Recycle for Plymouth

Find all the information you need to start recycling more at home, at school or at work.

Finding the information you need:

• What can I put in my green bin?
• How can I reduce my waste?
• Where is my nearesr recycling bank?
• What can I take to the recycling centres?
• When is my recycling collected?

Why is recycling important?

Rubbish comes from lots of sources, including industry and businesses, construction, houses, and places like hospitals. Household waste is made up of anything that we throw away - paper, plastic bottles, cartons, glass and cans, used packaging, food leftovers and garden waste. However it also includes things like books, clothes and furniture and other waste dumped on the streets (including litter).

Most of our waste goes to landfill (big holes in the countryside full of waste). However over 70% of the average bin could be re-used or recycled, and the Government's Waste Strategy 2000 introduced statutory recycling targets - that means they are not voluntary but have to be aimed for and reached by law. For example the Government wanted each Local Authority to recycle at least 25% of their waste by 2005 to 2006.

Reduce and reuse

If bits and pieces are reused, or not used in the first place, there are environmental benefits from not having to collect it, not having to bury/burn/reprocess it.

And the fewer things that need to be manufactured, the greater the energy, material and pollution savings at the point of extraction/manufacture.