wasteDecember is always a peak month for recycling in Westminster, and the 2021 season was no exception. Here are a few key insights into how much Commercial Waste Services (CWS) recycled and how it affected both our city and the environment:
Facts and figures from December 2021:
We recycled enough paper and cardboard to save over 22,000 trees from being felled. This also means we saved 32 million litres of water that would have been needed during paper production.
CWS collected and recycled the weight of 2 London Underground trains worth of metals. We also ensured £289,237 worth of gold was recovered and recycled from the discarded appliances and electronics (WEEE) we collected.
The amount of glass we recycled was enough to save nearly 792 tonnes of CO2eq. This is the same amount produced by the energy needs of around 248 average British households.
Sending December’s food waste to anaerobic digestion saved 51 tonnes of CO2eq, or the equivalent of what 2550 trees would absorb in CO2 from the atmosphere whilst growing over the course of one year.
Non-recyclable waste was put to good use as well. In December, we generated enough power from non-recyclable (general) waste to supply 1688 average British households with electricity for a year.
How to boost your recycling in 2022
More businesses than ever are placing importance on recycling and waste reduction. The majority of businesses have a level of experience with this but want to do better. Please read our recycling guide for businesses which provides a wealth of knowledge and further guidance on this topic.
Take your waste reduction and recycling a step further with our free waste audit, which gives you a comprehensive look at your business’ unique waste and recycling habits and provides constructive feedback on how to improve here.
