Interesting Facts about UK Waste

• On average, waste costs are likely to represent 4% of turnover for medium sized businesses

• In 2003, the construction and demolition sector alone generated over 107 million tonnes of waste in the UK

• UK households are throwing away the equivalent of two and a half double-decker buses every year, that is over 25 million tonnes

• Every tonne of biodegradable waste produces between 300 and 500 cubic meters of greenhouse gas when landfilled
  
  
• In less than two hours, the UK produces enough waste to fill the Albert Hall in London
  
  
• Every year, an estimated 17 ½ billion plastic bags are given away by supermarkets – approximately 290 bags for every person in the UK
  
  
• Glass takes a long time to break down – glass made in the Middle East over 3000 years ago can still be found today
  
  
• If all the aluminium drinks cans sold in the UK were recycled, there would be 14 million fewer full dustbins per year
  
  
• The energy saving from recycling one bottle will power a computer for 25 minutes or a 100 watt light bulb for almost an hour
  
  
• Each person in the UK uses 15 trees worth of paper every year
  
  
• To grow enough trees to provide the amount of paper that Britain uses each year, you would need a forest the size of Wales