Here at Nu Group, we have been leading the way in the recycling industry, enforcing stricter measurements on all our jobs to make sure that the correct materials are going where they need to go.
When it comes to recycling, there are many different types of materials that can be recycled and many more that cannot. This blog is designed to inform you clearly about what can and cannot be recycled.
THE DOS AND DON’TS OF RECYCLING
We want to make sure your business understands how to build your recycling initiatives around the current guidelines and best practices, so we created this list of all the dos and don’ts you need to know. Learn which common mistakes to avoid, which materials are recyclable or not, and discover best practices for receiving the highest recycling rates:
DO CHECK FOR LOCAL REQUIREMENTS
Recycling plants can be set up to handle different items, so always check with your local recycling provider to see which materials they accept. Recycling plastics can get especially tricky because of the different types of plastic. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions!
DO SEPARATE YOUR MATERIALS BY STREAM
Sort your recyclable materials by the following streams: cardboard, commingled (glass, aluminum, plastic), mixed paper and compost. By separating your materials into specific bins before collection, your items stay clean all the way to the recycling facility, making it easier and more efficient for materials to be processed. This collection method leads to higher recycling rates and significant cost-savings. While tossing all of your recyclables in the same bin is the easier option, clean-stream retains the value of your materials and significantly increases your recycling rate.
DO EMPTY ALL FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONTAINERS COMPLETELY BEFORE RECYCLING
Plastic, metal and glass materials must be emptied and rinsed clean before recycling. Do not recycle materials with food or drink contamination because they will contaminate the whole load and the materials will end up in landfill.
DO BREAK DOWN ALL CARDBOARD BOXES
It’s best practice to break your cardboard down to optimize the space in your container(s) and reduce the amount of pickups your business requires.
DO RECYCLE PLASTICS
It is important to understand that a plastic resin code on a product does not guarantee the product is recyclable in your area. Currently, only PETE and HDPE are widely recycled under curbside recycling programs. PETE is the most commonly used plastic, and can be found in soda and water bottles, beer bottles, salad dressing bottles, peanut butter containers and many other clear bottles. HDPE can be found in house-hold products like milk jugs, cleaning containers, shampoo and detergent bottles. Always be sure to rinse and recycle these plastics!
DO NOT RECYCLE PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS WITH OTHER RECYCLABLES
Thin plastics like grocery bags tend to clog up recycling equipment at processing facilities. They require special recycling capabilities that many recycling facilities are not set up for. Most grocery or retail stores will collect and properly recycle your plastic bags for you. Also, reusable bags are a great alternative to plastic grocery bags.
DO NOT RECYCLE GREASY PIZZA BOXES
People have debated whether or not pizza boxes are recyclable for a long time. Cardboard and paper with grease, oil or wet surfaces cannot be recycled because the oils cannot be separated from the fibres. Never recycle fibrous materials that have been contaminated.
DO NOT RECYCLE YARD WASTE OR ORGANICS
Yard waste or organics will contaminate your valuable recyclables. However, composting is a great recovery method for your business’ leftover organic materials.
DO NOT RECYCLE THESE PLASTICS
PVC, LDPE, PP, and PS plastics are typically not collected curbside because these plastic materials get stuck in the sorting equipment in recycling facilities. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), commonly referred to as Vinyl can be found in food wrap, window cleaning bottles, piping, medical equipment, plastic gloves, siding and food packaging. LDPE (Low-density Polyethylene) is found in shopping bags, carpet, squeezable bottles, furniture, clothing and frozen food packaging. More durable items like furniture, luggage and toys are made from PP (Polypropylene). And PS (Polystyrene) can be found in egg cartons, Styrofoam, disposable cups and dinnerware. PS is commonly disposed of after one use and does not decompose. Check with your service provider to determine if any of these plastics are accepted in your recovery program. If not, reduce your use of these plastics.
Using these guidelines can make recycling much easier for everyone, and we feel that if everyone takes part in these first steps of improvement then we can start to help the planet in more ways than one!
By ensuring that your office or home is recycling more, we can work together to improve the figure of 67.2% that was recycled in 2020.
Nu Group Services offers a wide range of recycling services such as dry mixed recycling, glass waste, wooden pallets, food waste and other residual waste.
When Nu Group are hired for a major event or festival, we appoint an environmental champion which are then hence forth responsible for carrying out regular visits to the sites and creating an audit of the operation, specifically reporting on the environmental processes. Alongside being the expert contact point for the client who can offer further advice on problems and issues relating to cleaning and waste management and can contribute to on-site problem solving.
Nu Group have worked on many events over the years, helping to manage all types of recycling and waste needs. We have worked on many events including:
o Winter Wonderland for 6 consecutive years
o Hampton Court Palace
o The Saatchi Gallery
o Tobacco Dock
o Friends Fest
o Glamour Beauty Festival
o NFL Games – Wembley and Tottenham
o Brighton Marathon
We value and care about our clients and promise to dispose of their waste and recycling in the correct ways. We have created a set of principles that we always adhere to follow –
o Continued Diversion from Landfill
o Commitment to Increasing Recycling
o Ensuring Value for Money
o Delivering Efficient Management
o Assisting to Reduced Administration Cost
o Compliant Total Waste Solution