Single-use plastic bags cut by 80%

In October 2015 the government introduced a 5p charge for single-use carrier bags in the hope that more people would use reusable carrier bags or ‘bags for life’. The early figures from leading supermarket Tesco suggest that the 5p charge has led to an almost 80% drop in the amount of single-use carrier bags being used.

This reduction has exceeded Tesco’s own expectations and is in line with the higher end of the government’s estimations. Prior to the 5p charge the average British shopper used 11 carrier bags a month and the cost to clean up plastic bag waste was around £10m each year. In England alone, 7.64 billion plastic bags were given away by supermarkets in 2014.

The 80% drop produced by the 5p scheme is in line with figures from Wales and Scotland. Single-use carrier bag charges were introduced in Wales in 2011 and in Scotland in October 2014. Stats from these countries suggest that the amount of ‘bags for life’ used has quadrupled and both have seen a 79-80% drop in the amount of single-use carrier bags used.

Importantly, the profits from the 5p charge will be donated to a charity of the retailers own choosing and the drop in the amount of single-use carrier bags being used should be beneficial to our environment. The long term goal of the 5p charge scheme is to reduce the amount of single-use carrier bags being taken home which will in turn reduce the amount of litter and waste produced by the product. This scheme is encouraging people to reuse carrier bags which is recycling in its most basic form and the more recycling we can do the better our environment will be.

At LSPS, recycling is a major consideration of ours and we are committed to recycling every possible item in order to reduce the amount of waste being delivered to our landfill sites. For more information on our waste recycling and waste disposal services please click here or contact us on 0800 083 7807 to find out how we can help.

How 5 different scrap metals are re-used

Metal is a very important material that is used in a wide variety of products. In a previous article we discussed 3 crucial benefits to recycling metal and in this article we will highlight what products can be created using recycled metal.

1. Copper

Copper is the most commonly sold metal because of its value. The material is an excellent conductor of electricity and is frequently used to create electrical wire, circuits, switches and electromagnets. Additionally, it is commonly used in plumbing for pipes and can be found in refrigerators and cookware.

2. Aluminium

Aluminium is a widely used material because it is a strong, flexible and light-weight material and compared to other metals it has a low melting point meaning it is easier to recycle. Recycled aluminium is used in several different products such as vehicles, building materials, packaging and high voltage electrical lines.

3. Tin

Tin is another highly valued form of metal that has many uses. One of the most common products made from tin is cans. These are made from a tinplate, a steel sheet with a thin layer of tin applied. Other uses of tin can be found in the mechanics of vehicles, springs and flat panel display screens such as plasma TV’s.

4. Lead

Recycled batteries are one of the main sources of lead. Lead can be recycled from a battery and used in a new battery but it is also used in X-ray machines for radiation protection.

5. Zinc

Zinc is a material that we come into contact with regularly because our £1 and £2 coins are partly made out of zinc. To protect steel and iron from corrosion a zinc based coating is applied in a process called galvanisation. Zinc is also used as an anode material in batteries and by alloying zinc and copper you can make brass.

If you are interested in selling any of your scrap metal for recycling, LSPS is one of Leicestershire's largest independent ferrous and non-ferrous metal recyclers. For more information on our scrap metal recycling services please click here or contact us on 0800 083 7807 to find out how we can help.

3 crucial benefits to recycling metal

Presently, metal is one of the most widely used materials and the cost to our planet for mining these materials in their raw form is huge. Using recycled metal to produce new products not only reduces CO2 emissions, but also reduces the impact of mining on our natural environment and adds a significant boost to the UK’s economy.

1. Less greenhouse gas emissions

Simply put, it takes far less energy to melt and remanufacture scrap metal when compared to mining for raw materials. For example, aluminium can be melted at a relatively low temperature in order for it to be recycled. This process of recycling uses up to 95% less energy compared to extracting the raw material and the environmental benefits to recycling metal can be broken down even further. With steel production it is possible to reduce the amount of air pollution by 86%, water pollution can be up to 76% less and steel recycling process uses 40% less water.

