Go Greener in East Renfrewshire

Useful websites:

• http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk - link opens in separate window
• http://www.recyclenow.com - link opens in separate window
• http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk - link opens in separate window
• http://www.recycle-more.co.uk - link opens in separate window
• http://www.reducereuserecycle.co.uk - link opens in separate window
• http://www.wasteawarebusiness.org.uk/ - link opens in separate window

Some interesting facts:

1. 1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours.
2. Up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be recycled.
3. Each tonne of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 KW of energy and 7000 gallons of water.
4. On average every person in the UK throws away their own body weight in rubbish every seven weeks.
5. Incinerating 10,000 tonnes of waste creates one job, land-filling the same amount of waste creates six jobs but recycling this much waste creates 36 jobs.

Reduce, reuse and recycle tips:

1. Put your recycling bin or bags next to your dustbin; that way it is just as easy to recycle as to throw it away.

2. Do you always seem to end up with hundreds of plastic bags?  Why not buy reusable ones (available from most supermarkets) and leave them in your car so they are to hand when you do the weekly shop.

3. If you have old mobile phones lying around, unused in drawers, consider recycling them. Many organisations will even pay you or donate money to charity on your behalf.

4. Switch off your computer monitor when not in use.  Even if only for 10 minutes. Your monitor uses twice the energy of your PC.

5. Use the stairs rather than taking the lift.  Not only will you be reducing energy usage but increasing your fitness.

6. Switch off your mobile phone charger when it is finished charging. If you don't it will keep drawing almost as much energy as when charging and you will generate 35-70 kg of avoidable CO2 each year. In fact 95% of the energy used by mobile phone chargers in the UK is wasted energy.