Scary Waste Facts for Halloween
Ghosts and ghouls might give you the shivers but for us, there’s something a lot scarier. We’re talking about product and packaging waste facts. Unfortunately, this isn’t a figment of our imagination. There are shocking stats and evidence that highlight the scope of the problem. However, some groups and organisations are battling to turn things around.
Plastic Packaging Waste Facts
Fact: 1.7 billion items of plastic packaging are binned by UK households every week.
The Big Plastic Count is an annual event, which encourages tens of thousands of people to monitor and record the plastic waste they discard over a week. In 2024, one in every 300 households in the UK took part. This provides valuable insight into the scale of the problem. It also identifies that 83% of plastic waste is from food and drink products.
Fact: Only 17% of the plastic we put in our recycling bins is recycled in the UK.
The UK has limited resources which are insufficient to manage the volume of plastic waste that is generated. So, even when we think we are playing our part by using the recycling bin, it doesn’t mean that is the outcome. Currently, 58% is incinerated, which releases CO2 into the atmosphere. A further 11% heads to landfill and the remaining 14% is exported for other countries to process.
Source: https://thebigplasticcount.com/results
Paper & Cardboard Waste Facts
Sustainable paper and cardboard packaging has one of the highest recycling rates at 82%. However, this could be higher and there are some simple changes we can all make to help.
Fact: 7 million paper coffee cups are disposed of in the UK every day.
Grabbing a coffee is part of the morning routine for many of us. Unfortunately, the single-use cups that you drink from are lined with a moisture-resistant coating. This means they can’t be recycled with other paper-based products. Only when cups and lids are collected separately, and not contaminated with other waste, can they be recycled
Fact: Only 1% of disposable coffee cups are recycled in the UK.
By switching to a refillable hot drinks bottle or mug, we can all play a part in reducing this waste.
Source: https://nationwidewasteservices.co.uk/the-environmental-impact-of-disposable-coffee-cups-in-the-uk/
Another change we can make is our choice of wrapping paper. We recommend opting for non-shiny, glitter-free papers that feature the FSC® tick tree logo and a recycling symbol.
Textiles Waste Facts
Fact: 336,000 tonnes of textile waste, predominantly clothing, is sent to UK landfill or incineration every year and the fashion industry accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse emissions.
The desire for low-cost fashion and a regularly updated wardrobe fuels an excessive production of clothing. Much of it is discarded without ever being worn. If we change to buying fewer, higher-quality items or purchasing pre-loved clothing, it would help reduce this waste.
Textile 2030 is a voluntary initiative set up by WRAP. Members receive support to transition to circular and sustainable practices to lower waste. In addition, M&S and other clothing providers have introduced repair services for customers.
Other great initiatives include Ocean Sole, an organisation that collects discarded flip-flops from beaches and transforms them into sculptures.
Source: https://www.wrap.ngo/what-we-do/transform-textiles
Litterbugs & Litter Pickers
When waste is disposed of in the right bin, there is a chance that it will be recycled. However, too many people still think it is acceptable to drop litter. Our roadsides, streets, parks and beaches are seen as dumping grounds by some.
Fact: 16% of the UK population have taken part in a litter-picking event in the last 6 months. None of them return without any rubbish in their bag.
Fortunately, teams of volunteers head out on regular litter-picking sessions. From beach cleans and post-festival clear-ups to collections in towns and cities. In our town, the Aylesbury Wombles head out every Saturday and Sunday morning to tidy an area. During the first half of this year, they filled 442 bags of rubbish. In addition, since September 2020, they have collected and recycled 5,387 aluminium cans.
They recently collected a crisp packet with a Best Before date of June 1992. However, other examples of non-biodegradable waste collected in the UK go back further. One example is a plastic Doby washing up liquid bottle found on a Swanage beach clean that was over 65 years old. It shows that our waste will be around for longer than we will.
Will you get involved in a local litter pick?
Make Sustainable Choices to Escape the Nightmare!
To escape this nightmare, we all need to make sustainable choices. Use refillable bags, cups and containers, opt for plastic-free packaging, buy preloved and use the right recycling bin.
If your business is looking for a sustainable supplier of plastic-free, cardboard packaging, get in touch: 01296 436888 or enquiries@abcbox.co.uk
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