Recycling as effectively as possible in Exmouth this summer | Opinion

This month's article will focus on general recycling issues. As readers will be aware, we are shortly approaching the height of the summer tourist season with the need to dispose of as much recycling as effectively as possible.

This is because research indicates that the biggest issue in terms of recycling during the summer months would likely be found in areas that have a large seasonal population, like Exmouth for example, where waste volumes and residue can increase dramatically.

Littleham is a great ward to represent as it includes some of the beach and Orcombe Point within its catchment area.

As a ward councillor, I would strongly urge all visitors to this wonderful beauty spot to either take home or dispose of their unwanted rubbish in the council's bins that are provided as that way you will be doing your bit for the environment.

Also, to remind readers that the guidance for disposable barbecues (which aren't recyclable) is that you should make sure they are completely cool first, then should be placed in the residual waste bin (your black wheelie bin) or transported to a recycling and household waste site for disposal.

Many readers will probably be considering the recycling process itself, and what items are more practical to be recycled. I will quickly run through the options and you can decide for yourselves.

The science suggests that glass and aluminium can both be 'closed loop' recycled – turned back into the same product, a potentially limitless number of times.

However, plastic sadly, degrades each time you melt it. Although plastic bottles and cartons can be recycled, it is thus into a lower quality material because only so many cycles are possible.

If we examine Tetra-Paks we see that they are made up of about 75% card, but this is layered with plastic (polyethylene) and, in the ones that are designed to preserve liquids outside of the fridge, a thin layer of aluminium.

The advantage of a Tetra-Pak is that they are also much lighter to transport and because empty Tetra-Paks can be transported flat, you can also fit far more into one shipment than you could glass bottles, plus, when filled, they are regular shaped and therefore, more space-efficient.

Plastic bottles are typically made from PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) which is made from oil, a non-renewable resource. PET bottles take much more energy to make than Tetra-Paks, and their carbon footprint is much higher – around 350 g CO2e/litre. They can't be reused, as the sterilisation would damage the plastic.

Aluminium is lighter than glass, which reduces transportation costs, and, like glass, it can be infinitely recycled with no loss of quality. The rate of recycling aluminium in the UK is 52%.

So, what does this all mean to you as the resident and consumer? Well studies show that in terms of climate change, Tetra-Pak cartons are the winner, followed by plastic, then aluminium, and glass is the worst.

In terms of plastic pollution and the ability to do closed loop recycling, glass and aluminium are the winners. And as you recycle them more times, their carbon emissions start to fall back down towards cartons and plastic.

As readers will know, whole fruit and vegetables come in their own, biodegradable, and compostable packaging!

Readers may also be thinking where does our recycling end up? Well, dry recyclables are all separated at our plant at Greendale in Woodbury Salterton. They are baled and sent to a range of processors.

After processing they are then sent to manufacturers to be used as secondary raw materials to make new products. Most of the processors are located in the UK but sometimes it can be processors based in Europe or Asia.

As readers will realise from reading this article, in terms of selecting the best option for the environment, it's not an easy decision and depends on your priorities – some materials are better in terms of carbon whilst others are better in terms of reuse, recycling and waste.

I would as an environmentally friendly ward councillor urge all residents to play their part and try to buy and re-use where possible as many products which can be re-cycled thereby showing your commitment to our planet and our ward in Littleham - together we can make a difference which starts today as you finish reading this article.

Author's notes: My grateful thanks go to Jane Turner of the Ethical Consumer since 1989 for providing some of the technical explanations used in this article.

If you would like to contact your local councillor please click here.

If you would like to get to know more about recycling and waste issues then do click on this link.