Recycling technologies have come a long way since the early days of recycling. In fact, it is now possible to recycle so many things that filling your bins with household waste and sending it off for rubbish collection is unnecessary! In the UK and Scotland, we are doing a good job of recycling, for the most part. According to recent research, 88% of UK households regularly recycle with only 3% saying they do not recycle at all. So, what is being recycled? Just about everything, but some people are still confused about which materials make the list. Here, looking at information from around the globe, we offer a list of the top 10 recyclable materials.

1. It is probably no surprise to you that paper tops the list. This is a fairly broad category, encompassing office paper, newspaper, and even mixed paper. Paper towels and napkins are two exceptions to the rule when it comes to recycling, because they are generally too contaminated by food, oils, dirt, and residue to be recycled. Otherwise, paper is one of the most recyclable materials on earth, and once post-consumer paper has been reduced to cellulose fibres, it can be reused an average of five to seven times. Even mixed paper, like coloured, shiny, or treated paper, is recyclable.
2. Cardboard, too, is a top 10 recyclable material. Cardboard can be recycled repeatedly, but because it is made of wood fibres that get shorter with each recycling process, recycled cardboard is often re-recycled into thinner materials like paper towels and cereal boxes. Corrugated cardboard, known in the industry as OCC (old corrugated cardboard), is the type of cardboard with an inner and outer layer with a sandwiched layer of cardboard medium to make it strong. Thinner cardboard is called paperboard, and that is what is used to make cereal boxes, shoe boxes, and milk cartons. Together, these materials have a 67.5 percent recycle rate and can be recycled up to seven times before the materials become unsuitable for further use. One tonne of recycled cardboard saves nine cubic yards of landfill space, and creating a tonne of new cardboard from old cardboard prevents the loss of three tonnes of trees that would be used in the production of virgin cardboard. Additionally, producing recycled cardboard uses far less water than manufacturing new cardboard.
3. Glass is amazingly recyclable. Glass is 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without losing quality or purity. Recycling glass saves landfill space and is 33 percent more energy efficient than creating new glass. It is a quick process, with glass items going from the recycling bin to store shelves in just 30 days.
4. Plastic falls into different categories, and not all types of plastic can be recycled. That is why it is so important for plastic to be properly sorted; different types of plastic cannot be mixed when recycled into new products. If all plastic were recycled, it would not only free up landfill space but would also save 30 to 150 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, which equates to closing up to 40 coal-fired power plants across the world. We are not there yet, as the UK only recycles about 45 percent of plastic, but we are getting better. For instance, we recycle nearly 400,000 tonnes of plastic bottles each year, up from 13,000 in 2000.
5. Steel is the most recycled material in the world, by weight. It is another material that can be continually recycled, and it is easy to melt and recast without losing any strength, durability, or quality. Making steel from scrap metal uses 75 percent less energy than making virgin steel, and steel products can remain in use for decades. The by-products of steel making are recycled at a rate of 90 percent, and about 88 percent of all used steel is recycled. It has a near endless variety of uses, and about two of every three new steel-containing products are made with recycled steel.
6. Aluminium is second only to steel in recycling percentages. It has a 67 percent recycling rate, and using recycled aluminium saves 95 percent of the energy and resources required to make virgin aluminium. Like steel and glass, aluminium can be used infinitely to create new products, and while it can be used to make all sorts of different products, aluminium cans typically turn into new aluminium cans.
7. Concrete is not often considered when people are discussing recyclable materials. However, it may be the easiest material to recycle. Made of a simple mix, concrete can be recycled and reused repeatedly as new concrete. It is often used for road base construction but can also be used for things like soil stabilization and landscaping materials. It is certainly worth recycling, as recycled concrete can have a lifespan in the hundreds of years.
8. Hemp is easy to recycle and reuse. With the worldwide hemp industry booming, and industrial hemp production legal throughout most of the world, raw materials from bio-hemp waste is being used for many different things typically made of plastic. Because hemp fibres are some of the strongest in the world, they can easily be reused and recycled. In fact, hemp paper can be recycled as many as eight times.
9. Motor oil is not typically thought of as recyclable. With a recycling rate of 60%, used oil can be turned into lubricants, processed into fuel oils, and used in other refining and petrochemical industries, and just one gallon of recycled oil can make 2.5 quarts of new oil. To make that amount of oil from crude would require 42 gallons.
10. Batteries may not cross your mind when you are thinking about recyclable materials. However, batteries are recyclable and should be kept out of rubbish bins to prevent fires. According to industry statistics, 99% of all lead acid batteries are recycled! What can be done with batteries when they are properly recycled? A surprising amount of good, because batteries contain valuable materials like nickel, zinc, cadmium, and lithium, all valuable raw materials.

How are recycled materials used?

When you recycle paper, it is turned into new paper, but also a wealth of other items. Egg cartons, building insulation, berry boxes, cat litter, sheetrock, countertops, toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, and paper plates are just a few examples of products made from recycled paper. Cardboard becomes new cardboard, but is also made into paperboard and paper bags, as well as cardboard medium, that squiggly filling you see in thick cardboard pieces. Recycled plastic is made into a broad range of items, depending on the type of plastic. Some is turned into carpet, backpacks, polar fleece, and insulation for sleeping bags and ski jackets, while other plastics are used to make plastic milk, juice, and detergent bottles, plastic lumber for decking and docks, and play sets, buckets, containers, stadium seats, and much more. Glass is a wonderful material to recycle, because it can be reused over and over to make new glass products, and recycled metal can be found in new cans, bike parts, car parts, appliances, and even construction materials like steel beams and rebar.

Why is recycling such a big deal?

Simply put, recycling prevents reusable materials from ending up in landfills, which saves space and reduces methane emissions. Then, because recyclable materials are converted into new products, we are able to consume fewer natural resources, and that leads to the conservation of raw materials and the protection of natural habitats. Further, when we are not using natural resources to produce goods and materials, we save energy and protect the environment from air and water pollution. Recycling also cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions, and that is an important part of fighting climate change. Currently, recycling in the UK saves an estimated 18 million tonnes of CO₂ each year. That means that simply by recycling, we are reducing as much CO₂ as if we had taken five million cars off the roadways.

When you work with WRC Skip Hire, we take the responsibility of recycling off of your plate and handle it with ease. Since 2017, WRC Skip Hire has been providing hassle-free waste management services, offering a wide selection of skips for both home projects and building sites. Our fully insured and licensed skip hire is available to clients throughout Scotland, and we work hard to understand our clients demands so that we can meet their needs while providing a complete waste management solution in full compliance with Zero Waste Scotland regulations. We are leaders in the recycling and waste sector, and we’re committed to remaining current with the latest solutions in technology, keeping up with the ongoing modifications and development of recycling and waste legislation. Additionally, as a local, family owned business, we are dedicated to providing unmatched service delivery, going above and beyond for our customers to ensure their needs are met. For more information or to make an enquiry, call 0141 812 1587 or contact us through our website.