Flintshire council’s new campaign aims to help Wales become number one in world for recycling

Flintshire County Council is introducing a new campaign in order to help Wales become number one in the world for recycling.

The ‘Be Mighty. Recycle.’ campaign, funded by Welsh Government, is designed by Wales Recycles to tackle climate change by calling on residents to keep up their efforts this Spring.

They say Wales is third best in the world for recycling, with 92 per cent of people now regularly recycling, but half are not recycling everything they can.

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Countryside, Councillor Carolyn Thomas, said: “We’re getting behind Wales Recycles’ Mighty Mission to become number one in the world for recycling.

“We can all play a part by recycling everything we possibly can at home – whether that’s food waste such as eggshells, fruit and vegetable peelings and teabags from the kitchen, or recycling empty shampoo and shower gel bottles from the bathroom.

“We’ve shown we have what it takes with Wales having its best year ever for recycling, so let’s continue our mighty effort to lead Wales to number one in the world!”

There are a total of five tips Wales Recycles recommends people do at home this Spring.

They are:

1. Go green with a spring clean 

“Empty cleaning product bottles can be recycled – from plastic bleach bottles to trigger sprays and furniture polish aerosols. Make sure they’re empty and put them into your recycling instead of throwing them away.

“Recycling just one cleaning spray bottle saves enough energy to charge six tablets.”

2. Clear out the clutter 

“Spring is traditionally a time to have a sort-out at home. Instead of throwing items away, check Wales Recycles’ Recycling Locator for more information on where to recycle items such as batteries, clothing and small electrical items.”

3. Turn food waste into power

“If you’re cooking, put all inedible food waste such as vegetable peelings and stalks into your food waste caddy, along with eggshells and any bones leftover from meat or fish.

“Teabags, coffee grounds and fruit peelings can also be recycled. When food is recycled it is turned into renewable energy.

“One recycled banana peel can produce enough energy to charge two smartphones.”

4. Boss the bathroom bottles 

“Most household plastic items can be recycled including bathroom toiletries such as plastic shampoo, conditioner, hand soap and shower gel bottles. When they’re finished, give them a rinse and put them in your recycling container.

“It takes 75 per cent less energy to make a plastic bottle from recycled plastic compared with using ‘raw’ materials, so protect the planet from your bathroom by recycling. “

5. Ace the aerosols

“Empty deodorant, dry shampoo and air freshener aerosols can all be recycled. Metal is infinite meaning it can be recycled again and again without losing any of its quality.

“Join the 73 per cent of people in Wales who already recycle their empty aerosol cans.”

Find out more at: bemightyrecycle.org.uk and flintshire.gov.uk.