The recycling of waste is a complicated and expensive process, and we have the largest recycling plant in the south east, right here in Essex.
Recycling waste is hugely important and vital to the stability of our environment. James Waste Management uses state of the art, industry leading equipment which helps us recycle up to 99% of the waste we collect.
Waste Management Recycling
Recycling is a vital part of the waste management process. As a country we’ve made dramatic improvement over the years when it comes to recycling our waste. In 2014 the UK achieved a recycling rate of 44.9%. The EU average across 27 countries for 2019 is 47.7% approaching the 50% they were aiming for in 2020, but with some countries as low as a 20% recycling rate and others like German at over 66% and Belgium at over 54%.
Huge improvements in levels of recycling in recent years
This is a huge improvement over the last few decades. In 2008/09 we were recycling at a rate of 37% in the UK and between 2001 and 2010 there was a 235% increase in household recycling. Despite this we are still nowhere near a safe recycling rate for the environment in many countries and almost 60% of our waste in the UK is still not being recycled and the majority of that is ending up in landfill sites.
Our Essex plant recycles up to 99% of collected waste
At James Waste Management we believe passionately in recycling waste and our recycling plant in Essex recycles up to 99% of the waste we collect. We work closely with Essex County Council and the Environment Agency to ensure all regulations are adhered to and we’re committed to increasing the amount of waste that’s recycled, not just in Essex but in the whole of the UK.
The amount we recycle has fallen in recent years
Recycling reached a peak of 44% in 2014 dropping a little to 44.3% in 2015 but since then there has a stall in the amount of waste that has been recycled in the UK. Recent statistics have shown the overall household recycling rate for the 12 months to 2019 has dropped to 43.5%. The fall in 2016 was the first time in the recorded history of recycling that there has been a fall in the levels of recycling and there hasn’t been a pick-up since, so we appear to have reached a plateau in the amount of waste we can recycle.
As technology improves, we are sure we can improve the amount of waste that can be recycled. Responsibilities lie not just with waste management companies, but also with manufacturers, retailers, construction companies and all the working parts of the fabric that makes up our society. New regulations are being introduced and we can only hope that the level of recycling improves.
What can and can’t be recycled
Though we recycle over 99% of the waste we collect, there are still many items that we cannot accept for recycling. These include:
- Fridges / freezers
- Tyres
- Fluorescent tubes
- Gas bottles
- Medical / clinical waste
- Light bulbs
- Asbestos
- Liquids
- WEEE waste
Commercial Recycling
Of course, there are lots of items that can be recycled, and we seem to be getting better at creating recyclable products. Items that can be recycled include:
- Paper and card
- Wood
- Glass
- Secure shredding
- Soft plastics
At James Waste Management we offer solutions to all our customers on the best way to recycle waste. We offer commercial and business waste management services, as well as skips for both construction and domestic use.
If you are unsure about any aspect of recycling then please contact us, as we have experts on hand to offer the best advice on recycling waste, and offer the most efficient waste management solutions for you, your household and your business.