Recycle More
'Recycle for West Sussex' is a partnership comprising West Sussex County Council, it's waste contractor Viridor Waste Management Ltd, all the District and Borough Councils and the Environment Agency.
The aim of 'Recycle for West Sussex' is to reduce the mountain of waste that needs to be disposed of in the County. This currently is approximately 460,000 (2007/08) tonnes per annum, rising to an estimated 550,000 by 2015.
Householders in West Sussex are currently recycling 37.5% (2007/08) of their household rubbish. However, the County has a target to recycle over 50% of household waste by 2015.
Recent improvements to Household Waste Recycling Sites should make recycling easier by:
improved access to facilities
reduced queuing times
an increased ability to recycle more materials
Have you ever wondered what happens to the materials collected from your recycling bin?
A new recycling facility will be constructed early in 2009. The recycling facility will process the recyclables that are collected from your home. It will be able to handle new materials including glass and drink cartons such as tetrapak. This will mean that recyclable collection systems will be standardised throughout West Sussex in the furture, making recycling easier and enabling more people to join in.
In the meantime, if you want to know what to recycle in your scheme then please contact your local District and Borough Council.
We need YOUR Help!
1. Recycle as much of your household waste as possible in your District or Borough Council recycling and garden waste collection.
2. Use your local Household Waste Recycling Site. You can recycle white goods, electrical items, batteries, oil, green waste and wood as well as other recyclable items.
3. The Waste Electronic Electrical Equipment (WEEE) directive aims to minimise the environmental impact of WEEE whilst making produceers take more responsibility for their waste products. From July 2007 facilities have been available for the separate collections of WEEE at all Household Waste Recycling Sites throughout the County. More info can be found under W for WEEE on our A-Z of Recycling online on West Sussex County Council Website.
4. Set up your household to make recycling easier. Keep recycling bins next to or in place of your ordinary waste bins. By having more than one recycling bin you are more likely to increase the amount you recycle.
5. Cut down on kitchen and garden waste by recycling in a food waste digester or home compost bin.
Close the Loop
To fully play your part you should also consider buying products that have a recycled content. This is called 'closing the loop' and stimulates the recycling market. It is often difficult to find products made from recycled products in the high street, visit www.recycleproducts.org.uk where you can search for items that are made from recycled material. If you don't have a PC to buy recycled products online, then why not use the computer at your local library or contact us about a Waste Prevention Advisor visit for help.
Some areas of environmental technology are still in their infancy. If demand for these products increase these prodcuts will become more easily available. To find out how you can buy closed loop soil conditioner visit Recycle for West Sussex website.