Every person throws away seven times their own weight in rubbish each year. Currently most of Wakefield's rubbish is buried in holes in the ground called landfill sites. However, it is estimated that 60% of what we throw away can be used again.

If you’re not already recycling, find out more about how easy it is and how you can really make a difference.  For those who already recycle, discover the positive effect your recycling efforts are making and find out what else you may be able to do.

Recycling Conserves Resources

When we recycle, used materials are converted into new products, reducing the need to consume natural resources. If used materials are not recycled, new products are made by extracting fresh, raw material from the Earth, through mining and forestry. Recycling helps conserve important raw materials and protects natural habitats for the future.

Recycling saves energy

Using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses considerably less energy than that required for producing new products from raw materials – even when comparing all associated costs including transport etc.

Plus there are extra energy savings because more energy is required to extract, refine, transport and process raw materials ready for industry compared with providing industry-ready materials.

Recycling helps protect the environment

Recycling reduces the need for extracting (mining, quarrying and logging), refining and processing raw materials all of which create substantial air and water pollution.

Reduces landfill

When we recycle, recyclable materials are reprocessed into new products, and as a result the amount of rubbish sent to landfill sites reduces. There are over 1,500 landfill sites in the UK, and in 2001, these sites produced a quarter of the UK’s emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

For more information on Why Recycling Matters visit recyclenow website which has some fantastic ideas to make recycling easy.