Each year on 18 March, Global Recycling Day encourages people, communities and organisations to think about the importance of recycling and how we manage the resources we use every day. Recycling has become a familiar part of daily life in the UK and has played a significant role in reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.
But according to Professor Pauline Deutz, Professor of Circular Economy and Sustainability at the University of Salford, recycling works best when it is part of a wider approach to how we design, use and value resources.
“Recycling is the reprocessing of materials that have already been used so that they can be used again, often in a different product,” Pauline explains. “In almost all circumstances this is environmentally preferable to throwing those materials away – either burying them in landfill or burning them for energy.”
Since the 1990s, recycling has been a major focus of efforts to reduce household waste in the UK and other countries. Recycling rates have increased significantly during that time, representing an important step towards reducing environmental impact. However, Pauline says recycling should be viewed within the broader context of the circular economy.
Recycling within the circular economy
A circular economy aims to keep materials and products in use for as long as possible, reducing the need for new raw materials and limiting waste. “Few items will last forever,” Pauline says. “Eventually something will reach the end of its life and recycling the materials it’s made from becomes necessary.”
But before that stage, there are often opportunities to keep products in use for longer. Repairing items, sharing them, or passing them onto someone else can all extend their lifespan and delay the need to break them down into raw materials.
“For example, you might give away or sell an item of clothing, or a spare kitchen utensil that you no longer need but is still perfectly usable,” Pauline explains. “Even better, we can reduce resource use by choosing reusable packaging or sometimes simply deciding not to buy something in the first place.”
Thinking about waste in this way is central to circular economy research taking place at Salford Business School, where academics explore practical solutions to help businesses and communities use resources more sustainably.
Keeping products in use for longer
Recycling remains an import part of managing waste, but it can also be a complex process. “Recycling requires a lot of organisation,” Pauline says. “Materials have to be collected, separated and often transported long distances before they can be processed and reused.”
For some products, this process is relatively straightforward. A glass bottle, for example, is made from a single material and can be recycling efficiently. But many modern products are far more complicated. “Electronics can contain plastics, metals and glass – and often several different types of each,” Pauline explains. “Separating those materials can require specialised equipment and a lot of energy.”
Recycling is also rarely completely efficient. Some materials cannot be recovered, while others may have little or no market demand. Because of this, keeping products in use for longer can often reduce environmental impact by delaying the point at which energy-intensive recycling processes are needed.
The role of businesses
Businesses play a crucial role in enabling a circular economy because they design and manufacture the products people use every day. “If we want products to last longer, they need to be designed with durability and repairability in mind,” Pauline says.
This might involve using stronger materials, improving the quality of components such as fastenings, or designing products so they can be easily taken apart and repaired.
Manufacturers can also reduce waste within their own operations by recycling materials or collaborating with other organisations that can use those materials in their own production processes. “For a circular economy to work, businesses also need to be prepared to make products using pre-used materials,” Pauline adds.
What individuals can do
While businesses and policymakers play a major role, individuals can also make small changes that help reduce waste and keep resources in use.
Pauline suggests starting with a simple question before buying something new. “Think twice before you buy something,” she says. “You might be able to find a second-hand alternative or simply keep what you already have for a little longer.”
Passing items on to others can also help extend their life. “If you no longer need something, consider whether someone else might find it useful,” Pauline adds.
Rethinking how society uses resources
Looking ahead, Pauline hopes society will begin to focus more on meeting genuine needs rather than producing large volumes of goods to drive consumption. “Ideally, we would make the things that people genuinely need, rather than producing items simply to sell them,” she says. “That would fundamentally change how resources are used.”
As conversations around sustainability and climate change continue to grow, Global Recycling Day offers an opportunity to reflect on how materials are managed in everyday life.
Recycling remains a vital part of reducing waste. But as Pauline highlights, building a more sustainable future will also depend on how we design products, how long we use them, and how effectively we keep valuable resources in circulation.