2. It boosts the UK’s economy

In the UK, the metal manufacturing industry is one of the largest sectors and the UK is one of the largest exporters of scrap metal, with the export market continuing to grow. This means that scrap metal is rarely sent to landfill sites because recycled metal is a key component to the UK’s economy.

· Each year, approximately 2 billion aluminium and steel cans are recycled

· Roughly half of the UK’s recycled metal comes from end of life vehicles and the EU has set a target to recycle at least 85% of scrapped vehicles.

· Electrical waste is recycled as it uses a lot of non-ferrous metals

· The industry is also recycling materials from lead-acid vehicle and industrial batteries

3. A better natural environment

It goes without saying but the more the world recycles the less dependent we are on mining for raw materials. This results in reduced pollution, a better natural environment and less disruptions to our wildlife.

At LSPS one of our key aims is to reduce the amount of waste that ends up at landfill sites. We operate one of Leicestershire's largest independent ferrous and non-ferrous metal recyclers equipped with our own electronic 50 tonne weighbridge. For more information please click here or contact us on 0800 083 7807 to find out how we can help.

How to securely recycle electrical equipment

Most businesses are well aware of their data protection duties and the high risk of fraud that can loom over them. Because of this, businesses in the UK need to make sure that their electronic equipment, such as computers, are disposed of in a responsible way, in order to meet European Union Directives such as the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. This infographic details the risk and how to manage it.

Further information on our waste disposal services can be found on our website, or alternatively you can contact us on freephone 0800 083 7807 for more advice.

Aluminium foil recycling rate reaches 40% in the UK

When it comes to recycling in your home, most people are aware that they can recycle items like glass bottles, newspapers and aluminium tins. However, it can be easy to get confused about other less commonly used materials.

With the rise in popularity of ready meals, especially with many supermarkets and convenience stores stocking high-end ‘luxury’ ready meals, a need has arisen for materials that can be used to adequately contain them.

Aluminium foil trays are commonly used for this purpose and often house meat, poultry, fish and even pet foods. As well as being used at home, they are also increasingly being used in the catering and food service industries as they can easily be disposed of and are very hygienic. They are also favoured for use as disposable BBQ’s and take away restaurants.

Thanks to national campaigns, more and more consumers are beginning to understand that while aluminium foil may look metallic and possibly too dense to recycle, it is perfectly fine to be recycled.

The latest data shows that the recycling of aluminium foil trays has risen from 50% to 55% throughout Europe from 2010-2013 with 85% of aluminium foil recycled in Germany and 40% in the UK.

Here at LSPS recycling is a major consideration and one of our key aims is to reduce the amount of waste that ends up at landfill sites. We operate our own site waste transfer station with an extensive range of specialist, state of the art equipment. Please click here for further information: http://www.lspsskiphire.co.uk/waste-services-leicester.html or contact us on 0800 083 7807 to find out how we can help.

What happens to your recycled scrap metal?

One of the many strengths of metals such as steel, iron, aluminium, brass and copper is that they can be recycled many times to make new products. Reusing metal in this way not only reduces the amount of raw materials that need to be mined but it also decreases the amount of waste we produce. Recycled scrap metal can form many household products and the repurposed material is also widely used in the manufacturing industry.

In its purist form, scrap metal can be found in modern art sculptures or decorative metalwork which gives items a new lease of life once they are no longer usable. While this is not to everyone’s taste, recycled scrap metal can be found in furnishings, fixtures and lighting while metal roofing is commonly made from recycled metal.

Additionally, the packaging for canned food products is largely made of recycled materials and it is becoming more common for this kind of packaging to be made from 100% recycled metal. Furthermore, the production of recycled aluminium produces less greenhouse gases as well as being cheaper to manufacture when compared to the production of new aluminium. The process is so efficient that recycled metal food containers can be found again on our supermarket shelves within two months.

In the manufacturing industry, recycled scrap metal is widely used and can be found in new products such as home appliances, shipping containers, aeroplanes, cars and building materials.

If you have any scrap metal you wish to sell for recycling, please get in touch with LSPS who can collect your scrap metal from your premises and offer you a fair price. More information on waste disposal can be found on the LSPS website,  or alternatively you can call LSPS on our free phone number: 0800 083 7807.

Interesting Recycling Facts