Waste Facts, Figures, Information & Tips
- The volume of waste produced in the UK in one hour could fill the Albert Hall.
- The volume of waste produced in the UK in one day would be enough to fill Trafalgar Square up the top of Nelson's Column.
- In 1 year around 27 million tonnes of household waste a year are produced, which represents approximately 1.2 tonnes of waste per household.
- If we all reduced the weight in our bins by 10%, in a year, this would be a saving equivalent to 8,687 times the height of Blackpool Tower.
- It is estimated that up to 90% of what we put in our bins is recoverable - in other word it could be used for something else rather than becoming waste.
- Leicester is currently recycling about 26% of its household waste.
- Leicester has nearly 100 recycling points around the city.
Government Targets
In July 2000 the Government produced a National Waste Strategy for England and Wales. The Waste Strategy 2000 document set out the Government's vision for the long-term, sustainable management of waste and also set targets for waste recycling, recovery and diversion from landfill to ensure that the European legislation, in relation to the use of landfill for the disposal of waste, would be met.
The Landfill Directive
The Landfill Directive is a piece of European Legislation that governs the future use of landfill as a means of disposal. By setting quite stringent targets for reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill, the Directive aims to achieve the following:
The Landfill Directive
The Landfill Directive is a piece of European Legislation that governs the future use of landfill as a means of disposal. By setting quite stringent targets for reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill, the Directive aims to achieve the following:
- By 2010 to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 75% of that produced in 1995.
- By 2013 to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 50% of that produced in 1995.
- By 2020 to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 35% of that produced in 1995.
The Directive also makes changes to the types of material that can be disposed of.
Waste Strategy 2000
In order to comply with the Landfill Directive, the Government will introduce its own legislation. In 'Waste Strategy 2000' they introduced the targets that will be used in complying with the Landfill Directive. The targets are:
- To recover value from 40% of municipal waste by 2005.
- To recover value from 45% of municipal waste by 2010.
- To recover value from 67% of municipal waste by 2015.
The Government has set National targets for recycling and composting (again published in 'Waste Strategy 2000').
- To recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste by 2005.
- To recycle or compost at least 30% of household waste by 2010.
- To recycle or compost at least 33% of household waste by 2015.
Facts About recycled materials:
- About 4.1 million miles of aluminium foil goes into household waste each year - enough to wrap round the planet 164 times.
- Aluminium can be recycled, without loss of quality, over and over again and again and again and again and again ……..
- Recycling aluminium can save up 95% the amount of energy used to produce aluminium from virgin materials.
- In the UK today, nearly 5 million tonnes of paper are being dumped in landfill or incinerated each year.
- On average, each household in the UK throws away 2-3 kg of newspaper and magazines each week.
- Recycling one tonne of paper saves up to 70% the energy used in manufacturing from virgin materials and requires 40% less water.
- You can put paper and cardboard into your green recycling bag or take it to one of the 40 Leicester City Council paper banks at recycling points around the city.
- You can put screwed up paper in your compost, it helps to keep the balance between 'browns and greens' in the composting process.
- Every year in the UK we use 13 billion steel cans which, placed end to end,would stretch to the moon - three times!
- Producing steel from recycled materials saves around 75% of the energy needed to make steel from raw materials.
- In Leicester we recycle around 362 tonnes of steel cans in a year which is about 10,136,000cans.
- On average, every family in the UK consumes around 500 glass bottles and jars every year - but we recycles less than 25% of these items.
- Glass can be recycled without any loss of quality over and over again and again and again and again and again ………….
- Leicester has nearly 100 glass banks at recycling points around the city, some of which have been 'adopted' by schools which can make money from the glass deposited in them.
- Glass produced from recycled glass instead of raw material reduces related air pollution by 20 percent and water by 50 percent.
Plastic
- Nearly 3 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated every year in the UK alone, but only 5% is recycled.
- 8 million nappies are thrown away daily in the UK alone and every disposable nappy in landfill still exists as they are not really biodegradable - research estimates they could take up to 500 years to decompose.
- Plastic bottles from milk, shampoo, washing up liquid, drinks, and similar can be recycled through Recycling Box Service or at one of the two Community Recycling Centres.
Everyone can help to maximise waste recovery and minimise waste to landfill
Everyone can help to maximise waste recovery and minimise waste to landfill