Backroads’ Post

Recycling is an important part of changing our relationship with stuff. If we can keep things in use for longer, that will save having to make new things. Less new things means less pressure on the planet. But it also keeps things in use at the highest value: cardboard stays as cardboard; glass becomes new glass. But even better than this is not buying new in the first place: reuse is the best way to have the most impact. Use the glass jar over and over before recycling it. Reuse a cardboard box as many times as possible, before recycling it. And buy secondhand. Stuff exists everywhere. We've got enough to meet all our needs, it's just a matter of finding it. And if you're time poor, ask your friendly op shop if they have what you need. We don't know everything that's in the shop, but we might be able to help. Try reuse this #globalrecyclingday

We often tear apart the cardboard packaging in our hurry, but it’s reusable and recyclable. When it becomes weak, don’t throw it away. Call Scrap Uncle to recycle it. You can schedule a pick-up from home and earn money for your scrap. So, what are you waiting for? Schedule your pick-up now. #Recycle #Reuse #Sustainability #EcoFriendly #CardboardReuse #ScrapUncle #WasteManagement #EarnFromWaste #ConvenientRecycling #EcoConsciousLiving

We often get asked what happens to the non reusable items once we sort customer returns or provide secure destruction for UK brands. Here’s one of our directors Simon explaining one of the recycling routes we have, amongst others, extending the useful life of the product that is no longer fit for re wear. #ukbrands #sorting #recycling #nolandfill

After 32 years in business, I am still amazed at some of the new challenges that are thrown at us every day to make us question why we bother! As part of our sustainability ethos, we re-use packaging if the cartons are still in good condition. If not, they go into our onsite cardboard recycling facility. This week, I was horrified to receive a "fly tipping penalty notice" of £400 from a council some 40 miles away. The "crime" was that we had supposedly deposited Trade Waste in a household recycling bin! Their "evidence" was an address label on the outer carton in which components were delivered to us back in September, the carton having been re-used for a customer collection around that time. Clearly we should have removed that address label as a matter of course before re-using the box and "words have been spoken", but let's consider the facts here. The end user has clearly done the right thing and disposed of the packaging in a recycling facility, they haven't dumped them in a layby, they have carefully and correctly disposed of them in a recycling facility. Having spent a few hours actually getting into contact with anyone at the council enforcement office to explain the position, I finally receive an email to say they have considered my case and have reduced the penalty to a "warning". What planet are these power crazed people on for goodness sake?! Are we really likely to drive 40 miles to put our cardboard into their bin when we have a perfectly good one here?! #sustainability #recycling #jobsworth

The best bottle caps don’t come with an instruction manual. Consumers need to intuitively understand how to open the closure — and seal (if included) — by merely looking at the product or picking it up. In reverse, the customer needs to easily “get” how to replace the cap for either reuse or recycling. #packagingindustry #recycling #csiclosures

Small but mighty machines 💪 Our Compact Range is ideal if you; - Produce cardboard or plastic waste that takes up a lot of space - Have limited space - Are paying too much for bin or skip collections - Already have a larger machine but have an additional material that would also benefit from baling - Fancy a change of process If we have hit the nail on the head and you suffer from any of these on-going issues then let us help you. Start your journey and contact us here>> https://lnkd.in/dKWZFFA Or take a closer look at the range here>> https://lnkd.in/ehAkq9Va #wastemanagement #compactisimpact #recyclingequipment #reduce #cardboard #plastic #recycle #recycling #smallbutmighty

When the plastic film hits the top of your gaylord box, do you consider it full? Gaylord boxes can easily trick you into thinking that you’ve reached max capacity for plastic film recycling. An illusion that creates more time spent on collecting and disposing of the material. Don’t waste productivity with an outdated system. The RACK’N PAK® Recycle Bagging System is your key to better efficiencies. https://lnkd.in/gYu43zg5

It is amazing that even packaging professionals (including myself) struggle with recycling and how complex proper recycling of proper consumer products can be. There is not one style of packaging is the perfect sustainability fit for every product, but as Heather points out moving to mono-material structures can help reduce confusion and consumer fatigue around proper recycling, enabling a more circular economy.

Not sure what belongs in your Reclaim plastic film cage? 📃♻   ✅We accept LDPE (#4) plastic film that is clean, clear, and stretchy. Common examples are pallet wrap and bubble wrap.    ❌What we DON’T accept is rigid plastics, plastic foam, any sort of coloured plastic, woven plastic bags, strapping, label backing, or food packaging (e.g. bread bags). All of the material that you throw in your Reclaim plastic film bin is touched by multiple people throughout its journey from your bin to the recycling plant. To maintain the value of the product AND keep our people safe, please make sure the right materials are being thrown into our bins. ♻   If in doubt, leave it out!   #Reclaim #SeriousAboutRecycling #learning #plasticfilm #plastic #film #LDPE #recycling #contamination

Those annoying caps attached to bottles...might be a necessary evil after all...❓ As many, I have also been battling with these new bottles with attached caps. From a user experience and functionality point of view, they are arguably a step back: ❌ The cap can easily get in the way when drinking from the bottle ❌ The cap can easily get in the way when pouring the contents ❌ Easier to fail to close the bottle tight, which causes frequent leaks However, there might be a legit reason behind them - loose caps are causing some recycling inefficiencies: ▶️ Most of them ends up on the floor, littering the streets and are being disposed of as general waste ▶️ A large percentage ends up being put into the recyclables bin loose, which makes them nore prone to being discarded at the recyling sorting facility ▶️ Some would get accidentally detached from the bottle during the sorting process at the recycling facility, thus ending up being discarded ☝️ In any case, I don't think this solution addresses the root cause of the problem...which is using single use plastic bottles in the first place. But while we still have plastic bottles around us, attached caps might be a necessary annoyance. #recycling #plasticrecycling #plasticbottles #attachedcaps #wastemanagement #wastesorting