The colder months aren’t just tough on energy bills and travel plans – they also take a toll on recycling efforts. Between November and March, plastic contamination in paper and cardboard increases by 40%, resulting in an extra 5,000 tonnes of waste being sent to landfill or incineration. But why does winter have such a dramatic impact on recycling?
Possible Causes Behind this Seasonal Spike in Contamination
Several factors may contribute to this seasonal recycling crisis. For a start, we tend to consume more during the festive season, and we’re not only talking about food and drink, which is a large contributor towards packaging and food waste. Christmas shopping, combined with Black Friday, Bank Holiday and New Year sales, generates an enormous volume of packaging waste, and then there are the old possessions we throw out to make way for new purchases.
Seasonal changes can also play a significant part. Shorter daylight hours and inclement weather may dampen our enthusiasm for segregating waste outdoors and make waste collection harder. Regular waste collection schedules may be interrupted by bad weather or reshuffled to accommodate bank holidays, leaving waste paper and cardboard stored outside to become sodden by rain and snowmelt, making it harder to recycle.
How Businesses Can Combat Recycling Contamination
With household recycling rates in England declining and government policies on waste separation still in flux, businesses must take the lead in improving recycling efficiency. Avena’s secure recycling services provide a reliable way to ensure materials are processed responsibly and sustainably, maximising the amount that gets recycled instead of heading to landfill.
Secure, Sustainable Paper Recycling with SECURALL®
Office paper waste is one of the easiest materials to recycle – when handled correctly. Shredded office paper is clean, high-quality waste that can be efficiently converted into new paper products with minimal processing.
Avena’s SECURALL service ensures that confidential documents are securely shredded and then transformed into new paper products, keeping your business compliant while reducing environmental impact.
Recycling Workwear and Textiles with SECUREBRAND®
Disposing of workwear, uniforms, and textiles responsibly can be a challenge, but Avena’s SECUREBRAND service provides a sustainable solution.
High-quality textile waste can be respun into new fabrics, while lower-grade fibres are repurposed for padding in upholstery and acoustic insulation. Instead of contributing to landfill, your business can support a circular economy in the textile industry.
Responsible IT and Media Waste Disposal with SECURETECH®
Electronic waste is another growing issue, containing valuable materials such as metals and minerals—but also toxic components that must be prevented from reaching landfill sites.
Avena’s SECURETECH service ensures that redundant IT equipment, hard drives and media assets are securely processed, extracting valuable resources while safely disposing of hazardous elements.
Avena’s Zero-Waste-to-Landfill Commitment
At Avena, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a commitment. Our zero-waste-to-landfill policy means that every waste stream we handle is processed to extract maximum recyclable content, ensuring minimal environmental impact. By working with Avena, businesses can not only improve their waste management practices but also play a crucial role in tackling the UK’s winter waste crisis.
Take Action This Winter
With the UK’s recycling rates stalling and winter bringing increased contamination, now is the time to take control of your business’s waste management. Whether it’s secure paper shredding, textile recycling, or responsible disposal of electronic waste, Avena’s services ensure that your waste is handled in the most sustainable way possible.
Don’t let winter contamination push more waste to landfill – partner with Avena and keep your recycling efforts on track. Find out more at https://avenagroup.co.uk/.
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