oo bottles

• LDPE (Low density polyethylene) – Plastic bags

• PP (Polypropylene) – Margarine tubs and microwavable meal containers

• PS (Polystyrene) – Egg cartons, plastic cutlery and cups, yoghurt pots, meat and fish foam trays

Plastics are largely used for packaging and because they have a relatively short life span (they tend to be thrown away as soon as their contents are use

With a little understanding of the issues involved, we can re-use or recycle most of the masses amount of waste we produce from plastic and glass and at the same time we can reduce costs, save energy, protect the environment and even create new jobs. Although waste awareness is on the increase, recycling rates are on the low side and many people are still unaware of just why recycling is so important.

Recycling Plastic Waste

According to Recoup (the UK's leading authority on plastics waste management), every household uses approximately 373 plastic bottles a year of which 29 are recycled and yet recycling just one of these plastic bottles can save enough energy to light a 60 watt bulb for up to 6 hours. So why are we not recycling more plastic?

One of the main issues regarding the recycling of plastic is lack of opportunity to recycle. This is partly because plastic can be contaminated with other materials and the cost of processing this can outweigh the cost of producing more plastic so compared to other materials like glass and paper, there are fewer places to recycle plastic. However, plastic is lightweight and highly versatile and one way round this is to re-use plastic within the home.

There are many different types of plastic but most plastics fall into one of the following main types:

• PET (Polyethylene terphthalate) – Fizzy drinks bottles and trays for convenience foods to put straight into the oven

• HDPE (High density polyethylene) – Milk bottles and washing up liquid bottles

• PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) – Cling film, juice and water bottles, shampoo bottles

• LDPE (Low density polyethylene) – Plastic bags

• PP (Polypropylene) – Margarine tubs and microwavable meal containers

• PS (Polystyrene) – Egg cartons, plastic cutlery and cups, yoghurt pots, meat and fish foam trays

Plastics are largely used for packaging and because they have a relatively short life span (they tend to be thrown away as soon as their contents are used

p>

Recycling Plastic Waste

According to Recoup (the UK's leading authority on plastics waste management), every household uses approximately 373 plastic bottles a year of which 29 are recycled and yet recycling just one of these plastic bottles can save enough energy to light a 60 watt bulb for up to 6 hours. So why are we not recycling more plastic?

One of the main issues regarding the recycling of plastic is lack of opportunity to recycle. This is partly because plastic can be contaminated with other materials and the cost of processing this can outweigh the cost of producing more plastic so compared to other materials like glass and paper, there are fewer places to recycle plastic. However, plastic is lightweight and highly versatile and one way round this is to re-use plastic within the home.

There are many different types of plastic but most plastics fall into one of the following main types:

• PET (Polyethylene terphthalate) – Fizzy drinks bottles and trays for convenience foods to put straight into the oven

• HDPE (High density polyethylene) – Milk bottles and washing up liquid bottles

• PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) – Cling film, juice and water bottles, shampoo bottles

• LDPE (Low density polyethylene) – Plastic bags

• PP (Polypropylene) – Margarine tubs and microwavable meal containers

• PS (Polystyrene) – Egg cartons, plastic cutlery and cups, yoghurt pots, meat and fish foam trays

Plastics are largely used for packaging and because they have a relatively short life span (they tend to be thrown away as soon as their contents are use

ycling of plastic is lack of opportunity to recycle. This is partly because plastic can be contaminated with other materials and the cost of processing this can outweigh the cost of producing more plastic so compared to other materials like glass and paper, there are fewer places to recycle plastic. However, plastic is lightweight and highly versatile and one way round this is to re-use plastic within the home.

There are many different types of plastic but most plastics fall into one of the following main types:

• PET (Polyethylene terphthalate) – Fizzy drinks bottles and trays for convenience foods to put straight into the oven

• HDPE (High density polyethylene) – Milk bottles and washing up liquid bottles

• PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) – Cling film, juice and water bottles, shampoo bottles

• LDPE (Low density polyethylene) – Plastic bags

• PP (Polypropylene) – Margarine tubs and microwavable meal containers

• PS (Polystyrene) – Egg cartons, plastic cutlery and cups, yoghurt pots, meat and fish foam trays

Plastics are largely used for packaging and because they have a relatively short life span (they tend to be thrown away as soon as their contents are use

the home.

There are many different types of plastic but most plastics fall into one of the following main types:

• PET (Polyethylene terphthalate) – Fizzy drinks bottles and trays for convenience foods to put straight into the oven

• HDPE (High density polyethylene) – Milk bottles and washing up liquid bottles

• PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) – Cling film, juice and water bottles, shampoo bottles

• LDPE (Low density polyethylene) – Plastic bags

• PP (Polypropylene) – Margarine tubs and microwavable meal containers

• PS (Polystyrene) – Egg cartons, plastic cutlery and cups, yoghurt pots, meat and fish foam trays

Plastics are largely used for packaging and because they have a relatively short life span (they tend to be thrown away as soon as their contents are use

oo bottles

• LDPE (Low density polyethylene) – Plastic bags

• PP (Polypropylene) – Margarine tubs and microwavable meal containers

• PS (Polystyrene) – Egg cartons, plastic cutlery and cups, yoghurt pots, meat and fish foam trays

Plastics are largely used for packaging and because they have a relatively short life span (they tend to be thrown away as soon as their contents are used), they represent a major waste problem. They are also generally non-degradable which means they can take a long time to decompose and break down. Landfill sites require more and more space due to the amount of plastic being disposed of and this is an area of concern, particularly as around 80% of plastic is disposed of in landfill sites with less than 10% currently being recycled (Environment Agency Report 2001).

Solutions are constantly being sought and although more and more supermarket chains and retailers are now issuing biodegradable plastic bags, this in itself can be a problem as many people might think that it is ok to just throw them away as they will eventually break down, which is not always the case. Some of these biodegradable bags rely on sunlight to break them down so if they are thrown away as part of household rubbish and end up in a landfill site, they will not degrade because there is no light.

What you can do to help…

• Re-use plastic bags as much as possible – don't throw them away

• Buy products with very little packaging

• Try to re-use plastic pots and tubs within the home, for example to store small items like buttons and screws and for germinating seeds or donate them to playgroups and schools for arts and crafts

• Buy refillable products as much as possible

• When purchasing fruit and vegetables at the supermarket, don't put them into plastic bags – it isn't necessary

• Find out what plastic re-cycling facilities there are in your own area and use them, encourage your family and friends to do the same

• Try to buy produc