Why Recycle?

Recycling Conserves Resources

When we recycle, used materials are converted into new products, reducing the need to consume natural resources.

Recycling Saves Energy

Using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses less energy than producing new products from raw materials. Some products save more energy than others e.g. recycling aluminium drink cans saves up to 95% of the energy needed to make aluminium from its raw materials.

Recycling Reduces Landfill and Incineration

In 2008-09 over 27 million tonnes of household waste was collected by local authorities. Of this:

• 50% of this waste was sent to landfill;
• 37% was recycled or composted; and
• 12% was incinerated for energy recovery.

The amount of household waste we recycled in 2008 reached 8.7 million tonnes. That alone saved the same amount of CO2 that nearly a million return flights from London to Sydney would produce.

After sorting at Biffa Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT), any remaining household refuse is incinerated, mostly in Europe, some in England.