Why recycle Plastic bottles?
Plastic production requires significant quantities of natural resources, primarily fossil fuels, and it is estimated that 4% of the world’s annual oil production is used for plastic production. However, in the UK we throw away around 455,000 tonnes of plastic bottles every year, that’s equivalent to around 9.1 billion bottles. Most plastics are non-degradable, which means they could take hundreds, or even thousands, of years to break down when they are landfilled. With space in landfill running out, and the cost of sending waste to landfill increasing, it makes both environmental and economical sense to recycle all of your plastic bottles. Plastic waste facts • Residents in Teignbridge recycle nearly 400 tonnes of plastic bottles every year, that’s approximately 8 million bottles. It takes just 25 two-litre plastic bottles to make a recycled fleece jacket. Recycling just one plastic bottle saves enough energy to power a 60W light bulb for six hours. • We produce and use 20 times more p
Plastic bottles are unavoidable and unfortunately, trashcans are still the most convenient way to dispose of them. But our garbage is piling up. The EPA reports that since 1960, American trash production has almost tripled. With some effort, it is possible to create greener habits and become part of the solution to our waste buildup. Recycling plastic bottles is a wonderful place to start and there are some surprising reasons to make it a priority.
