Every day 'waste' material is thrown away which is actually a valuable resource. Paper, metal, glass, green waste, plastics and textiles can all be recycled into new products. Recycling reduces waste going to landfill and also reduces the demand for raw materials, saves energy in the production process and reduces emissions to air and water in the production process.

Increasing amounts of waste are being recycled across the UK - packaging waste recycling increased from 28% in 1998 to 55% by the end of 2005; 51% of construction and demolition waste is recycled or re-used and 45% of commercial and industrial waste is recycled. The government estimates that recycling of household waste in England has now increased to over 33% in 2007, more than quadrupling over 10 years.