Events and News

The last decade has been the hottest on record, and we are now facing a climate emergency of unparalleled proportions. If we don’t make significant and rapid changes, we will see continued rising global temperatures, the melting of icecaps, continents on fire and rapid deforestation.

This directly affects humanity with increased poverty, immigration from displaced communities, job losses, waste mountains and natural habitats disappearing. We have the power to make lasting changes to combat this, and with recycling being recognized in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030, we are already seeing many individuals, governments and organisations taking direct action to support the global green agenda.

Recycling is a key part of the circular economy, helping to protect our natural resources. Each year the ‘Seventh Resource’ (recyclables) saves over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions and this is projected to increase to 1 billion tons by 2030. There is no doubt recycling is on the front line in the war to save the future of our planet and humanity.

The Global Recycling Foundation is pleased to announce the theme of Global Recycling Day 2024 as #RecyclingHeroes. This will recognise the people, places and activities that showcase what an important role recycling plays in contributing to an environmentally stable planet and a greener future which will benefit all.

Global Recycling Day was created in 2018 to help recognise, and celebrate, the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet. It is a day for the world to come together and put the planet first.

The mission of Global Recycling Day, as set out by the Global Recycling Foundation, is twofold:

1. To tell world leaders that recycling is simply too important not to be a global issue, and that a common, joined up approach to recycling is urgently needed.
2. To ask people across the planet to think resource, not waste, when it comes to the goods around us – until this happens, we simply won’t award recycled goods the true value and repurpose they deserve.

*Source https://www.globalrecyclingday.com/*

Of the earth’s natural resources, we tend to think of six as the most important – water, air, oil, natural gas, coal and minerals. These resources represent the foundation of our very existence. All our food, all our sustenance, all our belongings ultimately come from these six elements. Today, humanity can’t survive without them.

However, these resources are finite and rapidly running out. Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever. We are carelessly using the earth’s natural resources without thinking about what will replace them, while billions of tons of waste pour into landfill sites every year.

The simple solution to this is recycling – the ‘Seventh Resource’, which can be used again and again. Recycling helps to:

Combat climate change
• Each and every year, the Seventh Resource (recyclables) saves over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions
• The Seventh Resource offsets all CO2 emissions generated by the aviation industry annually

Boosts local employment around the world
• approximately 1.6 million people worldwide are employed in processing recyclables
• the annual contribution of the recycling industry towards the global GDP is projected to exceed $400 billion in the next 10 years
• $20 million dollars is invested each year by the industry into job creation, improving recycling efficiency and environmental impact.

Conserve the earth’s six precious primary resources
• Humans have consumed more resources in the last 50 years than in all previous history
• The Seventh Resource (recycled materials) supplies 40% of the world’s raw material needs

*Based on a study conducted by the Bureau of International Recycling

For more information check out our Recycling: The Seventh Resource Manifesto, which sets out our vision for the Seventh Resource:

In September of 2018, the Bureau of International Recycling and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization stepped up efforts to have Global Recycling Day recognized as an official United Nations day.

In a side event organized by BIR during the 11th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG) in Geneva, BIR and UNIDO emphasized the need to celebrate the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources. It was at this event that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two organizations, joining forces to drive home the importance of recycling.

“We are delighted to be working with UNIDO in our efforts to have Global Recycling Day recognized as an official UN day,” said Founding President of the Global Recycling Foundation Ranjit S. Baxi. “We are determined, in collaboration with UNIDO, to build on the momentum we’ve sparked since launching Global Recycling Day in March”.

Speaking at the side event were also Frank Van Rompaey, Head of UNIDO’s Geneva office, and Katharina Kummer Peiry of Kummer EcoConsult and former Executive Secretary of the Basel Convention.

*Source https://www.globalrecyclingday.com/*

Locally how can we help?

We can recycle as advised in bin it 123 for households and take items not included to the recycle centre.

Donate goods to others and charities for re-use, repurpose not refuse.