How to recycle?

Recycling is easy and most of us are recycling as much as we can. Follow our simple steps and start recycling today. First, Find out what you can recycle at home - check our Recycling Locator tool to find out what you can put in your home recycling bins.

Putting the right stuff in the right bin is important, wrong stuff-contamination. Most of us are getting it right, however, when too much contaminated material is collected, it potentially prevents the whole lorry load of material from being recycled.

More and more people are recycling items from all around the home. In the bathroom, we use plastic in all shapes and sizes, most of which can be recycled. Are you recycling your shampoo bottles? 86% of us do but there's always room to recycle more.

Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into a valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden. It saves money and can help to improve your soil and can reduce your impact on the environment.

Recycling symbols appear on lots of everyday items and help us to identify how different types of packaging can be recycled. As local authorities do not all collect the same materials, the labels are based on what the majority collect, or do not collect.

Recycling your food waste is better for the environment, no matter how little goes into your caddy. Food waste that is recycled also has many uses. It can be converted into natural forms of energy which are a good alternative to fossil fuels.

When plastic packaging goes into the recycling it is sorted into different types of plastics which are then baled up ready for reprocessing. Black plastic is difficult for the NIRs to see and is therefore generally not sorted for recycling.

Reducing what you waste and reusing items is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. From refilling water bottles or using bags for life, to composting at home - there are lots of ways to make a real difference.