Every item starts with something from the Earth, whether its paper made from trees, plastic bottles made from oil or bowls and plates made from clay.
Some materials are limited, like oil and minerals. Once they are used up, there is no more available to use. Other materials like trees can grow back, but only if they are used responsibly. If materials aren't reused, the Earth can’t keep up with our demand for raw materials to make new products.
When we repair, reuse or recycle items, we keep materials in use for longer and reduce the need for new raw materials. This also:
- Saves energy because making products from recycled materials usually uses far less energy than making them from scratch.
- Reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions created during manufacturing and disposal.
Kerbside recycling bins make it easy to recycle everyday items such as bottles, cardboard boxes, jars and tins made from paper, steel, glass, aluminium and plastic.