Nottinghamshire – Every year, millions of recyclable items miss their chance at a new life, ending up in general waste bins instead of being recycled.
A recent study has revealed a startling truth: in Nottinghamshire, 7% of our general household waste could have been recycled.
The numbers are eye-opening:
Nottinghamshire’s lost recyclables are the equivalent of around:
(Annual Figures)
• 42 million food cans
• 15 million newspapers
• 30 million glass jars
These figures represent a significant missed opportunity. Recycling waste means less impact on our environment. For example, recycling paper saves trees, recycling cans reduces the need for metal mining, and recycling glass decreases sand extraction.
By recycling, we’re conserving natural resources, saving energy, and preventing important and valuable materials from being wasted. Instead, we’re giving them a chance to become something new, contributing to a more sustainable Nottinghamshire.
In Nottinghamshire, recycling starts at home, where you can recycle clean tins, cans, aerosols, card, paper, plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, and margarine tubs in your recycling bin.
After your recycling bin is collected by your local council, the contents are taken to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Mansfield for sorting. From there, the sorted materials are sent to various reprocessing facilities so they can be turned into new products. This initial local sorting helps ensure efficient recycling and supports jobs in our community.
Depending on where you live in the county, glass bottles and jars can be recycled by either being placed in a separate container at home or taken to a local bottle bank.
If you are unsure about what can be recycled in Nottinghamshire, help is available. Nottinghamshire County Council has developed a free Recycling Checker, accessible both through the MyNotts app and online at https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/recyclingchecker.
Simply enter the item you’re unsure about and your post code, and the checker will tell you exactly which bin to use or if you need to take it to a recycling centre.
Before disposing of an item, take a moment to check if it can be recycled. That newspaper, food can, or glass jar could be at the start of a new journey.
Remember: Don’t lose it, recycle it! Your small action can make a big difference.
Did you know?
• Recycling drinks cans takes only 5% of the energy and emissions needed compared to making a new one.
• By recycling just one tonne of paper, we can save as many as 17 trees from being cut down.
• Glass is 100% recyclable and never loses its quality. It can be recycled indefinitely. Part of that glass jar in your cupboard could be older than you!
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