In fact the situation got so bad that boats filled with recyclable goods were said to be stuck in Chinese harbours unable to offload their goods because there were no buyers for the goods. Recycling warehouses have said their stores are filling up fast and some have been unable to accept any more recyclables because they don’t have any place to sell them.

So is this really a problem? The answer is it depends on the type of product that needs to be recycled. For paper, there is a limited shelf-life. If it gets slightly damp, it may turn mouldy which will ruin the whole batch of paper and leave it unable to be recycled. There is also the problem of mice and rats deciding to take up residence in piles of paper that have gone unmoved for a long period of time. The rodents will contaminate the recyclable paper, again making it unsuitable for recycling.

However the industry has seen the first signs of growth and it is hoped that the recycling industry will pick up soon. Export demand is finally starting to pick up again and this means that recyclable goods are finally moving out of the warehouses again.

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The plastic bottle are first cleaned and their labels removed. Once this process is complete, they are ground down into small chips before being melted. This mixture is then refined and woven into a sort yet hard-wearing form of polyester. It takes around 50 recycled bottles to make a single trouser suit.

Retailing at around £55, this eco-chic suit won’t break the bank however because the suit is made from a form of polyester, it won’t appeal to everyone.

At present, the only line available is a woman’s trouser suit however if it sells well there are plans to extend the range, for example into menswear.

If this recycled suit sounds like your sort of thing, it is available in sizes 10-22 from Debenhams stores around the UK or from their website www.debenhams.com

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If the scheme gets approval, the county will be the first in America to use recycled glass in this way. In an area where sand is a valuable commodity – and one which is getting harder and harder to come by – recycling a product which may otherwise may go landfill and saving money in the process cannot be a bad thing.

Around $1 billion is spent each year on sand for Broward alone. To replenish the sand which has been eroded from the beaches, the ocean floor is usually dredged and piped to the shoreline. Since 1970, around 13 million tonnes has been dredged for Broward alone – that’s enough sand to totally fill the Empire State Building 12 times over, and have a little surplus.

In 2005, around 2.6 million tonnes of sand was brought in, costing about $45 million. This compares to 1991 where $1.3 million tonnes was brought in for just $9 million. So why the huge price discrepancy? Reef preservation sites are restricting dredging areas and sand is becoming scarce. Construction and fuel prices are also rising, and dredging operations are being pushed further off-shore, increasing prices further. At present, there is little that can be done to keep the spiraling prices down.

In the meantime, recycled glass can’t entirely solve the problem. Broward can only create an estimated 15,600 tonnes of glass each year for the project – falling well short of all the sand that is needed. However, this glass could be valuable in that it creates enough to put into the worst spots, lessening the impacts of erosion.

Broward County has around 24 miles of beach with most falling under the ‘critically eroded’ banner. More than a quarter of Florida’s 1,350 coastline also falls into this category and collectively, around $80 million a year is spent in Florida counter-acting the erosion effects.

The use of glass in the place of sand was actually an unintentional discovery. In 1949, rubbish (including glass) started being dumped over a cliff in Northern California near Fort Bragg. Over the years, the organic material decomposed as expected however the glass in the rubbish started to become smooth thanks to the tumbling nature of the surf and waves. This area is now known as Glass Beach thanks to the smooth particles of glass that have washed up.

Recycled glass has intentionally been used in beaches in Lake Hood, New Zealand, and Curacao, proving that it is a viable alternative. However, the feasibility of such a project in Broward County is not yet known, with around $600,000 already spent on tests and engineering alone. So far, lab tests look encouraging with organisms and wildlife seemingly able to thrive in the new material. A small patch of beach has already had some glass sand added to it, with scientists closely monitoring various aspects of the sand such as heat and moisture.

However there are some questions which have yet to be answered. The long-term effects of adding glass to sand are not yet known, and the environmental consequences cannot be predicted. With any man-made change, there will be unforeseen consequences – whether these are good or bad is yet to be seen. Broward County are already counting the cost of another environmental scheme which didn’t go quite to plan – in the 1970s, 700,000 tyres were placed on the ocean floor to create an artificial reef. Some of the tyres have come loose and have been moving around on the ocean floor, killing some of the coral. Broward are now in the process of removing these tyres to rectify the situation.

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The proposed bill will go in front of MPs in November and will cover 33 of London’s boroughs. If the number of plastic bags were reduced by a quarter, it would eliminate over 58,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year – that’s the squivalent of taking 18,000 cars off the road and shows how a simple change may have immense effects.

It is proposed that the charge would apply across the whole of London and the money paid by consumers woudl go towards recycling facilities. The charge comes on the back of a similar charge in Ireland and similar proposals in cities such as San Francisco.

