At the risk of stating the obvious, London is a big city with a lot of people in it. That being the case, the city also produces a great deal of rubbish. No surprise there! As we become increasingly aware of the waste that we create on a daily basis and its impact on both the planet and the resources at our disposal, we’re all becoming more mindful of the need to dispose of our rubbish more responsibly. In a city this size, that’s no mean feat!
However, it’s still quite tricky to know every ‘correct’ way to dispose of our daily rubbish. London is still, proportionately to the rest of the country, not great at recycling and disposing of its waste correctly. Many people still don’t know what fast rubbish removal options they have access to, and what the best ways are to reuse, repurpose or recycle unwanted items. So, here is Metro Waste’s quick guide on how you might want to deal with your various kinds of rubbish, and the amazing unsung schemes that have popped up all over the city.
Furniture and Large Items
Finding the right kind of waste clearance or junk removal options are hard enough with smaller everyday items, but when you’re trying to get rid of larger items and furnishings, it can be even trickier. If your local charity shop won’t take them and you don’t want to or can’t sell the items yourself, finding the right rubbish removal option can end up being a bit of a head-scratcher.
There’s no doubt that there are many rubbish clearance companies in London that already do an amazing job, including the team at Metro Waste. We’re an ideal choice for getting rid of your old, broken or unwanted furniture. We’re also licensed to remove certain items that can be classed as hazardous waste such as fridges and freezers, which must be disposed of in a very particular way. If you attempt to take one of these to landfill, it’s possible that they won’t take it and tell you that you’ll need to arrange for its disposal yourself. Fortunately, we know exactly how to deal with such items in the correct, legal way so why not get in touch today for free friendly advice or a quote.
Smaller, heavier waste
Getting rid of smaller, heavier waste can also be problematic. If you’ve just dug up the garden, are doing renovation work or just have a load of rubble that needs removing, bagging it all up by yourself and taking it to your local tip isn’t really a viable option. You’ll need to make numerous trips due to the weight of the waste and some councils are now charging visitors for this type of waste too. A sensible alternative is to get a free quote from us first. We’ll be able to advise you on the price based on the amount you have; the smaller the amount, the cheaper it’ll be.
Plastic
The amazing thing about plastic is that even if you do make a real effort to cut down on usage, there’s still a great deal of almost unavoidable plastic still being used in so many essential products. Of course, food packaging is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to our plastic consumption and it seems like we’ve now become virtually dependent on it. Long gone are the days when you could buy peas still in their pods from the local greengrocer; they now come already shelled and in a plastic packet.
So, what do we do? Well, the most obvious option is, of course, to use your recycling bin. Most London households have a council-funded and collected recycling bin, so make it a priority to find out what waste you can recycle in your bin (you can usually find out by visit your local council’s website). This is important as, surprisingly, not all plastic food packaging can be recycled.
Alternatively, you could also go online and find out what local plastic recycling initiatives are available in your area. For example, Hackney Council, have had a great idea… In order to improve recycling in flats and on estates (which can be tricky and long-winded if you live on a particularly large one), they have installed a reverse vending machine, where recyclers gain vouchers in exchange for cans and plastic bottles.
Single-Use Plastic Alternatives
The need to recycle can always be reduced by adopting a few fairly simple alternatives. The sales of bottled water, although still significant, have gone down in the capital due to the adoption by many Londoners of water bottles. This trend is being further encouraged by the gradual implementation of water stations around the city.
Plastic straws are also an issue. Many restaurants and bars are now using alternatives such as paper and pasta straws. However, although great for the environment, this doesn’t necessarily cut down on their requirement for rubbish clearance and removal. Why not treat yourself to a metal straw instead? If it’s kept clean, it can quite literally last you an entire lifetime.
Fabric Recycling
Having a wardrobe clearout? Great! And when you do, make sure you don’t put it into your normal rubbish. Any fabric-based product you want to get rid of can very easily be recycled. This is a type of recycling not widely thought or known about, but it is essential as, with the fast fashion industry still booming, excess fabric makes up a huge chunk of human waste.
There are a few very easy ways to do this. The first is to take it to one of quite a few clothing retailers that have recycling bins in their stores. Levi and the North Face are two such companies that have piloted such schemes. Secondly, did you know that all charity shops deal with discarded fabrics? If you put your fabrics in a bag clearly labelled ‘rags’ and give it to a charity shop, they should send them to be recycled! It couldn’t be simpler. Lastly, moany councils have special recycling bins for clothing and shoes. You can usually find these at strategic points around your area or you’ll often find them in supermarket car parks. So, you simply bag-up your unwanted items and pop them in the nearest clothing/shoe bin.