Turning waste into new products and materials is called recycling. It is one of the “three Rs”: Reduction, Reusing and Recycling. Reducing waste means buying fewer products and choosing those ones made with recyclable materials and less packaging. Reusing means using products again wherever possible: for example, reusing plastic shopping bags or glass bottles. Recycling means turning the raw materials from old waste products into new products.

What can be recycled?

Materials that are often recycled include paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, glass, textiles, tyres, electronic goods, concrete and biodegradable waste (which can be broken down by bacteria and other micro-organisms).

The traditional way of disposing of waste is to bury it in landfills. These can pollute the surrounding area (chemicals or microscopic particles can escape into the ground and rivers) and release greenhouse gases, such as methane, as the waste decays. Another way of disposing of waste is incineration (burning). This can cause air pollution. By recycling as much of our waste as possible, we can reduce the amount that goes into landfills and incinerators. This helps both save resources and protect the environment.

Biodegradable waste

Biodegradable waste is waste that can be broken down by micro-organisms and other living things. It includes garden waste, farm waste, food, paper, biodegradable plastics, sewage and manure. When biodegradable waste is put in landfills, it produces methane. This is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. However, biodegradable waste can be used as compost for gardens and fertilisers for farms. It can also be turned into biogas for fuel.