Latest News
Are you thinking about what you’re throwing away?
As a society in general, we’re much more conscious now than ever before of the negative impact wastage has on the planet, and the positive steps that we can take to help ensure our planet’s wellbeing. But whilst ongoing improvements are undoubtably being made, we must continue to ask ourselves: “What more can be done”?
How much do we recycle?
Data from the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs last year revealed that in 2017, the UK’s recycling rate for Waste from Households (WFH; including IBA metal) was 45.7% – an improvement on the 45.2% rate in 2016. Of this nationwide figure of 45.7%, Wales was the UK country which was the most prolific – 57.6% of all household waste was recycled!
It should be noted that the EU had previously set the UK a target of recycling at least 50% of all waste by 2020, so it remains to be seen whether or not the country has been able to do so.
What can (or can’t) I recycle?
People are well aware of the general principals of recycling, and usually a product label will indicate whether something can or cannot be recycled. However, there are still some things which cause confusion for many when it comes to waste disposal. For example, did you know that tissue roll, post-it notes, greasy pizza boxes and wine glasses can’t be recycled? Or that foil trays, empty deodorant bottles, and empty bleach bottles can?
One area we’d encourage people to be more environmentally conscious with is lighting. Traditional lightbulbs aren’t recyclable unfortunately, whereas LED lights are. This, in addition to the fact that LED lights have a much longer lifespan, makes them a much nicer alternative for both everyday home and commercial life.
Upcycling
One relatively new mainstream phenomenon which has come about in an attempt to combat extreme waste is upcycling. Whether in the home, at the office or even in restaurants, old pieces of tat are being reused and restored to their former glories. Old wood has been transformed into furniture pieces, old bottles or cans transformed into plant pots and even tissue boxes into desk organisers. The internet is awash with tonnes of creative ideas on how to recycle your old unwanted items, so take a look for yourself!
If you’re a business owner who is interested in making the switch over to LED lighting, get in touch with Griff today and one of our team will be able to advise on your best course of action.