Waste & Recycling

Getting waste and recycling done the right way is an important step in gearing ourselves for a more sustainable future, and as such Birmingham Friends of the Earth do a lot of work in this area.

• The Problem: Each year, the UK generates a truly mind-boggling 100 million tonnes of waste from commerce, industry and households - and this figure is continually rising. Although we cannot directly affect industry and commercial waste, we have control over the amount of waste that leaves our own home. In the UK, households contribute about one third of the total at around 30 million tonnes. Birmingham's contribution alone is a whopping 500,000 tonnes. We need to tackle this excessive waste of natural resources, so that we can live sustainably.

• The Solution: Wherever and whenever possible, we need to try and cut down the amount of waste we generate at source. To do this, we can re-use goods, or buy second hand as opposed to new. We can avoid cheap "throw-away" products and opt for ones that will last. Recycling where possible is a major contribution to sustainable waste produce - Birmingham City Council have already implemented multi-material kerbside collections throughout the city, and also a fortnightly collection of green garden waste.

• Take Action: Taking action on waste is essential, since we are consuming natural resources at an unsustainable rate and contributing unnecessarily to climate change by not recycling all that we can. See what your council offers by going to www.recyclenow.com, or go to the Birmingham City Council website at www.birmingham.gov.uk/recycling. And remember - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

For more detailed information, go to the Waste & Recycling section on our dedicated website, where you will find useful tips to help you, and latest news and campaign information.