Zero Waste Challenge
About 2/3 of household waste is currently sent to landfill
About a quarter of household waste is packaging material
60% of your bin's contents is recyclable
Around 1.79 million tonnes of municipal waste was collected by local authorities in Wales during 2007/08. 31.8% is recycled or composted. Less than 1% is used to recover heat and power. Over 64% is still landfilled - it is buried in the ground. Whilst Cerdigion County Council is the TOP county in Wales for recycling, every household in Ceredigion still produces around 1 tonne of waste per year.
Last year in Ceredigion, we saved around 60,000 trees by recycling paper and card. Recycling not only prevents waste going to landfill, saves resources and energy but makes economic sense too, not only for manufacturers but for all of us. The cost of disposal to landfill is rising, and it is in the interest of the County Council and Council Tax payers to reduce this method of waste disposal. In addition, Landfill Gas is one of the largest sources of methane emissions to the atmosphere. If methane is released into the atmosphere it is a potent greenhouse gas. In fact, its global-warming potential is 21 times greater than that of carbon dioxide, so anything we can do to reduce the amount of organic material going to landfill is important. For example, for every one tonne of paper recycled, we save 17 trees and 2.3 m3 of landfill space.
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Join the 'Zero Waste Challenge'
The zero waste challenge will run for a week in 2009. During this week we will be challenging ourselves not to throw anything away. Join in and be part of the zero waste challenge to see how little you can send to landfill in the week.
Zero waste is more than just recycling. By trying to only use things that can be reused, recycled or composted, as well as really thinking about what we buy, eat and drink for a week, it is possible to reduce the amount of rubbish that we produce.
There are many ways you can put out less rubbish for collection. There are loads of ideas about how to reduce food waste and reduce, reuse and recycle more. You can also find out about the benefits of using real nappies and composting.
If you don't manage to achieve zero waste you’ll still find that you will reduce the amount you throw away, which is good for the environment.
We need your help to plan and organise awareness raising events and activities over the coming months leading up to the Zero Waste Week. Contact Linda Winn on 01570 471717 or email linda.winn@hotmail.co.uk to be invited to the next meeting.
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