Beginners show us how it's done
Students show us how easy it is to recycle
James, Liam, Megan and Amber are typical students and excellent recyclers! Read their tips from how they got started, what they did to find out collection dates, how they reuse, plus their five top recycling tips:
In our first year of university our halls offered a really good insight into recycling. They offered two bins one for general waste and the other for recycling. From then it was just sort of a habit to divide recycling from waste, plus it is so easy to do as it only involves you putting packaging into a different coloured bag. Also, it makes us feel slightly better knowing that we are trying to help the environment.
Being from the local area, James, Liam and Megan pretty much knew the deal with the recycling systems. However, Amber was unsure, as the system is slightly different in England. But after ringing Cardiff council it was much clearer. They gave us all the collection dates and which week was which, and also sent us a starter pack. When we moved in to our house in the second year we had a little pack for us that explained when our collection date was and what sort of waste we needed to put out, etc.
However, if you are unaware of your collection dates, what waste is collected what week and so on, a quick call to the council sorts it out. They were also very nice, friendly and helpful.
In our house our main bin is the recycling bin. It is good because the recycling gets collected every week so it is actually a lot tidier and nicer as there are less bin bags lying around. Also, we have a black bin bag that we put our general waste in which after two weeks is barely full at all, which proves it is so easy to recycle things.
We recycle because it is something that is really easy to do and everybody is capable of doing it. It also really helps the environment and makes you feel a bit better about yourself that you are not being completely ignorant about waste and you are actually trying to do something to help.
We reuse glass jars for multi purposes, we also (obviously) reuse plastic bags for all our shopping trips. We reuse our plastic bottles as drinking bottles. We recycle our tin cans, boxes, plastic packaging, cardboard, plastic pots, plastic takeaway tubs, plastic bowls, glass bottles, pretty much most things really.
But if unsure about what to do, I would recommend contacting the council, request a starter pack or even look on the website as most things are explained there. Recycling is a really easy thing to do and it has just become part of a daily routine that takes no time at all.
Our top five recycling tips – this applies to new students or if you’re new to recycling:
1. Contact the council for a starter/ welcome pack.
2. Change your main bin to recycling (you will be surprised at how much you can actually recycle)
3. Look online for inventive ways to reuse items and create cool things.
4. If you're pessimistic about the whole recycling thing try it for a week and see how easy it is to do.
5. Just RECYCLE it's not hard!
Thanks for the advice guys!