Batteries (automotive)
These types of battery contain a mixture of chemicals and heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium that can cause pollution and damage health. However, 144,000 tonnes (90per cent) of the 10 million lead/acid batteries sold in the UK each year are recycled economically.
Cars/vehicles:
About two million cars and vans are scrapped each year in the UK. This figure, which does not include heavy goods vehicles and buses, results in two million tonnes of scrap metal being recovered, representing 75per cent of the overall material processed by the vehicle dismantling industry. The European Union End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive (2000/53/EC came into force on October 21 2000 and was transposed in the UK as The ELV (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005.
Chemicals
The chemicals industry is a large manufacturing exporter accounting for two per cent of GDP. A sustainable approach is therefore vital to its future. Comprehensive help and advice is available on sectors such as water use, effluent waste, environmental management, hazardous waste and regulation. Advice on chemical waste treatment options is also available from a number of companies listed in Yellow Pages and Hull Colour Pages.
www.envirowise.gov.uk/chemicals
Construction/demolition
In 2005, an estimated 90 million tonnes of waste arose from construction and demolition in the UK. Approximately 15 million tonnes of this was used on-site, 46 million tonnes was recycled and the remainder was used for landfill engineering and deposited in quarries and as landfill. However, more could be better used if separated at source. Waste materials that have been recovered from construction sites include slate cladding, cast iron rainwater goods, roofing timbers (for reuse in furniture manufacture), masonry and mortar.
www.envirowise.gov.uk/skip
Drums/containers
Refillable containers are often a better option for liquid products to help reduce the number of disposable drums and containers. Metal drums that have contained potentially hazardous or toxic residues have little scrap value and so demand care in their disposal. Where possible, reuse will divert containers away from waste streams, but where this is not appropriate, contractors will take drums for recycling.
Electronic waste
Approximately six million obsolete pieces of electronic equipment are discarded in the UK annually. With the recent introduction of legislation in this field, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), increasing numbers of new businesses are now starting to recover the high value contained in this waste stream. Items such as computers, printers, photocopiers and fax machines containing printed circuit boards have valuable metals such as copper, gold and platinum within their components. For more information on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business
Fluorescent tubes
New rules now mean the 80 million fluorescent tubes sold in the UK each year are categorised as hazardous waste under the European Waste Catalogue. Tubes are suitable for recycling because they consist principally of glass, metal and approximately 15mg of mercury. The aluminium end caps are separated and recycled, mercury is collected for reuse and the contaminated glass powder is used in mineral extraction. A number of waste management companies are now offering a collection service. The Environment Agency’s advice is that fluorescent tubes should be segregated and collected separately from general business wastes.
Furniture & fittings
Office furniture and equipment should be offered for auction. Many charitable organisations will also accept surplus items.
www.envirowise.gov.uk/furniture
Glass
Up to 600,000 tonnes of glass bottles are thrown out from pubs, clubs, hotels, restaurants and cafes every year (a quarter of the UK’s waste glass containers). Up to 75 per cent of this is currently being sent to landfill. Most of the glass that is collected is container glass. The other source is waste flat glass that is mostly recovered from the glazing trade, car dismantlers and garages and is processed by specialist companies.
www.envirowise.gov.uk/glass
Green waste
Research published by the Composting Association indicates that the composting of green waste across the UK continues to grow substantially. Rising from 1.97 million tonnes in 2003/04 to 2.67 million tonnes in 2004/05, representing an increase of 35 per cent. Additionally, the number of sites dedicated to composting operations is expected to increase in order to meet the requirements of the EU Landfill Directive.
Metals (ferrous)
More than 8.6 million tonnes of steel are currently being produced in the UK, going into a wide range of products, both long-term production applications and short-term usage such as food cans. It is estimated that over 40 per cent of this output is made from recycled scrap steel. For every tonne of steel made from recycled metal, there is a saving of 1.5 tonnes of iron ore, 0.5 tonne of coke and, when tin plate is being recovered, a 3 to4 per cent reduction in purchases of expensive primary tin. www.envirowise.gov.uk/metalfinishing
Aluminium
The UK consumes around 900,000 tonnes of aluminium each year and recycling rates are on the increase. Reprocessing scrap aluminium uses up to 96 per cent less energy than processing the original raw materials, making aluminium very economical to recycle. Drinks cans represent the largest proportion of aluminium packaging. The official aluminium recycling rate in 2006 was 32.5%, an increase of 17 per cent over 2005, with the cans-only recycling rate estimated to be 48 per cent.
Precious metal
High value metals such as silver, gold and platinum are often contained in the printed circuit boards of electronic equipment.
Mobile phones
Recycling of mobile phones is becoming increasingly common and many retailers will take unwanted phones and recycle them collectively. Mobile phones are also collected by Childhealth Advocacy International to sell to raise funds for treating sick children. A single phone recycled in this way is usually enough to save a child's life; 35 phones can train a child health worker in a developing country. Childhealth Advocacy International also collects computer printer inkjet cartridges:
www.caiuk.org
Individual mobile phones can be used by the Campaign to Recycle Unwanted Mobile Phones (CRUMP) and posted to FREEPOST: CRUMP. Alternatively, for a minimum of ten phones a free courier collection can be arranged by calling 0800 0832103. Padded envelopes should be used to help prevent damage in transit.
Oil (hydrocarbon)
The greatest amount of waste oil is from used lubricating oil that is used in large numbers of businesses such as vehicle repairers and engineering companies. In the UK, collected used oils are usually processed by filtration and dehydrating techniques before being transformed into a product referred to as recovered fuel oil.
Oil (vegetable)
Used vegetable oil from catering and food manufacturing is also recyclable.
Pallets
Most pallets used by businesses are designed to be re-used and are often repairable.
Paper & cardboard
Waste paper is recycled to recover its fibre content and computer paper is particularly good quality waste for recycling. Many recycling companies will collect and shred, offering a confidential service. A key concern for the paper and board industry is the ability to provide high product standards while maintaining competitiveness.
www.envirowise.gov.uk/paper_board
Plastics
Most plastics recycling companies require plastic waste to be segregated and baled into significant quantities of essentially clean, single product material. Some recycling companies will only handle plastic of a single polymer type, which they then convert into granulate or pellets.
www.envirowise.gov.uk/plastics_rubber
Textiles
About 650,000 tonnes of textile waste are handled in the UK each year. Around 25 per cent is reused as cleaning and wiping cloths, as flocked filling material for upholstery or for sound-proofing, and as yarn from recycled fibres and re-wearable clothing. Waste minimisation is a key issue for the textiles industry. www.envirowise.gov.uk/textiles
Tyres/rubber
38 million waste tyres are produced in the UK each year. In total, 74 per cent is recovered and of that 26 per cent become retreads, nine per cent is recycled (granulated), five per cent is used in landfill engineering, five per cent reused (e.g. as boat fenders) and 29 per cent is used for energy recovery. The landfill directive now prohibits the landfilling of both whole and shredded tyres.
www.envirowise.gov.uk/plastics_rubber
Wood
An estimated 7.5 million tonnes of wood waste are produced in the UK. Much of this, six million tonnes (representing 80 per cent) is landfilled, 1.2 million tonnes (16 per cent) is re-used and recycled, with energy being recovered from just 0.3 million tonnes (4 per cent).
The major outlet for wood waste is in the production of chipboard production, although wood waste is utilised as a fuel throughout the UK wood processing industry. However, other small market options include soil mulch, animal bedding and all-weather exercise rings for horses. Other wood materials recycled from construction/demolition can be used in furniture production.
www.envirowise.gov.uk/skip
