Recycling and reusing our resources
The planet has a finite number of natural resources and it’s important that these resources are protected. One of the ways these resources can be preserved is by ensuring that people reuse products and recycle materials where they can. By doing this, we can reduce the strain on natural resources and also cut down on the environmental damage that is caused by the production of new goods and materials. A car that is crushed at the end of its life for example does little to reuse any of the materials.
What we are doing:
- Establishing ways of finding areas of the city where people aren’t recycling so we can actively promote the benefits of recycling to them.
- Working in partnership with neighbouring authorities to construct new materials recycling facilities which will help us, and private businesses, recycle and reuse materials more effectively.
- Supporting the development of social enterprises focused on promoting recycling and the reuse of goods and materials. These enterprises will in turn provide valuable work experience and opportunities for employment.
- Providing practical advice and support to businesses to help them recycle and reuse materials and energy in efficient, cost-effective ways.
In the UK
- Every home in Coventry produces over 900kg of waste. This is the equivalent of a small family car. 300,000 tonnes of reusable furniture are disposed of each year (Statistics from The Great Recovery Report “Re-arranging the future” 2016).
- The average lifespan of a mobile phone is two and a half years. This isn’t because the phone is no longer usable, but because people want to own the latest phones.
- Around 1.4 billion new smartphones are used each year.
- The number of people buying new smartphones is reducing and refurbished smartphone purchases are on the rise, with an annual growth of 11.2%.
