Global Recycling Day: Why Recycle?

Every year our planet produces billions of tons worth of natural resources which is used in various industries for a multitude of reasons. One issue we are becoming aware of though as a species, is that some of these resources are beginning to become more difficult to obtain. In light of this, we are beginning to focus our attention on our ability to start ushering in a new manufacturing mentality called circular economy.

But what is circular economy?

A circular economy is a model of production and consumption which typically promotes sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products. The premise is to ensure that products used and discarded products can be reinserted back into the manufacturing process.

So why is recycling so important to this?

Recycling is a key factor for most manufacturers when looking to achieve a circular economy as this forms the basis of the materials required to produce the products. Ensuring items which can be recycled are discarded of correctly can help reduce the waste which ends up in landfill and helps to increase the efficacy of using recycled produce by helping reduce production costs.

Global Recycling Day

As such, to raise awareness The Global Recycling Foundation started the Global Recycling Day with the following mission in mind:

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.
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.

Every year, Global Recycling Day falls on the 18th March and as wholesalers we have a large and extensive range of recyclable products which are a part of circular economies. However, what we want to focus on during Global Recycling Day is ways in which businesses can make recycling simpler for their customers.

So how do we increase and improve recycling rates?

One of the best ways to achieve increased levels of recycling we have found during our time as wholesalers to various industries is by utilising a multi-stream waste management strategy. When we say a multi-stream method we mean employing a waste system whereby there are multiple easily identifiable receptacles for different types of rubbish. To put it simply, have a waste system which is easy for customers to understand and use, thus creating a system which is more likely to be engaged with correctly. We’d recommend buying a new system of bins which all match and have been made specifically with this multi-channel in mind. An option we’d suggest would be Rubbermaid’s Slim Jim range. The bins are brilliantly manufactured and are designed to include a range of labels which can be attributed to the individual bins for clear and concise communication for those who will be using them. Labels include:

Mixed Recycling
Paper
Plastic
Glass
Cans
Bottle / Cans
Compost
Organic Waste
Landfill
General Waste

The polyethylene / polypropylene bins also benefit from a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty whilst also boasting a bag cinch system ensuring liners are secure whilst in use but easy to remove too. Furthermore, they also come in up to 7 colours so the bins can be mirrored up to any colour coding your business may implement.

At Alliance Online, the environment and the impact we as a business have on it is an important topic of conversation and is one we like to help our clients with too. We have a large range of recyclable products which would also be perfect for Global Recycling Day and we have multiple green bin bags too which would work great in any waste management system. For more information about how Alliance can help your company achieve its green goals, either review our eco-shop or contact one of our customer services team on hello@allianceonline.co.uk.