Now in its 20th year, Recycle Week (which runs from 16th to 22nd October 2023) is the flagship annual event by Recycle Now. A celebration of recycling across the nation, it’s the one week of the year where retailers, brands, waste management companies, trade associations, governments and the media come together to achieve one goal: to galvanise the public into recycling more of the right things, more often.
Trident Marketing is an ISO 14001 accredited company, so recycling is always a hot topic in the office. Let us tell you more about the event…
The Big Recycling Hunt
This year’s theme is The Big Recycling Hunt, focusing on ‘missed capture’ AKA the items that can be recycled but are commonly missed in the home. Culprits include aerosols, plastic trays, cleaning products, shampoo bottles and – would you believe it – food tins.
The campaign will have two distinct elements. Firstly, encouraging the country’s children to partake in fun activities throughout Recycle Week by providing schools and teachers with a free download pack and various resources. Secondly, there’s a focus on local authorities, partners and brands to share the central message. Which is exactly what we’re doing here.
How Do I Know What To Recycle?
Rather unhelpfully, recycling rules differ from council to council across the country. Some councils collect glass, others don’t so you have to head to the bottle bank. Some councils accept batteries, but most don’t. Some councils let you mix your recyclables, others want them separated. It can be a minefield.
That’s why the work that Recycle Now does is so important. It’s also why everyone needs to spend more time getting to know what is and isn’t recyclable in their area. The best thing to do? Visit the official Recycling Collections gov.uk page. You can type in your postcode, then be directed to your local council’s website – and the rules.
If In Doubt, Look At The Label
Many of us act on autopilot when disposing of waste, but if you take mere seconds to check the label, it will give you a good idea on whether it’s recyclable or not. The various icons are pretty self-explanatory, but Recycle Now has a guide on recycling symbols for extra clarity. For example, stating when something should be recycled with its lid on. Did you know that caps and lids under 40mm in diameter are too small to be captured for recycling, because they fall through the holes in the screens at the sorting facility?
At Trident Marketing, we make sure everything that can be recycled, is recycled – from cardboard packaging to tin foil and even grass cuttings. It’s the very least we can all be doing to reduce our collective carbon footprint.
