What Can You Recycle In Yorkshire

Did you know that it’s possible to recycle up to 60% of what ends up in a dustbin? Recycling is an important part of waste management and is essential in conserving precious non-renewable materials and reducing carbon emissions. However, accessibility issues can make recycling harder than it needs to be.

Knowing what you can recycle — and where — is key to making the process simple. The information can look like a lot at first, so let’s break it down. Here’s our guide to responsible waste management in Yorkshire.

Metals

Aluminium is one of the most common waste products in the UK — 51,000 tonnes of it ends up as packaging. Almost all types of metals can be recycled, and they are currently one of the most recycled materials on the planet. The only exception is hazardous metals such as lead or radioactive metals, which must be disposed of by a specialist.

Thanks to our associated partners, A Brunton can handle all grades of ferrous (metals that contain iron) and non-ferrous metals.

Plastics

Plastic is estimated to take over 500 years to decompose and is widely considered to be bad for the environment. Luckily, many types of plastic are actually recyclable.

Recyclable plastics are separated into seven different categories. For example, LDPE is often used in carrier bags, while PET is often used for bottles. Some categories, like PET and HDPE, are widely recyclable, but others are more difficult to recycle, like PS.

At A Brunton, we have the resources and capacity to handle all types of plastics. Whether you need to manage post-consumer, post-industrial, or production stock materials, feel free to get in touch.

Cardboard & paper

Did you know it takes 24 trees to make one tonne of newspaper? Fortunately, recycled paper produces vastly less pollution than paper made out of raw materials — 54% less, in fact.

Cardboard, paper, and magazines are also very easy to recycle, but only if they are clean. Try to keep any paper waste dry and separate from food waste.

Wood

As a natural material, you can recycle all kinds of timber and wood in Yorkshire. Whether garden waste or old furnishings, wood is a great material for recycling due to the variety of uses it has. From animal beddings to wood chips, there’s always a good use for it.

Glass

Glass has the benefit of being 100% recyclable. If you simply dispose of glass in landfill, ir will never decompose, so it’s vital to recycle it. Give your glass containers a quick rinse before recycling to remove any leftover liquid or food.

Items you can’t recycle

Efficient waste management is about knowing what you can’t recycle as well as what you can.

Some items, such as hazardous materials and electrical equipment, must be handled by licensed specialists. Do you have commercial waste to dispose of? As waste management specialists, we can quickly assess which parts are suitable for recycling, so give us a call if you have any questions.

What’s the best way to recycle?

For commercial waste, hiring a professional waste management company can often be the best way to get rid of your recyclable waste. A trusted waste management company is fully certified and regulated, and knows the ins and outs of what you can and can’t recycle.

At A Brunton, we have over 60 years of experience keeping North and East Yorkshire clean. Along with managing your recyclable waste, we can advise you on how to recycle more and calculate how much money you can save.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you to help our environment!