Do you recycle all you can?

Plastics - We produce and use 20 times more plastic today than we did 50 years ago!

Despite Lancashire having one of the best Recycling rates currently a large quantity of our plastics still go in the waste bin, because we are unsure which can be recycled.

Here is a quick guide. On nearly all pieces of plastic is a recycling symbol, and this indicates what type of plastic it is and its recyclable quality. We in Lancashire can recycle all plastic marked 1, 2 and 3 as below:

PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) eg. fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal trays.

HDPE (High-density polyethylene) eg. bottles for milk and washing-up liquids.

PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) eg. Food trays, cling film, bottles for squash, mineral water and shampoo.

We can't however recycle cartons marked with 4, 5, 6 or 7.

More information, on household products which can be recycled, and plastics systmes, is available from Recycle More

Freecycle groups match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them. Freecycle's goal is to keep usable items out of landfills. Visit www.freecycle.org.uk and go to the Chorley group.

Click Here for a direct link - to help you get started.

Real Nappy Campaign

Consider using re-usable nappies for your baby - money off vouchers are available from Lancashire County Council, subject to availability. Visit Lancashire Waste or call 0845 0500957 for details.

Junk Mail

Stop unwanted junk mail being delivered by registering with the Mailing Preference Service to have your name and address removed from mailing lists:
www.mpsonline.org.uk, or write to The Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London, W1E 7EZ or call 0845 7034599 or use this link to get to the MPS site

Some other great tips

• Buy produces that don't have excessive packaging
• Don't buy what you don't need
• Put all your kitchen scraps in your home composting bin (Lancashire County Council can help get you a composting bin - Link here for more composting information)
• Use reusable nappies (see above)
• Take your unwanted items to charity shops - or use Freecycle
• Re-use your carrier bags
• Use available schemes to return your electronic and electrical items
• Use Chorley's kerb side collection schemes to minimise the residual waste you throw away