WRAP says Recycling is Always Better
A new study regarding the benefits of recycling on the environment only reaffirms that it is the best option for most materials thrown away in the UK. The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the government’s waste and packaging agency, conducted the research.
During the study, WRAP analyzed 200 previous reports that covered 7 different material classes, which included: biopolymers, paper and cardboard, plastics, food, textiles, garden cuttings, and wood. They surveyed the evidence on 7 disposal methods including: incineration, composting, recycling, and landfill measured in terms of water use, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and other resource use.
In the report, the agency addresses continuous claims that home owners are only wasting their time recycling. They actually call for better recycling facilities, as well as more incineration of waste, which is a controversial option that many environmental groups are opposed to. The report from WRAP also addresses the impression that biopolymers, such as cellulose, starch, proteins and peptides, should be composted. They suggest that these should be recycled instead, as this would be a better environmental option.
Environmental policy manager Keith James said that recycling is the clear winner in more than 4 out of 5 cases. However, there are different messages for all the different materials analyzed, he continued. He explained that biopolymers, plastics and wood are better off being recycled, while textiles should be reused and anaerobic digestion is best for food and garden waste. He added that how paper or cardboard is disposed of depends on the quality, with recycling being the better option for high quality and incineration being better for lower quality.
Recycle your old stuff!
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