Come to the rescue for Recycle Week 2024
Design a recycling superhero for chance to win a prize
Oxfordshire residents are being asked to come to the rescue for Recycle Week 2024.
The county has a 57.2 per cent recycling and composting rate, making Oxfordshire residents the best in England for 10 years in a row.
However, to continue to tackle the climate emergency, Oxfordshire County Council is calling on people to do every little bit they can to increase that figure as around half of the average rubbish bin is made up of items that could have been recycled.
The theme of this year’s Recycle Week, which runs from 14 - 20 October, is ‘Rescue Me, Recycle’. The aim is to highlight common types of recyclable waste that residents often don’t recycle and ask them to rescue at least one of these items from their rubbish bin. These could include toilet roll tubes and empty aerosols.
Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “Oxfordshire residents are already great at recycling, but there is always room for improvement when it comes to finding the best possible option for an item we no longer need.
“With busy lives and so many different types of items, packaging and materials, we know there are times when householders can be unsure if something is recyclable or not. But if everyone can rescue at least one more recyclable item from general waste, it will make a big difference across the county.”
Vicky Beechey, Oxfordshire Resources and Waste Partnership Manager, said: “Oxfordshire’s councils work really hard to make sure that our waste is recycled and reused as much as possible, but we need your help.
“Why not take one more look at what you’re about to throw away to check if anything else could be rescued and put into the recycling – this could be your empty shampoo bottle, the cardboard toilet roll tube or the empty aerosol can. More of the right stuff in the right bin is better for the planet and for all of us.”
Oxfordshire County Council’s online Waste Wizard search tool can help people put the right items in the right bin. Available on the council’s website, residents can type in their postcode and the item they no longer need to find out where it could be repaired or donated, or which kerbside bin or recycling centre skip it can go in.
More advice and information about reducing the amount of waste produced can be found through Oxfordshire Recycles, which provides updates through different channels including Facebook and X/Twitter.
The partnership, which is made up of the county and district councils, works together to improve Oxfordshire’s recycling performance.
To encourage younger people to get involved in Recycle Week, Oxfordshire County Council is running a design activity and prize draw for residents. To take part, entrants need to design a recycling superhero character to rescue recyclable items from the rubbish bin.
People can enter by sending their design before midnight on 20 October 2024.
Fifty entrants who submit a design will be selected at random to receive an Oxfordshire Reuses aluminium water bottle and some other waste reducing goodies.
Designs submitted may also be used in some social media posts during Recycle Week to help inspire others to recycle.
Entrants can submit their picture by direct message to @OxfordshireRecycles on Facebook, @OxonRecycles on X/Twitter, or email their entry to waste.management@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Entries should include the words ‘Design a recycling superhero’ in the message or subject and must include the entrant’s name and address. Under 16s should ask a parent or guardian to enter for them.
More details about how to enter, including terms and conditions, are available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.
Recycle Week is organised by Recycle Now, part of international climate action charity WRAP, and is now in its 21st year.
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