Recycle Week: This is the year that people in the Cotswolds ‘take recycling into their own hands’!

The Cotswolds is proud to be taking recycling into its own hands! In the biggest and best Recycle Week ever, Recycle Now is tasking residents to take recycling into their own hands and take action to protect our environment.

The year so far has been one of protests and marches. People have had enough of the status quo; things need to change urgently. Inspired by Our Planet, Greta Thunberg and Sir David Attenborough - environmental concerns have never been so important to the nation. Last year we saw people being more motivated to recycle and 2018 was the biggest Recycle Week to date, but 2019 promises to be bigger and better!

For its 17th annual Recycle Week (23rd – 29th September), Recycle Now is capitalising on this heightened awareness and energy right here in the Cotswolds; tasking residents – and people all over the UK – to act and focus on getting recycling right during Recycle Week.

Getting recycling right

Latest research from Recycle Now reveals that over 60% of UK households are now recycling more than they were a year ago because of environmental concerns.

The research shows that more and more UK households are recycling plastic drinks, cleaner, toiletry and shampoo bottles, amongst other items including glass and metal tin cans. The level of increase of glass and metal / tin cans is at a slightly lower level compared to the other items cited. Nearly a third of these people cite environmental concerns as the main reason for doing more and other attribute it to an increased awareness of what can be recycled. Whilst the research showed an increase in recycling, it also showed that UK households sometimes incorrectly put items like nappies, toys and toothpaste tubes in the recycling bin.

But fear not – Recycle Now is here to help! The Cotswolds is a district of recyclers – but there are some simple things that we can all do to make our recycling even better.

Top tips for recycling in the Cotswolds:

Recycle more of these items: Plastic shampoo bottles and any other bottles from the bathroom. Glass bottles and jars.
Make sure these never go in the recycling bin: Nappies, sanitary products, wrapping paper covered in foil or glitter.
And if you’re at all unsure about how to recycle a specific item, remember that Recycle Now’s Recycling Locator can show you exactly what needs to go in the recycling bin where you live – just pop in your postcode!

Cllr Andrew Doherty, cabinet member for waste, flooding and environmental health said, “Here in the Cotswolds more and more of us are recycling and what and how we recycle really matters. Recycling an item rather than throwing it in the general rubbish bin means that it will be dealt with in the most environmentally friendly way, keeping materials in use and out of the environment. We’d love our residents to join us this Recycle Week as we think about how we can take recycling into our own hands.”

Wayne Lewis, Head of Service of Gloucestershire’s Joint Waste Team said, “We know that more people are using the recycling collection services available to them than ever before, which is fantastic news. However, we hope anyone still unsure about the benefits of recycling or about what can be recycled will take the opportunity during Recycle Week to find out more and join in.”

Research by Recycle Now shows that if each household in Gloucestershire recycled just a single aluminium drinks can, this would save enough energy to power a typical primary school for an entire year.

To find out more about Recycle Week visit www.recyclenow.org.uk

Or to find out how and what to recycle in the Cotswolds visit https://www.recycleforgloucestershire.com/