Ireland’s introduced a 15 cent tax in 2002 on plastic bags. Within months, plastic bag usage fell by 90% and millions of Euros were raised and used for in various environmental projects. In early 2007, the charge was raised to 22 cents. Overall, the scheme has been deemed successful with the average shopper now just using 21 bags a year as opposed to a previous figure of 328.

In the UK, around 13 billion plastic bags are used each year. Cutting this amount would have significant impacts on the environment – not just through the reduction of CO2 emissions, but also through the funding received from the charges. The Local Government Association esimates that UK councils could see a £3 billion bill for sending rubbish to landfill over the next four years; In 2010, councils may face a fine of up to £150 for every tonne of rubbish they send to landfill over their given limit – so any ways that will reduce the amount of rubbish households produce will be welcomed with open arms by most councils.

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1. How do I know which plastics can be recycled?
Actually, this is a tough one. The three little arrows in a circle which often feature in plastic containers are actually not a guide to recyclability – they actually indicate the amount of plastic resin in the plastic. It is best to check with your recycling facility which numbers it accepts for recycling.

2. Should I clean containers before I send them for recycling?
A little residue is fine, but the cleaner the containers, the better. You don’t have to run them through a dishwasher – a quick rinse and removal of any food substances will suffice.

3. Should labels be taken off cans & jars?
Labels should be burned off during the recycling process so there is no need to remove the labels from your jars and tins.

4. Can I recycle caps and lids?
The recyclability of bottle lips and caps depends on the facilities that your recycling centre has therefore removing them is a good habit to get into. Often, removing caps from bottles is also a safety issue – when recycling, there is a small chance that the bottle will have huge pressures built up inside it, causing it to explode and potentially damage the machinery. Therefore, we advise removing all lids and caps from anything that you recycle.

5. Should I crush cans and bottles?
Again, this depends on the equipment your recycling centre has. Generally, we would say don’t crush cans or plastic bottles, just in case.

Your recycling centre may use a ‘blower’ to separate heavier materials such as glass and steel from lighter materials such as cans and plastic bottles. If the cans are crushed, they will settle down to the level of glass therefore the blower will not work as efficiently as it could.

6. Can plastic bags be put in with plastic containers?
Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to mix plastic bags with plastic containers however many recycling centres and/or supermarkets have places where you can drop of your excess plastic bags so the next time you pop to the shops, remember to take your plastic bags with you.

7. Can Aluminium Foil be recycled?
Not all recycling programs will accept foil as it tends to contain a lot of fat and/or food contamination. Technically speaking, foil can be recycled with cans easily. Ask your recycling centre whether they accept foil or not. If they do, make sure you clean it thoroughly.

8. Can you recycle recycled products?
Over time, recycling paper and plastic repeatedly will degrade the quality. However, that does not mean you cannot recycle recycled products. Many recycled products have both recycled and new content in them to increase their quality, therefore it is almost impossible for the consumer to know how recyclable a product is.

If you are worried about recycling paper, consider composting it instead. Read our guide to composting here.

9. Can I recycle plastic that doesn’t have a recycle logo on it?
Maybe. The recycling symbol is actually unregulated and there is no obligation for manufacturers to place a recycling symbol on products that are recyclable. It is best to ask your local recycling company as to what plastics they accept and whether they are happy to accept plastics you are unsure about.

10. What about recycling other products?
There are plenty of recycling schemes for other products such as computers, cooking oil, books, light bulbs and batteries. Some can be dropped off at a recycling centre, some can be picked up. Check with your local recycling centre as they will often be able to provide you with information on how to recycle your other products.

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The range, named ‘Ecopac’, is manufactured by Universal Music and is made from 100% recycled and recyclable paper-foam. Asda’s parent company Wal-Mart have already had sold more than 2 million CDs using the Ecopac material since it’s debut in their stores 6 months ago.

The new packaging will be available on 42 titles with a wide range of artists to choose from. The packaging can be recycled along with other paper products such as newspapers and magazines.

The one downside of these CDs is that no booklets come with them – the information is, however, available from Universal Music’s website.

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Should I use a container?

We would advise using a container or a compost bin to hold your compost. There are several reasons to consider:
- If you live in an area with a lot of rain, a container will prevent your compost from becoming waterlogged. If compost becomes heavily waterlogged, it may slow down or temporarily stop the composting process. This may then cause the heap to become anaerobic and give off nasty smells.
- Containers help conserve heat in the compost heap, particularly in colder regions
- A container will help confine the compost heap to a specific area, ensuring everything in your garden stays neat and tidy.
- Some containers are designed to make it easier for the materials deposited to turn into compost.
- Without using a container, rodents and small animals may be attracted to the compost heap. A container should prevent this from happening.

