if they aren’t screwed on tightly. Make sure your lids won’t fall off your bottles before you recycle them. If you’re not sure whether something is recyclable, the information on the label will normally tell you if it is.

Create a recycling system

Recycling tends to be much more straightforward once you create a system and stick to it. If you store a recycling box, bag or bin next to your normal rubbish bin, this will remind you and others to recycle.

Flatten your cardboard boxes

Many people complain about running out of space when they are preparing goods for recycling. However, you may be able to create more capacity by simply flattening certain goods such as cardboard boxes.

Recycle all your cardboard and paper

Some people wrongly presume that they can only recycle newspapers when it comes to paper-based items. However, it’s also possible to recycle envelopes, birthday cards without glitter on them, phone books and wrapping paper. You can also recycle all kinds of cardboard.

Recycle as much metal as you can

It’s possible to recycle most kinds of metal. These include aerosols, tins, cans and kitchen foil. Recycling your metal goods can vastly reduce the amount of waste you’re sending to landfill sites.

Recycling in the workplace

There are also many top tips for recycling that you can apply to the workplace. It’s said that UK industry could save over £6 billion simply by dealing with waste and using resources more effectively. Setting up a recycling scheme at work can be very helpful. It can save energy, cut the amount of waste that’s being sent to landfill and make company finances go further. You can promote your work recycling scheme by adding recycling containers to various parts of your business premises and advertising it with posters.

Some of the waste generated by companies can be donated to charity. Examples of this can include old computer equipment, printer cartridges and mobile phones.

How to reduce the amount of waste you’re creating

There are several steps you can take to cut the amount of waste you are creating in the first place. One of these is to use bags that you already have when you head to the supermarket. Plastic bags have become incredibly expensive over recent years. Using existing bags can help you reduce your impact on the environment and save money at the same time.

Try to avoid purchasing goods that have excessive packaging. Elaborate packaging can be very bad for the environment and can drive up the cost of products considerably. Seek out goods that are packaged with recyclable materials. It’s also best to purchase items that you can use time and time again rather than disposable items. Look for rechargeable batteries, razors that have replaceable heads and energy-saving lightbulbs.

Who can help with recycling and skip hire in Washington?

If you need help with recycling and skip hire in Washington, Ward Brothers can assist you. At Ward Bros, we have access to high-quality recycling facilities. We aim to recycle as much of the waste that we collect as possible. We are passionate about doing our very best for the environment and always follow government waste management legislation to the letter. This means you can rest assured any waste you hand to us is always dealt with in a compliant manner.

Our recycling process

Once we collect your waste, we take it to a waste transfer station. We then extract and recycle all reusable materials so we’re sending as little to landfill sites as possible. This is a safe, legally compliant and environmentally friendly way of dealing with your waste. We follow the government’s waste hierarchy guidelines stringently. We are also here for you whenever you need local skip hire services. Ward Bros offer a wide range of skips for residential and commercial clients to meet a host of needs. If you’re not sure which skip size you need, we can identify the best one for your requirements.

Contact us

Now is the time to get in touch if you have been searching for top tips for recycling and need help with dealing with waste responsibly or skip hire in Washington. You can reach Ward Bros today by giving us a call on 0191 666 0167 or by completing the form on our website. We will get back to you as quickly as we possibly can so you can swiftly get the guidance that you require.