Although recycling has been highlighted and encouraged widely across the UK, just 45% of the plastic that we use is actually recycled. And as we strive towards net zero targets, more must be done to encourage sustainable living.
This is the aims of Waste and Resources Action Programme’s (WRAP) annual Recycle Week, which takes place this year from 20-26 September.
Recycle Week was launched to encourage more people to embrace sustainability by providing information and advice on recycling. This year’s theme is ‘Step It Up This Recycle Week’. The theme was chosen to motivate people to join in the fight against climate change, by incorporating recycling into their daily lives.
Last year’s Recycle Week led to 73% of people saying that they were willing to make lifestyle changes to benefit the environment. 93% of people also agreed that everyone has a responsibility to help clean up the environment.
In the run up to this years Recycle Week, we take a look at how you can champion recycling in your daily life.
Think reusable
Making use of reusable products bring several benefits, for both you and the environment. Reusable bottles and food containers are just some of the items that can help lessen your impact on the environment. Using these items instead of single-use plastics can save you money in the long-term. Buying reusable products also means that you don’t have to purchase items that need replacing regularly.
Keeping mugs, glasses, and cutlery in the office kitchen will help to reduce the amount of single-use plastic used by employee’s every day. Not only do reusable bottles and food containers lessen your impact on the environment, they can also save your employees money in the long-term. Buying reusable products means that you don’t have to buy items that need replacing regularly.
Switching from plastic to paper packaging, using reusable bags and purchasing loose rather than pre-packaged items can all help to reduce your plastic intake massively. Cutting out plastic straws, avoiding plastic coffee lids and using soap bars rather than plastic-packaged bottled products are just some of the everyday changes you can make easily.
Remember to recycle
Society has consumed plastic in different forms for so many years, that moving away from it completely can seem daunting. But as you start to transition to a cleaner way of living, opting for recyclable plastic can make a huge difference. While reducing our plastic consumption is still top priority, if plastic is purchased it should preferably be recyclable.
Nearly 381 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced around the world each year, and this figure is set to double by 2034. So, while we fight to reduce the amount of plastic being produced, we must also try to find ethical ways to dispose of products already in circulation.
Make it accessible
While we should encourage people to incorporate recycling into their daily lives, it is also important to make it convenient and accessible. Placing recycling bins with clear signage around the office encourages employees to dispose of waste responsibly. Making a conscious effort to separate waste from recycling can also make people more aware of what they are throwing away.
Promoting a paper-conscious policy also helps to sustain a waste free workplace. This can include paperless meetings, as well as supplying recycled paper when printing is necessary.
Green initiatives are a great way of keeping up the motivation to recycle. Offering prizes for generating less waste, and championing reusable products, helps to make sustainability more fun and engaging.
How can Monarch help?
At Monarch we understand the importance of embracing a sustainable lifestyle. Particularly as net zero targets grow closer and the climate crisis worsens. So, it is up to us to do our bit to help protect our environment.
Through a combination of efficient energy management and ethical waste disposal, we can help our clients to cut costs and reduce any harmful impacts.
Get in touch today to hear more about how we can help you towards a sustainable future.
