Amazing recycling facts
We’re sure you’ll be surprised by some of these recycling facts.
- In 2009/10 UK households recycled 39.7% of the waste produced. (Defra)
- The UK waste management sector accounted for 3.6% of the country’s estimated greenhouse gas emissions in 2008. That’s 22.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. In 1990 we produced 52.0 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions – so we have made a huge improvement, but there’s still a lot we can do. (Defra)
- Up to 80% of household waste can be reused, recycled, or composted. The percentage being recycled is increasing year on year (currently at around 23%). However it is much harder to put a figure on the amount of material being reused. (Waste Watch)
- Each UK household produces over 1 tonne of rubbish each year. This adds up to more than 30 million tonnes of waste every year, enough to fill the new Wembley stadium to the brim in just 3 days. (Waste Watch)
- By recycling just one plastic bottle you can save enough energy to power a 60W light bulb for six hours. (Recoup)
- The UK produces 9.3 million tonnes of waste packaging a year – the equivalent weight of 245 jumbo jets every week. (Waste Watch)
- Packaging makes up 5% of the average shopping basket. (Waste Watch)
- Packaging represents over a quarter of the contents of an average household waste bin. (Waste Watch)
