ZERO WASTE WEEK: HOW LONDONERS CAN RECYCLE “UNRECYCLABLE” ITEMS

London residents and the surrounding areas can celebrate Zero Waste Week by signing up to recycle “unrecyclable” items – including cheese packaging, cleaning product packaging, hair care empties and beauty products – whilst raising money for their chosen good cause in the process.

These everyday items have traditionally not been recycled by councils, usually because they are made up of a mix of materials that makes them more complex and costly to recycle. As a result they are often destined for landfill, incineration or the natural environment.

The recycling programmes are run by TerraCycle and are free to sign up to. By signing up, residents can either collect and send in their waste to be recycled, or they can set up a public drop-off location and become recycling champions for their communities.
In London the household waste recycling rate is lagging behind the national average, with just 33% of household waste being recycled. By signing up to one or more of the following free recycling programmes – among others which can be found on TerraCycle’s website – everyone can play their part in combatting the waste crisis:

The Cheese Packaging Free Recycling Programme

The Kinder Free Recycling Programme

The Ueshima Coffee Company Free Recycling Programme

The Hair Care Packaging Free Recycling Programme

The RB® Hygiene Home Free Recycling Programme

The Personal Care and Beauty Free Recycling Programme

Once signed up to a programme, a free shipping label is sent which can be attached to a box containing the items. Once full this is sent free of charge to TerraCycle to be recycled.

For each item sent in to be recycled, points are awarded which are redeemable as monetary donations to the recyclers’ chosen good cause. To date people across the UK have diverted more than 200 million items from landfill, raising more than £2m for schools, charities, community causes and non-profits.

Rachelle Strauss, founder of Zero Waste Week said “It’s clear that the Great British Public has a growing concern about the effects of waste on finances, health and the environment. So I’m delighted that TerraCycle is helping London residents recycle more during Zero Waste Week and beyond.

“It’s vital that businesses, governments and citizens come together in a bid to call time on the current crisis. Campaigns like Zero Waste Week and TerraCycle’s Recycling Programmes help people take those all-important steps towards a more sustainable future.”

For more information visit: www.terracycle.co.uk, and to find out more about Zero Waste Week visit: https://www.zerowasteweek.co.uk/