Recycling has its fair share of surprises.
Did you know your old drinks can could power a telly for three hours? Or that plastic bottles thrown away in the UK every year could stretch to the moon and back three times?
This list of 10 crazy facts about recycling is full of the strange, surprising and slightly mind-blowing. But behind the fun, there’s a serious point: recycling works, and small changes make a big difference.
At First Mile, we help UK businesses recycle more and waste less with simple services, expert support and a commitment to zero to landfill. Let’s get into it.
1. One recycled can powers a TV for 3 hours
Aluminium is incredibly efficient to recycle – it uses 95% less energy than making it from raw materials. In fact, according to Magdalene College, Cambridge, recycling just one can save enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours. It’s a small act with a big return, and why aluminium recycling in the UK is so important to get right.
2. Recycling every aluminium can in the UK would require 14 million fewer dustbins
Yes, really. If every aluminium can was recycled, we’d need 14 million fewer bins to deal with waste. That’s a massive reduction in rubbish, and a clear reminder of the space-saving power of proper recycling. Fewer bins, less mess, more materials reused.
3. Glass can be recycled forever, but takes 4,000 years to decompose
Glass is a recycling superstar: it can be melted down and reused endlessly without losing quality. But if it ends up in landfill, it could sit there for over 4,000 years. That’s why glass recycling is a smart, sustainable choice, especially when the alternative is centuries of waste.
4. Brits throw away 7 billion plastic bottles a year
That’s nearly 100 bottles for every person in the UK, every single year. And while plastic can be recycled, far too much still ends up in general waste or worse, the environment. Cutting down on plastic waste in the UK starts with better recycling and fewer single-use plastics.
5. In the UK, we throw away enough cans each year to stretch to the moon 3 times
Imagine a line of drinks cans reaching all the way to the moon… and back again… and again. It’s a shocking image, but it shows just how much recyclable material gets thrown out every year. Every single can you recycle is one less in that imaginary space pile.
6. Some councils spy on bins with “bin bugs”
It may sound like sci-fi, but it’s true. Some local councils use tiny devices called RFID bin tags (or “bin bugs”) to track how often bins are put out for collection. They don’t watch what’s inside, but they monitor the frequency to encourage better recycling habits. Weird? Yes. But it goes to show how seriously waste is being monitored in parts of the UK.
7. UK waste could fill the Royal Albert Hall in under 2 hours
Every two hours, the UK produces enough rubbish to fill the Royal Albert Hall. That’s a staggering amount of waste in such a short time, and a reminder of how fast things pile up. Recycling helps slow the flow, reduce the pressure on landfill, and recover valuable materials from the mess.
8. The average Brit throws away their body weight in rubbish every 7 weeks
It adds up fast. From packaging to food waste, most people in the UK produce around 80kg of waste every couple of months – roughly the same as their own body weight. It's a striking stat that shows how much we all have to do with what ends up in the bin.
9. That triangle icon doesn’t mean recyclable
Think the little triangle on packaging means it’s definitely recyclable? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. It often just identifies the type of plastic used, and many of those plastics can’t be recycled through household collections. This confusion is a big barrier to better recycling in the UK, which is why clear labelling and local recycling guidance matter so much.
10. Plastic bag use dropped 97% among the main retailers with one tiny charge
It wasn’t exactly popular at first, but the introduction of a 5p charge on plastic bags (later raised to 10p) led to a 97% drop in their use among major retailers. What felt like a hassle at the time turned out to be one of the UK’s most effective waste-reduction moves. A small change, but a huge impact.
Why recycling still matters
These facts might sound wild, but they show just how much of a difference recycling can make. Every can, bottle or box you recycle helps save energy, cut emissions and reduce the amount of waste heading to landfill.
Recycling works. And with the right support, we can all do even better.
At First Mile, we help UK businesses hit their sustainability goals with smarter, simpler recycling. From food waste to cardboard recycling, our services make waste reduction easy and effective.
Want to recycle more? First Mile can help
If these surprising recycling facts have inspired you to do more with your waste, we’re here to help. At First Mile, we work with thousands of businesses across the UK to boost recycling, cut emissions and keep waste zero to landfill.
Whether you run an office, shop, restaurant or warehouse, our flexible services and expert support make it easy to build a more sustainable business.
Explore the benefits of recycling or get a quote online today to see how easy it can be.
