Recycle week

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Recycle week Posted On 20 September 2021

Step it up

Recycle Week is Recycle Now’s flagship annual event which is a celebration of recycling across the nation. Now in its 18th year, it’s the one week of the year where retailers, brands, waste management companies, trade associations, governments and the media come together to achieve one goal: to galvanise the public into recycling more of the right things, more often.

The first donors to this fantastic cause include several major retailers and household brands who have committed to supporting Recycle Week. Co-op, Coca-Cola Great Britain, Danone, Ocado and Waitrose are the first to confirm their involvement in the annual campaign to inspire more recycling, more widely and more often.

Last year was the first in which WRAP sought commercial funding for the annual campaign, with fifteen donors supporting the 2020 campaign. Last year saw landmarks including the Blackpool tower lit up green to raise awareness of Recycle Week. WRAP said that this financial support enabled it to “significantly increase” the scope of Recycle Week and raise its profile.

Marcus Gover, WRAP CEO, commented: “We know that Recycle Week is something the public are extremely passionate about and saw a huge response to Food Waste Action Week too. It’s clear the public wants action on the environment and is keen to be part of the change needed – and that’s what Recycle Week is all about. Last year we had our most successful Recycle Week ever, despite the pandemic, and due in no small part to the overwhelming support of our donors. We know that as much as 44% of people say they would be more likely to purchase or shop with a brand that supports Recycle Week, so this year I want to go even further, and for that we need even more UK businesses and brands to get on board.”

Rebecca Pow, environment minister at Defra, added: “Recycling plays a crucial role in protecting the environment and getting the most out of our precious and finite resources. We have a very exciting future ahead for recycling in the UK, including our landmark reforms for packaging and waste collections which will make it easier for consumers and businesses to recycle more of what they use every day. Recycle Week is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the important progress we are making and to raise awareness of what more we can all do to recycle and reuse our waste and resources.”

The Climate Crisis is a tough subject. And while throughout the past year many things have happened over which we’ve had no control, the Climate Crisis is something we can actively do something about. Every one of us, every single day. Most of us already do, through small but powerful habits – like recycling. We know environmental concerns are still on the increase, so we need to do more. We need to do it now. And we need to act together. Step It Up this Recycle Week.