What are the options for a Greener Kitchen?
Our integrated recycling bins will help you keep your kitchen floor free and help your family recycle as much as possible without it taking over. If you have a solid system in place to separate your kitchen waste you will increase the amount that’s recycled and reduce the effort required to do so!
We recommend the popular 4 compartments integrated system. It’s easy to separate the waste as it’s being discarded and the whole system is easy to empty and clean.
There is a wide range of services and facilities to recycle domestic waste. As well as reducing the volume of waste going to landfill sites, recycling and composting your domestic waste helps to minimise charges for waste collection.
Many of the items used in the home can be recycled. The benefits of recycling include a cleaner environment, the safe disposal of hazardous materials, greater awareness of excess packaging and a careful approach to the use and re-use of materials.
Many products carry international recycling symbols that help to identify how they can be re-used and/or disposed of safely.
Integrated Kitchen Bins
Why is recycling important?
The good news is that 98% of Irish people are switched on to how important recycling is – but there’s still work to be done. Even though most of us recycle, there are still issues around recycling contamination meaning that even those of us with the best intentions are actually putting the wrong thing in that green bin.
Key Facts
- Paper and cardboard products make up 23.7% of waste in the household bin and plastic 12%
- Manufacturing recycled paper instead of news paper from virgin wood plump uses 54% less energy and 58% less water.
- Paper products use up to 35% of the world’s annual commercial wood harvest. One piece of office paper can be recycled up to seven times.
- Plastic is made from crude oil – a valuable and limited non-renewable resource.
- Recycling plastic saves 2/3 of the energy required to produce plastic from raw materials.
Look at things this way – if recycled properly, plastic can be turned into amazing and useful stuff like raincoats, wellies, footballs, rugby balls, game consoles, plastic toys, smartphones – fleece clothing, garden furniture, sleeping bags and jacket insulation and carpets…. The list goes on.
What can go in the recycling bin?
- Paper
- Newspapers and magazines
- Junk mail and envelopes/paper
- Food boxes, milk cartons, egg boxes
- Aluminium, Aluminum drinks cans (like a Coke can etc)
- Steel
- Food and pet food tins/cans, Biscuit tins
- Plastic bottles (PET1) Mineral and water bottles, Mouthwash bottles, Salad dressing bottles, Plastic bottles (HDPE2)
- Milk and juice bottles,Cosmetic and shampoo bottles, Household cleaning bottles, Plastic bottles (PP)
- Yoghurt pots, Margarine tubs
- Any rigid food packaging (except black)
- Liquid soap containers
- Fruit containers
What is recycling contamination?
Contamination in your recycling bin can be as high as 36%.
According to stats from Repak.ie, just over a third of what we actually intend on being recycled actually makes the grade. But there are steps that you can take to ensure your recycling bin is in better nick and that more of your waste can be reused.
The most common types of contamination include:
dirty nappies, food waste, garden waste, electrical wires, batteries, materials with soiled oils, plastic bags, ashes, clothes, shoes, sheets, cushions, contaminated food containers, half-full bottles or cartons with liquid.
If you contaminate your recycling bin, you can ruin a load of quality material that can be recycled again and turned into something brand new.
So – how do I recycle better?
Ensure you rinse any food or liquid residues from containers
Make sure you know what can and can’t be recycled
Know your recycling day so you don’t become tempted to dump recyclable waste with other rubbish
Flatten and crush/open up boxes to make the best use of space
Do not put mixed recyclables into a box or bag and then into green bins (these need to be pulled out for mechanical separation)
Do not put food waste or other compostable materials (such as garden waste) in green or blue bins
No electrical items, clothes, old shoes, used batteries should be in the green bin
Recycle more items from the bathroom or other areas of the house and think about where else you could be recycling
