This Recycle Week (21st to 27th September) is a fantastic opportunity to say thank you for your recycling efforts over the last year, but especially since March when, let’s face it, things have been pretty difficult. 

Despite all the challenges, you’ve been recycling more than ever! Whether you were busy working, home schooling or helping others, you still made the effort – a whopping 20% more glass bottles & jars and 50% more cardboard were recycled compared to 2019 (April to June)! 

As a result, you recycled an extra 12% in total through your household recycling collections.  Amazing!  

There was also an unprecedented outpouring of appreciation for refuse and recycling collection crews which helped maintain morale during lockdown and beyond. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

For many of us, our day to day lives have changed completely. We are spending more time at home and we’ve had to establish new routines and habits. Things that used to be important are no longer a priority and the little things we took for granted have taken on greater value. One thing lockdown has shown us is how resilient and adaptable we can be! 

We’re also looking more closely at money, especially how to make it stretch further. How many of us are making do with what we already have and reducing waste at the same time? Upcycling furniture, making the most of our wardrobes, being resourceful with food – these things will save money AND help slim your bin.   

Recent research by Waste Resource Action Programme (Citizen responses to the Covid-19 – food purchasing, management and waste), found that on average UK citizens have adopted 6 actions to reduce food waste more often. These include more pre-shopping planning, better in-home food storage, freezing more and creative approaches to cooking and food preparation. 

These new behaviours are leading to a reported 34% less potatoes, bread, chicken, and milk being wasted.  The added bonus is that less food waste means more cost savings for you! 

The survey reports an impressive 7 in 10 of us want to maintain new waste saving habits post-lockdown.  To help keep those good habits going: 

• Make sure nappies and polystyrene never go in the recycling bin 
• Make the most of your wardrobe by repairing clothes, donating to charity or repurposing 
• Make a meal plan, write a shopping list and check use by dates to reduce food waste 
• Recycle more bathroom items like shampoo and shower gel bottles, toilet roll tubes and bathroom cleaners 

So keep up those good recycling habits and thank you for keeping Devon clean and green! 

For more information about recycling at home and lots more, visit the new look www.recycledevon.org.