When people think of recycling they usually picture the traditional things like paper, plastic, and aluminum.  However, two of the biggest contributors to landfills around the United Kingdom are food waste as well as waste created by clothing.  People don't realize that food breaks down in landfills and creates harmful methane gas that is far worse for the environment than carbon.  In addition, clothing that is not reused or recycled takes up valuable space in landfills when it could be used in the creation of many new products.  Clothing company Timberland is trying to do just that with a new ... Full Story

The United Kingdom has come under fire over recent weeks for its failure to be on pace for many of the recycling and waste management goals outlined by the European Union.  The EU laid out specific guidelines for each of its member nations to reduce the size of its landfills over five, ten, and twenty year increments.  Industry insiders say that without some serious changes the United Kingdom will fail to reach man of these goals.  Currently more than half of all rubbish created in the United Kingdom ends up finding its way into landfills, including over five million used ... Full Story

A website that was launched to help people recycle their unwanted items as opposed to throwing them away has marked three years of success in Redditch. Redditchfreecycle.org.uk is one of the most active online sites providing a means for residents of the West Midlands to keep thousands of items out of landfill each week. The site set up is straightforward in that it matches those with unwanted items with those who have a use for them. Co-founder of the Redditch group, Andy Griffin, noted: “Three years ago, we never dreamed that Redditch Freecycle could ever be as successful as it is today. We ... Full Story

Everyone is saying that "green is the new black". What they mean is that it pays to purchase gently worn or recycled items from charity shops. In fact, it's the latest trend among many people, old and young, throughout the UK. On top of being trendy, consumers can also beat the credit crunch that may prevent them from buying new. A recent study has shown that charity shop profits hit a very high mark last year as consumers hunted through second hand shops for bargains. Shops benefiting charities seem to be collecting the most, with more than £500 million. The Salvation ... Full Story

While much focus has been put on household recycling in the UK, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has stated that the government should spend more time encouraging businesses to recycle and reduce waste. Recently, an attempt has been made to reduce household waste by banning black bags and weighing dustbins. The Lords say that the scheme should be discontinued and in its place should be a VAT scheme designed to encourage businesses to reduce and recycle waste. The Lords have also said that the UK's "throwaway society" should also be addressed. While much of the recent legislation has focussed ... Full Story

Brita is well known for its water filtration systems and its work toward promoting eco-friendly solutions to bottled water. The latest project by Brita involves teaming up with designer Orla Kiely to create the world's first reusable water bottle, aptly named the "Wottle". The new designer Wottle has been called the "all-year-round must have accessory" for water drinkers who are conscious of the waste created by traditional water bottles. The Wottle holds 500ml of liquid and according to Brita, features "Orla Kiely's signature Stem design, a rubber finger grip that can be adapted for portability and is designed to carry about ... Full Story

Remanufacturers do serve a valuable purpose in the world of recycling and environment, yet it doesn't seem that they always get the respect they deserve. Remanufacturing is a simple process to understand. A worker replaces the worn out of broken part of an item and makes sure it's ready to be used once again. It's an important part of the "reduce - reuse - recycle" campaign so prevalent in the world today. In addition to conserving valuable resources and diverting waste from landfills, it's simply an economically sound process since it's much cheaper to repair than build from scratch. Think of ... Full Story

A report from The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee states that the majority of pressure to recycle waste has been placed on householders, who are responsible for only 9 percent of the UK's total waste problem. The Committee has suggested initiating a variable VAT rate to reduce the consumption of raw materials. Environment minister Joan Ruddock stated that the government already uses measures designed to encourage businesses to cut waste being sent to landfill. Among those measures is the Landfill Tax Escalator - a programme in which the tax on landfills will increase by £8 per tonne each year ... Full Story

George the recycled robot has become quite famous throughout Canada and, along with his little dog, promotes recycling to all people near and far. George stands over seven feet tall and is often seen holding a sign that reads "Dot com". George was born to South Surrey resident Gerry Vliek, a former worker in the pulp and paper industry. After Gerry and his wife, Lainie, retired, he began to see a vast amount of paper fibre and other materials being thrown out and knew that something had to be done. "Recycling was not invented yet," Gerry said, with a chuckle. Gerry jumped into ... Full Story

Allen & York (A&Y) recruitment specialists working for the UK based Natural and Built Environment sectors have announced adjustments to their existing waste policy to promote sustainability. The company has recognised the importance of going green at their Dorset offices. Envirowise, a government sponsored initiative designed to provide practical environmental advice for businesses, was consulted for its guidance in identifying and improving the company's environmental profile. Among the changes in policy at A&Y is the implementation of a "wormery", designed to significantly reduce composted waste by up to 50%. In addition, A&Y has produced a "Green Office Guide" designed to ... Full Story

Mobile phone companies are trying hard to spread the word about recycling programmes. Virgin Mobile recently found a way to reach the masses through a concert. The Virgin Mobile Festival's theme for 2008 was Environmentalism, a topic near and dear to the recycler's heart. The event was held earlier this month at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Throughout the festival grounds recycling, compost and garbage bins were readily available to promote the cause. Signs around the stage reported the vast number of tonnes of garbage were recycled from the 2007 show, thereby diverting unnecessary waste from going to landfill. ... Full Story

Did you know that you can get money for your old mobile phone? You can. There are many companies out there willing to pay for old handsets, either to sell or donate to developing countries or to recycle for components and valuable materials. Millions of phones are binned every year in the UK, many of which would not see a landfill if the owners knew that they were throwing away money. Mobile phone recycling company Community Fonebak, recently stated that mobile phones tend to be replaced every 18 months or so, although manufacturers claim the units can function for up to a ... Full Story