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Thanks a billion - recycling is paying off

Liz Goodwin on 13 March 2009

Around 3.5 billion aluminium drinks cans were recycled last year in the UK. One of the posters used in the Recycle Now spring campaign

More than one billion pounds – that’s the staggering value of the materials all of us, as householders, have been recycling since 2003. This is great news because it really helps to show the value of recycling – especially important at a time when some people are asking if it’s worth recycling given the fall in material prices.
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Press reports threaten the hard work of the UK public

Liz Goodwin on 29 January 2009

I have been both disappointed and frustrated to see media reports over the last few days that are misleading and factually incorrect about the environmental benefits delivered through recycling.
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Clear thinking in challenging times

Marcus Gover on 20 January 2009

Although 2009 is already shaping up to be a challenging year for the UK and global economy, my view is that the financial benefits which are made possible by the efficient use of natural resources, reducing waste and recycling are now more important than ever.

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Playing a crucial role

Liz Goodwin on 25 November 2008

There has been a lot of discussion and coverage in the press recently about the fall in the prices that we've seen for recyclates.  The price falls are dramatic and it is understandable that they cause concern. 

However, there is no need for this to undermine public confidence in the value of recycling, nor lead to unacceptable environmental consequences, and we should ensure this does not happen.
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There is such a thing as a free lunch

Liz Goodwin on 04 November 2008

Two school children enjoy a packed lunch.

As we head towards Christmas, I’m sure you’ll agree that the coming weeks can be expensive ones as we start to buy gifts and make plans for the festive season. So any suggestions on how we can save money in these difficult economic times are bound to be welcome.
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Working together in challenging times

Liz Goodwin on 16 October 2008

It has been near impossible to ignore the dire economic headlines in the press over the last week or two. 

I’m so pleased to be able to talk about something positive - a new voluntary agreement for the UK construction industry to halve the amount of waste to landfill by 2012 - that makes strong economic sense as well as delivering significant environmental benefits.
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Identifying ways forward for the real world

Liz Goodwin on 18 September 2008

We have just published the results of a number of weekly food waste collection trials that we have carried out with Local Authorities. These show that well managed trials can work very effectively and people want to use them.
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Moving forward from zero growth

Liz Goodwin on 29 July 2008

One of the things that causes people huge frustration is the amount of packaging that we all see every day - especially when we can't recycle all of it. 

I share this frustration, having had a bin full of unrecyclable packaging this weekend!
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Closing the loop for plastics

Liz Goodwin on 26 June 2008

In my last blog I talked about the work we're doing to help find a way of recycling all those mixed plastics that lurk in our waste bins - the films, plastic trays, yoghourt pots etc.

It's a busy time for plastics.
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Rising to the packaging challenge

Liz Goodwin on 29 May 2008

Examples of mixed plastics

I was interested to see more coverage in the press today about the amount of packaging used by retailers and their suppliers which isn't recyclable.
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