How to Make Your Recycling Habits Even Better: Small Changes, Big Impact

Recycling has become a part of everyday practice for most people in the UK and that’s something to celebrate! According to WRAP’s October 2022 Recycling Tracker report, 89% of us in the UK regularly recycle. However, there’s still room for improvement. 54% of us in the UK admit to sometimes tossing items in the general waste bin that could have been recycled at home. If you’re one of those people, don’t worry — you’re definitely not alone, and it’s not too late to change that habit.

While it might feel like throwing a single item in the rubbish doesn’t make much difference, those small actions can add up.

‘My one action doesn’t matter’ – said 8 billion people

We can make a significant impact if each of us of us reduced our impact, reused what we could as many times as possible and then recycled when we could no longer use it. These actions often don’t take much more effort, so let’s look into why we sometimes don’t recycle, how easy it is to overcome those barriers and a few commonly overlooked items you can start recycling today. 

Why We Don’t Always Recycle: Understanding the Barriers 

So, why do we sometimes put recyclable items in the general waste? It’s easy to fall into certain thought patterns or behaviours that make recycling feel like more of a hassle than it really is. Here are some common reasons: 

“I’m not sure whether it can be recycled”: Uncertainty is a big one. Many of us hesitate when we’re not sure if something is recyclable or if it needs extra prep (like removing certain parts). To avoid the risk of contaminating the recycling bin, we opt to put it in the rubbish. Alternatively, we also want to avoid ‘Wishcycling’ – read our blog to avoid being a hopeful recycler. A quick online search or a check with your local council will give you the answer, and you’ll know for next time.

“I’m not touching that”: Sometimes, the “yuck” factor kicks in. If a container has food residue, we may skip the rinse and just throw it away instead of dealing with the mess.

“It’s too much hassle”: After a long day, it’s easy to prioritise relaxing over taking an extra few seconds to rinse or sort out recyclables. Put some simple systems in place which make it easier, e.g. put a separate bag for life somewhere handy to collect clean, soft plastic, then when you take it to the supermarket – you will also have a bag for your shopping when you empty it out – double win!

“Just toss it in the bathroom bin”: We often have recycling routines set up in our kitchens but tend to forget about other parts of the house, e.g. the bathroom. Without a dedicated bathroom recycling bin, things like shampoo bottles might end up in the general waste.

Common household items that are regularly ‘Wishcycled’ or that can be recycled

Even if you already recycle regularly, there are a few items that might be slipping through the cracks.

Foil: It can’t be recycled in B&H curb side recycling but if you clean off any food residue and scrunch the foil into a ball (you can) take it to The Green Centre, Harriet’s of Hove or Magpie recycling. The bigger the ball, the easier it is to recycle.

Plastic Trays, yoghurt pots & tubs: like the ones which fruit, mushrooms, or meat come in are recyclable, but in Brighton & Hove they aren’t…just yet! The soft plastic lids can be taken off, cleaned and put with other soft plastic which can be taken back from to supermarkets to be recycled. Magpie recycling accept these to be recycled – or how about finding another use for them first?

Make-up bottles & tubes: Did you know that Boots offer points for empty, clean, returned items or that some supermarkets have a collection station – look out for them or look online for where your nearest is.

Items that look like glass: For example; mirrors, Pyrex dishes & drinking glasses – these can’t go in with your glass recycling as mirrors are made from mixed materials, while Pyrex and drinking glasses have different melting points. They can still be taken to your nearest household recycling centre for disposal.

Aerosols: Air fresheners, deodorant cans—these should be recycled, but 23% of us aren’t doing so. Remember, only the lids go in the general waste; the rest belongs in the recycling.

Toiletry and cleaning product bottles: A surprising 11% of households throw toiletry bottles like shampoo and body wash in the rubbish. The same goes for cleaning product bottles (12%). A simple rinse and these are ready for the recycling bin. You can even leave the spray nozzle on, just remove pump dispensers.

Why Bother Recycling More?

You might be thinking, “I already recycle a lot. Why should I bother with these extra steps?” The answer is simple: the more we recycle, the more materials stay in use, which means less reliance on new raw materials. This helps conserve energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately combat climate change. Every extra item that goes into your recycling bin contributes to a larger, positive impact. It can also cause a ripple effect that leads to substantial environmental benefits. It might seem like a small change, but when millions of people do the same thing, it adds up quickly.

Together we are greater than the sum of our parts

You may also be interested in: