Global Recycling Day is an annual event that happens on the 18th of March. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and encourage people to take action to reduce waste and protect the environment. The day brings together individuals, organisations, and governments from around the world to promote sustainable practices and highlight the benefits and importance of recycling.

Here at ETM Recycling, we are proud to be a part of the recycling sector, working with domestic and trade clients across the nation to head towards a greener future.

By way of celebrating this important day, we have comprised an article that outlines the message behind it, highlighting the significance of this call to action while theming the importance of waste management in 2023.

What is Global Recycling Day

Global Recycling Day was created in 2018 to help recognise, and celebrate, the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet. It is a day for the world to come together and put the planet first.

The mission of Global Recycling Day, as set out by the Global Recycling Foundation, is twofold:

  1. To tell world leaders that recycling is simply too important not to be a global issue, and that a common, joined up approach to recycling is urgently needed.
  2. To ask people across the planet to think resource, not waste, when it comes to the goods around us – until this happens, we simply won’t award recycled goods the true value and repurpose they deserve.

Support Recycling: Creative Innovation

Now in its sixth year, the foundation will run a competition to mark the day called ‘Recycling Heroes 2023’. Nominated businesses that have continued to recycle during one of the toughest economic periods will compete for a £1000 prize.

This is open to individuals, business leaders, sole traders, and multinational businesses, as well as towns and cities.

The Global Recycling Foundation is also awarding an additional 10 prizes of £250 to those who can produce the most innovative re-use of everyday items.

This kind of competition can really demonstrate that everyone can play their part, every individual and business great or small can have a positive impact in the struggle against global warming.

Waste into Opportunity

Every year, the earth yields billions of tonnes of natural resources and at some point, in the not-too-distant future, it will run out. Reusing, reducing, and recycling conserves energy, reduces air and water pollution, reduces greenhouse gasses and conserves natural resources among other major factors that are outlined below:

  1. Protects Ecosystems and Wildlife

When we recycle, we lessen disruption to the natural world. When we cut down fewer trees and forests, we are preventing harm to animals. By reducing disruption and damage to the natural world, we help preserve ecosystems and wildlife.

 

  1. Conserves Our Natural Resources

Some of the world’s natural resources are in short supply, and when we recycle, we help conserve these natural resources.

When we recycle paper, we save forests and trees. When we recycle plastic, it takes up a lot of solid waste and can take centuries to break down. In addition to this, most plastic comes from fossil fuel hydrocarbons.

Recycling metals reduces the need to extract new metal ore while recycling glass reduces our need for certain raw materials like sand.

 Learn more about the recycling processes at ETM >

  1. Saves Energy

Making products from recycled materials requires less energy than making them from new, raw materials. It takes much less energy to make products out of recycled materials than from raw materials. For example, recycling one glass bottle saves enough power to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.

 

  1. Reduces the Need to Harvest New Materials

When we recycle, it reduces our need to harvest raw materials. Our increasing demand for these raw materials also displaces people who live near forests or around river systems. When we recycle, we reduce the possibility of damaging someone else’s land or community.

 

  1. Reduces Carbon Emissions

Recycling takes up less energy, which reduces our carbon footprint and emissions. Reducing our carbon footprint helps minimize methane-release waste from landfill sites, which contributes to climate change.

 

  1. Saves Money

Recycling waste is much cheaper than regular waste collection and disposal. The more we recycle, the more money we can save. Deposit returns can also help add financial incentives to recycle.

Recycling can help protect the environment while conserving natural resources. It is critical to recycle and minimize the amount of waste we are putting into the atmosphere. Doing so can help save energy, reduce landfill waste, and protect our environment.

 

  1. Brings People Together

Recycling brings communities together and helps people raise money for schools, colleges, hospitals, and more. These recycling drives make towns and cities happier and cleaner.

 

  1. Educates People About the Importance of Protecting the Environment

When communities come together to raise awareness about recycling, it teaches people about the importance of protecting the environment and how to do so. Educating people about protecting the environment can help equip future generations with the knowledge and understanding they need to reduce pollution.

 

  1. Creates Jobs

Recycling creates new jobs every year. Jobs in recycling include sorters, drivers, mechanics, technicians, and more.

These jobs allow for more people to actively contribute to the economy and drive forward economic growth, not only does recycling help the planet, but it also helps improve the living standards of people up and down the country and across the world.

  1. Reduces Incineration

When we recycle, we reprocess materials to make new products, reducing the amount of waste sent for incineration. This can create air pollutants such as particulate matter, which cause lung and heart diseases. Heavy metals such as led and mercury have been found to cause neurological diseases while toxic chemicals, such as PFAS and dioxins have been found to cause cancer and other health related complications.

Find out more about the negative impact incineration can have on us and our planet here. >

 

Get Involved in the Movement to Go Green

When waste sits rotting away in a landfill, it leaches toxins into the groundwater and soil, and gives off greenhouse gases like methane as it decomposes, which contributes to global warming. Not only that, if recyclable items are sent to landfill, the precious raw materials and energy that went into making them are lost.

Our mission at ETM Recycling adheres to this joint effort to come together and put the planet first. With 98% of waste collection being recycled, utilising our services is a great step in the right direction.

As we progress through 2023, we plan to do more to increase Bristol’s recycling efforts. We have recently acquired another skip hire and waste management business. This will add to our existing fleet of tipper and skip lorries to help the people of Bristol and the South West effectively process their waste and lead to a cleaner and sustainable future.

Get in touch with a member of our dedicated team today to find out how we can help you do your part for the environment.