How Much Plastic Do You Waste?
Recycling, in some ways it is an everyday part of our lives.
As we use items we separate what can go in the recycling bin from what can’t. In fact, here we have two recycling bins. Which we often fill every fortnight compared to the allowed 1 “normal” rubbish.
While many of us try our best to recycle what we can, there is so much more that could be done.
A recent survey from Seareach, questioned people across the UK on what they thought about current recycling techniques.
Recycling Research
3,000 over 18s were questioned in this research and the results were perhaps very telling.
It is clear to read in articles based on it, such as this one.
That consumers want manufacturers to be more proactive.
They also want more transparency on what is happening with the waste we are placing in our recycle bins.
After all, just what does happen to it once we have spent our time separating it?
Something which is also becoming more clear is people want less packaging.
In fact, 39% of the people surveyed believe too much packaging is often used.
I have to admit it isn’t something I’ve overly thought about, bar the times I’ve wondered why something seems to have multiple layers of packaging.
For instance, Ash bought some cupcakes the other week and not only did they have a plastic inner carton but also a cardboard outer. Yes, it looks cute, but it was in all honestly unnecessary.
Recycling Confusion
It was also very clear from the stats that people feel they aren’t getting enough information.
24% are unsure what you can and can’t recycle.
11% feel they don’t have the ability to recycle properly locally.
While 6% felt recycling labels were poor and that information out there was confusing.
Recycling Help
Those surveyed also had some great ideas on how they could get some recycling help.
68% felt that recycling stations at their local supermarket, for all packaging types would be a great idea.
67% were all about clear and consistent labelling.
While 65% want councils to be more transparent about recycling.
One idea which was mentioned by 35% of people, was the ability to scan barcodes on an app and recycling information be brought up.
As a society which is very digitally switched on, I think this is a great idea.
It would allow for more detailed information to be put across.
They could even include things like the nearest recycling locations. After all, bins are often seen with a “rubbish” and “recycling” side.
So I would happily check a bottle while out and about and throw it in a recycling bin, rather than dumping it in the rubbish.
I think all of us try to do our best but fall at some points. It is obvious that us as consumers, as well as brands and our local councils, can all look to do more to make recycling more common and an easier practice for all.
How do you find recycling, is it something that comes naturally to you, what changes would you like to see happen around it?
Fancy checking out another post? Just click here!
Pin it!
Because of covid-19, we’ve been shopping online these days and I shudder at the amount of plastic that is used in packaging. We recycle the bubble wraps but seriously, how much bubble wrap does one need?
I recycle as much as I can and have stopped buying lots of things like handwash and shower gel but I think there is still more we could all do.
Most definitely I am with you there, we can always look to do more.
Thanks for the article, very interesting figures – would find it helpful if the local councils made leaflets on what you can and can’t recycle, provide extra bins as we often fill ours up really quickly and bins are only collected once a fortnight. X
I buy loose veg and fruit to cut down on plastic,plus looking into buying metal drinking straws x
It is very disheartening when we do all we currently can to recycle plastic,as revealed by Greenpeace,much of it is being dumped in land-fill-in Malaysia.
It is horrid isn’t it 🙁 it’s like all our effort is for nothing.
We waste lot of plastic.It is not easy to recycle,re-purpose or reuse all the plastics which we use daily.But,we recycle a portion.Where possible,we also try reusing.This article opens our mind…
I am glad it is has helped you think a bit more about what happens to our plastics.
I have minimized the use of plastic in my day to day life. No plastic, no confusion! ha
It is great that so many people are doing as much as possible.
I have always recycled diligently. I would like further ways to do so. It annoys me that around where I live there is no food recycling which they have done in a small village area where my husband family are. Why isn’t this the same all over the country.
In the past few years I have become even more focused as the media has sharpened our awareness. The supermarkets, other shops and manufacturers need to be doing more to reduce the plastic waste in their supermarkets/shops/firms.
As for the coffee shops and restaurants that sell take outs they need to be enforced to do more or/and face unlimited fines. I have my own mug from a coffee shop, I take out with me. I don’t care which coffee shop I am with the make on the side of my mug. They can use it so I ensure they do.
Most definitely I think there is so much more everyone can do.
I’ve not heard of food recycling before in villages – what a great idea perhaps it will become more common!
Plastics are so harmful to the environment especially when not disposed with care. No wonder plastics were banned here in Kenya an the environment looks cleaner.
We are trying to reduce the amount of plastic we use but it’s a struggle as so much stuff comes in plastic packaging
It is crazy isn’t it – so many things are over-packaged.
I don’t use plastic because it is bad for our health and environment as well.
How have you managed to cut it out completely I would love to know your tips.
The world has become full of plastics. Recycling must really be done by everyone. It should be a collective effort.
Most definitely I think we all need to play our parts.
I drink alot of soda water which is in plastic bottles as its just so easy to pick up bottles than travel to a different town to get gas for my soda stream bottles, however I am now making an effort to drink plain filtered tap water.
Good luck! It can be hard to change a habit, can’t it.
This is a great reminder to recycle and to not waste so much plastics. I really want to improve my carbon footprint and use less plastics and waste in general.
Good luck with making a difference with your carbon footprint!
I did an expert with my class to monitor the amount we could recycle of our trash. It was really interesting that the recyclables ended up being more than the trash. It’s great that so much can be recycled, but extra packaging and such still adds a lot to the problem.
Oh I bet that was interesting to do and take part in!
!
We definitely try and recycle as much as we can. There is so much waste in the world the least we can do is reuse all that is able to be.
Most definitely we all need to try and play our own little part.
We have so much plastic that goes into our recycling bin each week, I’m sure it’s increased in the last few years, and a lot of it isn’t really needed, it’s frustrating and it would be great if the shops reduced it.
Most definitely I think shops have a lot they can work on as do the companies who are producing the products. I like that Morrisons pay to have their carriers back when you have home delivery.
I do my best to recycle all plastic from packaging. Getting a filter and reusable bottle has definitely reduced the amount of plastic we consume.
I think having things like that around the home can really help – i have a bottle which I really should use more!
This always depresses me. As a society, we have looked for ways to simplify our lives without regard to what it has done to our planet. I hope we and our next generation try to do better.
Most definitely I think we are all trying to get better at it so as long as we carry on we are going the right way.
I really am trying to cut down my plastic waste and what I buy in the first place. This post is really interesting, thank you. Kaz
I am so glad you and others have found it interesting – it was fun to work on I think I learned a lot for sure.
It’s a shame there are no laws controlling use of plastic. It’s great that things like shampoo bars are now available to cut down on the use of plastics.
Most definitely I love that some companies are really starting to think outside the box.
Everywhere I have lived, we had different bins to allow for recycle, except in London, which is a shame. I try my best to reduce my plastic consumption though!
Oh that’s a shame I wonder why London hasn’t caught onto the trend yet.
I don’t know about my waste usage but I must say, I am a contributor of plastic wastes but I have started to lessen it by using reusable straw, containers and cloth bags instead of using plastic materials.
We all have to start somewhere and it sounds like you are off to a great start.
It’s so worrying how much excess plastic packaging seems to be on everything. We are big on recycling though.
It is hard isn’t it – we all have to try and play our part in reducing it.
I try and recycle as much as I can but I know there’s a lot more that I could be doing x
I think we do a lot without noticing as we are used to it and we don’t think about the extra we could do.