Reasons to recycle

On average, each resident in Hyndburn produces about 310 kgs of domestic rubbish each year. In the past all this rubbish was sent to landfill, but quite simply, the UK is now running out of places where the rubbish can be dumped. This cannot continue and therefore we have to reduce the amount of rubbish we send to these sites.

Sending rubbish to landfill is also bad for the environment. When organic materials such as cardboard, paper and fruit and vegetable peelings break down in a landfill site they release methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

So, what is the alternative? The answer is recycling.

Recycling, helps preserve the environment for our children and future generations.

Recycling:

• Reduces the amount of rubbish we send to landfill sites
• Re-uses materials, so we do not have to use new resources and damage the environment by removing them. For example recycling one tonne of paper stops 24 tress being cut down.
• Reduces the amount of energy needed to remove, deliver and make new products. Recycling 1 tonne of glass saves the energy required to deliver and extract the 1.2 tonnes of raw materials.

Finally, Hyndburn like other councils has been set tough recycling targets. If we do not recycle we will not meet these targets and residents could face financial penalties of £150 for every tonne sent to landfill.