The First Ever Global Recycling Day is Almost Here

The First Ever Global Recycling Day is Almost Here

Global Recycling Day 2018 is all about raising awareness about the importance of recycling. Recycling is one of the biggest tools we have to help tackle the effects of climate change. Recycling reduces the amount of harmful CO2 emissions that are released into the atmosphere, and it also saves precious natural resources.

‘The Seventh Resource’

Global Recycling Day aims to change how governments, businesses, communities and individuals see recyclables. They should be seen as a resource, not as waste. There are 6 main natural resources on the planet; water, air, coal, oil, natural gas and minerals. Recyclables are now being increasingly seen as the ‘seventh resource.’

If there was no recycling, all of our plastic, electronics, paper, cardboard, aluminium and glass would end up in landfill. This would cause more pollution and waste natural resources.

The need for a global approach to recycling

Global recycling day aims to;

• Put a focus on international legislation and agreements
• Support, and campaign for the free trade of recyclable materials across the globe
• Educate the public on the importance of recycling
• Make recycling a community issue, focusing on schemes that help businesses and individuals to recycle more
• Work with manufacturers to design products to be more recyclable at the end of their life
• Support innovation, research and initiatives that create better recycling practices and technology

How can you get involved?

• You can Sign the change.org petition that calls on world leaders to take steps to make recycling a global concern
• Learn about your local recycling industry and what your local authority does with recycling
• Join in Global Recycling Day on 18 March, and share what you’re doing to help on social media

Ask yourself these questions this global recycling day

Do I dispose of everything I’ve used so that it can be recycled?

Do I know what my local authority’s policy on recycling is and do I follow it?

Do I know what happens to recyclables once my local authority collects them?

Do I mend, repair, and reuse items as much as I can to save resources?

Am I committed to producing as little waste as I can?

Do the brands I buy make it easy for me to make good decisions about recycling?

Am I aware of the government’s recycling legislation?