Recycle | JANUARY 2020
YOUR RECYCLING BIN
E
very fortnight I put our blue top recycling bin out at the kerbside, and used to wonder if I had got my recycling right, or had I inadvertently put something in my recycling bin that would cause the recycling process to grind to a halt. Well six years ago I was at the Haywards Heath Town Fair and there was a stand all about recycling manned by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) staff. So, I approached them to ask exactly what happens to my recycling bin contents, and what can I recycle? I received so much information that I said ‘why does not everyone know all this?’ They explained they were looking for volunteers to do this very job. To cut a long story short I underwent a year of training with on-line examinations, and I am now a volunteer Waste Prevention Advisor for WSCC, one of about 18 throughout the County. So now if any group or organisation, or even an individual asks for a talk and presentation to their group, I can come along and tell you all about recycling, and explain what can and what cannot be recycled. So my challenge to you: Do you think you know what can be recycled in your recycling bin? OK, lets test you? What in this list of 10 items can go in your recycling bin?
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• Plastic margarine tub • Plastic margarine tub lid • Hair spray or shaving foam aerosol • Window envelopes • Lemonade / coke can • Tin foil • Aluminium foil • Glass bottles and jars • Corrugated cardboard • Juice cartons. Are you confident with all your answers or are some guesses or just not sure? In West Sussex we dispose of 393,000 tonnes of rubbish every year from the kerbside collections only. Our rubbish bin still contains over 14% of recyclable material. If all this was put in the recycling bin it would save £2.5 million every year. If you want to check what can be recycled, have a look at www.recycleforwestsussex.org/ or contact me if you would like me to come to your group and tell you all about recycling. And the 10 items – they can all be recycled in your recycling bin!
Colin McFarlin, Volunteer Waste Prevention Advisor WSCC
Email: c.mcfarlin@btinternet.com www.henfieldbn5.co.uk