11. Recycling rubbish

There is really very little excuse these days for not recycling rubbish. Paper, glass, tin, aluminium cans, cardboard and old clothes can all be recycled. Many parts of the country now have collections of recyclable materials from your door and nearly everywhere has recycling centres to take your rubbish for recycling. So by recycling we can put an end to much of our waste, reduce our impact on the environment and reduce our footprint.

Do you agree? What are the recycling facilities like where you live? Add your voice to the debate on this issue

Did You Know?

• Each of us throws about 377 kg of rubbish away every year.
  
• 12 million people visit a bottle bank each week for recycling.
  
• Packaging fills up to a quarter of an average dustbin.

Take Action

• Carry out a waste survey in your school. Find out what goes into the bins. Can any of the waste be reused or recycled? Ask your School Council or Head Teacher for a recycling scheme in school
  
• Make sure that you and your family recycle all household waste that can be made into something new
  
• Buy recycled paper