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Glossary of recycling
A glossary of recycling
A quick guide to key terms
Bag for life
Many supermarkets now sell strong reusable bags at the checkouts. Although there is a charge for these, they will be replaced free of charge if they break.
Biodegradable
Something that will decompose as a result of the action of bacteria or other organisms
Bring site
A name for the recycling sites you see in supermarket car parks, on estates or on streets. Sites consist of separate recycling containers for different materials, eg paper and green, brown and clear glass.
Civic amenity site
Another name for a Reuse and Recycling Centre
Composting
Composting is a natural process whereby bacterial and fungi convert organic materials such as plant waste in to a soil-like material called compost. The compost can then be used to fertilise your garden.
Cullet
Glass that has been crushed ready for reprocessing
Dump
Another name for a Reuse and Recycling Centre
Fly tipping
The illegal dumping of waste on private or public land. Clearing up fly-tipping costs local authorities millions of pounds. Successful prosecutions for fly-tipping can result in large fines and custodial sentences. Home Office information on fly-tipping
Minimisation
This term is often used to mean reducing the amount of waste we produce in the first place
Reuse and Recycling Centre
This is a site to which you can take a wide range of materials that you no longer want. Most will be sorted for recycling; some may be reused. Most boroughs provide Reuse and Recycling Centres for use by their residents. Some may also be used by residents of adjoining boroughs. They are intended for use by private individuals and there may be a charge for commercial use.
Vermiculture
This means composting using a wormery, a bin in which special ‘tiger’ worms live and digest the food waste you add to the bin. They produce a rich compost and a liquid plant food.
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Did you know?
The average family uses six trees worth of paper a year.
Helpline
You can contact our Helpline for information and advice on recycling:
tel 0845
331 3131.