Recycle Week: This is the year the people of Ashford are ‘taking recycling into their own hands’!

Ashford Borough Council are proud to be taking recycling into their own hands! In the biggest and best Recycle Week ever, Recycle Now is tasking residents to take recycling into their own hands and take action to protect our environment. 

The year so far has been one of protests and marches. People have had enough of the status quo; things need to change urgently. Inspired by Our Planet and Sir David Attenborough – environmental concerns have never been so important to the nation. Last year we saw people being more motivated to recycle and 2018 was the biggest Recycle Week to date, but 2019 promises to be bigger and better!

For its 17^th annual Recycle Week (23^rd – 29^th September), Recycle Now is capitalising on this heightened awareness and energy right here in Ashford; tasking residents – and people all over the UK – to act and focus on getting recycling right during Recycle Week.

Getting recycling right 

Latest research from Recycle Now reveals that over 60% of UK households are now recycling more than they were a year ago because of environmental concerns. Research shows that more and more UK households are recycling plastic drinks, cleaner, toiletry and shampoo bottles, amongst other items including glass and metal tin cans. Nearly a third of these people cite environmental concerns as the main reason for doing more and others attribute it to an increased awareness of what can be recycled.

But fear not – Recycle Now is here to help!

Top tips for recycling in Ashford:

• Recycle more of these items: foil trays, aerosols and plastic bathroom bottles (e.g. bleach, shampoo, hand soap- just make sure they’re empty!)
• Make sure these never go in the recycling bin: nappies, food, textiles and electrical items!

If you’re at all unsure about how to recycle a specific item, head to Ashford Borough Council’s website for their A-Z of Waste.

Cllr Andrew Buchanan, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Land Management, said: “What and how we recycle really matters. Recycling an item rather than throwing it in the general rubbish bin means that it will be dealt with in the most environmentally friendly way, keeping materials in use and out of the environment.

“Our current contamination campaign that’s being carried out has demonstrated most of our residents are getting it right. However, there’s always room for improvement and a lot more we can be recycling so we will continue to push this message!”

To find out more about Recycle Week, and to use the Recycling Locator to find out what to recycle where you live, visit www.recyclenow.org.uk.

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