- The volume of waste produced in the UK in one hour would fill the Albert Hall.
- In one year there would be enough waste to fill dustbins stretching from the Earth to the Moon.
- Every year 13 billion steel cans (food tins, drinks cans) are produced. About a quarter of the steel used has been recycled.
- All the aluminium cans sold in the UK would fill 12 million dustbins each year.
- Recycling aluminium can save up to 95% of the energy needed to make it from raw materials.
- Over 60% of the total plastic waste in Western Europe is packaging, which is typically disposed of within one year of sale.
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- Reclaimed waste paper represents around 63% of the fibre used to produce paper and board in the UK.
- There are 22,000 bottle bank sites in the UK.
- About 9% of the contents of the average household dustbin is glass, yet glass accounts for 70% by weight of the packaging recyclced from the total household waste stream.
- Compared to 50 years ago:
- Food cans are 50% lighter
- Yoghurt pots are 60% lighter
- Glass milk bottles are 50% lighter
- Plastic carrier bags are 50% lighter
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