Don’t let it go to waste: are you recycling all that you can?

 

• Study from Zero Waste Scotland shows 52% of general waste could have been recycled 
• The interactive Recycling Sorter Tool can help households recycle as much as possible by finding out what can go in their different bins.
• In further support, Zero Waste Scotland has funded 41 projects across 26 local authorities to enhance recycling services and facilities through the 5 year £70m Recycling Investment Fund.

People in Scotland are being encouraged to take a closer look at their recycling habits this Recycle Week (14^th to 20^th October) to make sure their efforts aren’t going to waste.

This year, Zero Waste Scotland is putting a spotlight on the efforts people put into recycling at home, acknowledging that we could all probably do more. In fact, research from Zero Waste Scotland found that over half (52%) of what’s in the average general waste bin in Scotland could have been recycled.)52%) of what’s in the average general waste bin in Scotland could have been recycled.)

To address this issue, while also celebrating national efforts in recycling, Zero Waste Scotland has launched its Don’t Let it Go to Waste campaign, which aims to increase positive recycling behaviour. 

Over the course of the week, Zero Wast Scotland will be encouraging people across the country to take action on household waste and recycle all that they can. The campaign features a series of helpful resources for communities and schools, including a short film focusing on recycling efforts, animations addressing recycling questions, posters, lesson plans and activity sheets.

With many councils collecting more materials than ever before, a common cause of confusion is uncertainty around which items go in each bin. To help, Zero Waste Scotland’s free Recycling Sorter tool can guide people to understand what can be recycled and in which colour bin for every local authority area in Scotland. In addition to using the interactive tool, Zero Waste Scotland is also encouraging people to check their Council website for the latest recycling information and, importantly, to not let their recycling go to waste.

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Recycling plays a critical role in the circular economy, keeping valuable materials in use for longer and reducing the need to extract new resources. By putting the right items in the right bins, we can significantly reduce waste and minimise our environmental impact.

“Scotland has a strong reputation for environmental awareness and many households already make great efforts to recycle. However, it’s clear that more can be done to ensure our recycling efforts are as effective as possible – and this is when Zero Waste Scotland can help.” 

In addition to supporting people in Scotland directly, Zero Waste Scotland supports the Scottish Government in providing funding to local authorities through the Recycling Improvement Fund (RIF), which helps to improve recycling facilities and services across Scotland.  

To date, £65 million has been awarded to 41 projects across 26 local authorities. These projects range from improvements to household recycling services and upgrading recycling facilities to introducing recycling in schools and expanding the collection of new materials like mattresses and polystyrene. 

The funded projects are expected to divert nearly 60,000 tonnes of material per year for recycling or reuse, resulting in carbon savings of approximately 60,000 tonnes CO2e annually.