What are the best ingredients for top quality compost?

A good blend of carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials is the key – a carbon to nitrogen ration of about 30 to 1 is a good approximation for a good mix. This means mixing equal carbon-rich materials such as dead leaves and branches with green materials such as grass. Kitchen scraps such as vegetable peelings, along with tea bags and bread are also excellent to throw into the mix. Usually, it is best to avoid animal proteins in your compost heap.

What are the common problems I might have?

One common problem is getting the wrong mix of materials. Often in summer, huge quantites of grass clippings get dumped into the compost heap, turning everything into a nasty goo. Try and keep things balanced and don’t add too much of any one thing at one time or you will end up with nasty-smelling mess.

Another common problem is particles that are too large. Big objects such as tree branches will not decompose easily. If possible, turn larger object into smaller ones for example turn a tree branch into wood chip. If you add lots of large objects to your compost heap, you pile will not settle nicely as the parts start to decompose. This means that it will lack the porosity it needs to allow oxygen to the centre of the heap causing the composting process to slow or stop. The largest particle sizes should be about 2 inches wide.

It is also important to keep your compost heap moist, but not too moist. Composting happens best when moisture levels are around 50-60%. A good rule of thumb is to keep the pile damp enough that it glistens with moisture but doesn’t drip.

The size of the pile is also important – you need a good sized pile before composting can begin in earnest. 1 cubic yard of composting materials is a good size to start at.

How often should I turn the heap?

When temperatures dip below 120 degrees, it is the ideal time to turn the pile. If you have a thermometer, check the centre of the pile. You pile should easily reach temperatures of 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit if you have the optimal conditions in your heap.

When you turn the pile, make sure that the outside ends up on the inside so that everything put into the heap gets exposed to the heat of the composting process. Commercial composters tend to ensure that their compost heaps achieve temperatures of over 131 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two weeks to ensure that all plant diseases are killed.

How long does compost take to make?

This is entirely dependent on the conditions of the compost heap itself, how it is maintained and how it is constructed. With an optimal blend of ingredients, the right moisture levels, the right temperatures and turning the pile every couple of days, it is possible to get compost within a four week period. However, most amateur gardeners are happy to take a more leisurely approach to composting and leave it to nature!

It is worth just going with the flow and adding to the pile as and when you can and continuing to turn the heap regularly to ensure that you always have a ready source of compost.

Click here for our range of top compost bins, from our modular compost bin, through to our timber compost bins

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“I really enjoy working with new material,” Llewelyn-Bowen explained. “So the idea of using recycled drinks cans to produce an elegant yet flamboyant chair was a huge challenge for me. Recycling is hugely importnat in this day and age and drinks cans are one of the most environmentally friendly tyres of packaging as each one is 100% recyclable.

“They can also be recycled infinitely so technically I could produce an entirely new piece of furniture for next season by melting down this chair!”

If you want to see this piece of recycling artwork, it will be on display in London’s City Hall before embarking on a European-wide tour demonstrating how design and the environment can work together. The Can Can Chair will then return to the UK where it will be auctioned off for charity.

[Source: ananova.com]

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So what do you need to build it?
- 20 gallon rubbish bin, preferably one with handles on each side of it as well as a good-fitting lid.
- Some bungee cord
- A drill (preferably power!) with a 1/4″ drill bit that can drill through your bin
- A shovel or spade
- The relevant safety equipment

First of all, you will need to drill about 10-15 holes in the bottom of the bin. Make sure they are fairly evenly spaced out. These holes will be part of the drainage in your waste system.

Now, you will need to dig a hole in your garden that is big enough to fit the rubbish bin in width ways, and is deep enough so that you can put about a third of the rubbish bin into the hole. It is best to put the hole near the kitchen door so you don’t have a big trek every time you want to use the bin. Also, try and dig your hole away from any established root systems, so try and steer clear of places near trees or shrubs. You may also want to consider the aesthetics of your garden – so place it somewhere where it isn’t going to be the focal point!

Once the hole is dug, place your bin into the hole and put some of the soil back around the bin so that it is held firmly in place. And that’s it – you are ready to go! If the lid is fairly easy to take off, place some bungee rope over it so that no animals or children can open it up.

It is best to put just plant based items into your bin and no animal proteins. Things such as vegetable peelings, tea bags and bread are perfect. It is a good idea to find a plastic container which you can keep inside your kitchen as a temporary holding area for the scraps before they get transferred into the waste system.

We estimate that a 20 gallon bin which holds just kitchen waste will take about a year for a family of four to fill up. Once it is full, leave the lid on and forget about it for another 6-12 months. After this time period, you will have some fantastic compost, full of nutrients, which your garden will love!

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