Why recycle

Waste is a Resource

The disposal of waste is a growing problem both environmentally and practically.

Limited availability of landfill space, escalating charges for the disposal of waste, tighter Government legislation and an expanding population in the UK all make recycling the obvious solution.

As well as providing your businesses with a green story to tell, it makes good economic sense to use our resources again and again, saving your business money. 

Some Facts and Figures

• Last year, Viridor recovered over two million tonnes of recyclable materials, preventing valuables resources going into landfill.
• In the UK, we produce 434 million tonnes of solid waste every year and only recycle 17.7 percent of it - one of the worst rates in Europe
• London businesses currently produce approximately 100,000 tonnes of waste per annum
• Industry commerce and household waste is collectively growing by 3% per annum
• The UK produces 3 million tonnes of plastic waste each year. Approximately 85% is land filled, 8% incinerated and 7% recycled
• Paper and card are the most commonly collected material for recycling, accounting for 28% of all recycling
• In the UK today, nearly 5 million tonnes of paper is dumped in landfill or incinerated every year
• Recycling one tonne of paper saves 3,700lb of lumber and 24,000 gallons of water
• Food waste accounts for 26% of total waste - the largest single proportion
• We throw away 12 billion aluminum cans in the UK every year
• It takes as much energy to make one new aluminum can as to make twenty from recycled aluminum
• In the UK five of every six bottles sold are thrown away - with over 6 billion bottles going to landfill every year