Reduce, Re-use, Recycle with Preloved

Global Recycling Day

Global Recycling Day is on 18th March. A key day for sustainability which celebrates a key component in modern day society and highlights our efforts to reduce waste. Did you know that British households create over 26 million tonnes of waste each year? Furthermore, we only recycle 12 million tonnes of that waste. As a result of this, we at Preloved are passionate about raising awareness on the importance of recycling. Ultimately, we want to ensure all of our Preloved community recycle – for Global Recycling Day and beyond! 

We believe that Global Recycling Day is the perfect opportunity to stop and think about the choices we make when disposing of waste. When we consider that over half the waste produced in the UK is sent to landfill, it’s a wake-up call that we can recycle a lot more than we do. Plus, the UK only recycles 3% more waste in 2023 than we did in 2010. Considering how much our society has progressed in the last 13 years, this figure could (and probably should) be much higher! 

Keep reading to find out how Preloved can help you recycle more in 2023. 

How To Recycle At Home

Firstly, if you want to increase your recycling habits, you’re best off starting at home. This is where we produce most of our waste. Chances are, you’ve just fallen into some bad habits of not recycling everything due to convenience. 55% of Brits place items that are recyclable into general rubbish bins, including foil, aerosols, and plastic detergent bottles. Here are some of our top tips to help you recycle more at home: 

• Create a recycling plan: That’s right – a recycling plan. We recommend keeping this on the fridge… Because all important things go on the fridge, don’t they? You can itemise all of the recyclable items you have and plan when to dispose of them, in line with your bin collection day. If you aren’t sure when your bins are collected, this should help. 
• Invest in storage for your recycling: We’ve all seen those fancy bins with compartments for recyclable items. However, they aren’t affordable for many people and, ironically, aren’t environmentally friendly. We would recommend making use of some old cardboard boxes and using them to store recycling in while you wait to take it out. It’s not as messy as leaving it cluttering up the kitchen sides, and reduces temptation to chuck it all in the general waste bin for an easy life. 
• Make sure everyone in your house knows: Tell your family and housemates to check whether items are reusable or recyclable before throwing them away. This can also be a great teachable moment for your kids! So don’t shy away from getting them involved too. 

Buying & Selling On Preloved

Don’t forget that when you’re picking out items to be thrown away or recycled, to consider whether it’s worth selling that item on Preloved. At Preloved, we strive to help our community keep their unwanted items out of landfill – not just for Global Recycling Day! A great incentive to encourage people to be more sustainable is the idea of making money. Before deciding to send something to landfill, really think if this item could be worth something to someone. Even if you think it’s likely not, you’d be surprised! Plus, in today’s climate, we’re all looking to save cash wherever possible, which means there’s never been a better time to start selling on Preloved!

As well as selling your unwanted items on Preloved, you can also buy things on our website as well! This is another way to take part in Global Recycling Day as you are helping to keep others items out of landfills. Also, it’s a great way to save some cash compared to buying brand new items every time you need something. You’d be surprised how many bargains there are on Preloved – why not look for yourself and see?

Recycle With Freeloved

Finally, if you aren’t interested in making money off your unwanted items, but don’t want to see them go to landfill – try Freeloved! Freeloved is the perfect solution if you have items cluttering up your house, that you can’t recycle or sell. Not only can you free up some of the clutter in your home, but you can also help your community! For Global Recycling Day, why not spend a couple of hours listing unwanted items on Freeloved? It’s the perfect way to play your part (if you ask us)!

Now more than ever, we need to be looking out for those around us and helping if we are fortunate enough to be able to. Something may seem worthless to you, but someone could be in desperate need of that exact item. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, after all. 

Win A Voucher For Your Efforts

For all your great efforts recycling and reducing landfill we have a giveaway we want to tell you about! You can be in with the chance of winning a £50 Look Fantastic voucher! – Just fill in the form below (T&C’s apply)