Will you be a wishcycler this Christmas?
The festive season is the peak season for waste and recycling. While we all try to contend with the mountains of leftover cardboard, bottles, paper and plastic (along with the food that needs cooking, the presents waiting to be unwrapped and a jolly whirlwind of visitors coming and going) our diligence in sorting waste for recycling can often be compromised. The phenomenon of householders ‘bunging things in the recycling and hoping for the best’ has become so common it’s been coined “Wishcycling”.
The Problem with Wishcycling
Wishcycling can cause big issues. Non-recyclable items often contaminate entire batches, sending them to landfill and undoing recycling efforts. They can also damage recycling machinery, leading to costly delays. And perhaps worse still, wishcycling perpetuates the myth that everything is recyclable, making it harder to advocate for better recycling systems in the future.
A recent study showed how widespread wishcycling is in the UK, and the extra waste that the festive season brings means even more opportunities for mixups.
Handy Tips to Recycle Right This Festive Season
Avoid wishcycling and make a real impact with these simple steps:
- Preparation is Key: We know we’re facing a tsunami of packaging in the next week, so do what you can to get set up now, making sorting it all out properly as easy as possible. And make sure your kids are involved too, so they know the drill.
- Check Before You Chuck: Recycling rules differ across the UK. If you’re travelling over Christmas, check local recycling guidelines to ensure proper disposal.
- Look for the Label: Most products now have recycling symbols or instructions. Unsure what a symbol means? There’s a handy guide here
- Sort, Wash, and Squash: This will save space, reduce the carbon footprint in transit and increase the opportunities for secondary use.
- Skip the Sparkle: Avoid recycling glittery wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons – they aren’t recyclable (even better, wrap your gifts up with plain paper instead)
- Secure the Load: If you’re leaving lots of recycling at the curbside, make sure it’s not at risk of being blown away, creating litter and wasting all that time you spent getting it sorted!
Our Festive Wishes
By being mindful and avoiding wishcycling, we can all help create a cleaner, more sustainable holiday season. Together, let’s make waste management as effective as possible by recycling right this Christmas!
Get in touch today to discuss how Endurance can support your recycling ambitions.
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