Plastic Recycling Facts

Plastic makes up 11% of average household waste.

Plastic is made from oil, which is a non-renewable resource. This means that one day it will run out. Oil has taken millions of years to form. It is made from dead plants and animals and will probably run out in the next half century.

Plastic things, which are thrown away and get dumped in landfill sites, will never rot away.

It is more difficult to recycle plastics than other materials, because there are several different types. Each type needs to be recycled separately.

The amount of plastic used to make things has been reduced over time. For example, yogurt pots have been reduced in weight from 12g to 5g in order to use less plastic.

Many items are made from recycled plastic, including bin liners, garden furniture, video and CD cases and even fleece jackets!

We should all try to reduce the amount of plastic we buy and re-use it as much as possible.