Recycle We

ek What Is Recycling?
Recycle Week is a yearly event
Recycling means turning old things
which celebrates recycling. It
that we no longer need or use into something
is in its 21st year and was first
new or the same thing again. There are many
held in 2004. The aim of Recycle
items that can and should be recycled, many of
Week is to encourage people to
which you may already do. These include:
recycle more by explaining the
importance of it and by providing • ● glass
them with new ways and ideas
• ● cans
for how to recycle at home. In
2024, Recycle Week will run from • ● tins
14th to 20th October. The theme for
• ● paper
this year is 'Rescue Me'.
• ● cardboard

• ● plastic

• ● food waste

• ● garden waste

Did You Know...? • ● clothing

Paper remains one
of the most recycled Why Is Recycling Important?
materials in the UK
Most of the rubbish that we throw into the bin ends up
today. Every tonne
in landfill. Some rubbish can take up to 400 years to rot
of paper recycled
away. Plastics take longer and they give off dangerous
saves 17 trees!
chemicals and gases into the ground, water and air. This
is damaging for the environment, including wildlife and
humans. It is also one of the causes of climate change.
There are over 500 landfill sites in the UK.

Recycling helps to save our natural resources. For example,

if we recycle more paper, fewer trees will need to be cut
down to make new paper. This means that less wildlife
will lose their homes.

It takes less time and energy to recycle an old item than

it does to make a brand new one. Therefore, recycling
helps to save energy. For example, recycling a single glass
bottle will save enough energy to power a laptop for
half an hour.

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 Recycle Week
'Rescue Me'

This year's theme has been chosen to help

people think about rescuing items that can
be recycled from the rubbish. If everyone
rescued just one item a day and recycled it,
it would make a big difference.

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 Recycle Week

Questions
1. For how many years has Recycle Week been happening? Tick one.

8 years
19 years
21 years
4 years

2. How long can it take rubbish to rot away? Tick one.

100 years
1000 years
4 years
400 years

3. How many landfill sites are there in the UK? Tick one.

over 400
over 500
over 600
over 100

4. Look at the section What Is Recycling?

Which material is mentioned first in the list of materials that can be recycled?


5. What is this year’s theme?




6. Underline one word in the quotation below that means the same as ‘harmful’.
Plastics take longer and they give off dangerous chemicals and gases into the ground,
water and air.


7. Explain in your own words why rubbish is bad for the environment.




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 Recycle Week

Answers
1. For how many years has Recycle Week been happening? Tick one.

8 years
19 years
21 years
4 years

2. How long can it take rubbish to rot away? Tick one.

100 years
1000 years
4 years
400 years

3. How many landfill sites are there in the UK? Tick one.

over 400
over 500
over 600
over 100

4. Look at the section What Is Recycling?

Which material is mentioned first in the list of materials that can be recycled?
glass

5. What is this year’s theme?

This year's theme is 'Rescue Me'.

6. Underline one word in the quotation below that means the same as ‘harmful’.
Plastics take longer and they give off dangerous chemicals and gases into the ground,
water and air.


7. Explain in your own words why rubbish is bad for the environment.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: Rubbish is bad for the environment because it can take
up to 400 years to rot away and as it does so it gives off dangerous chemicals and
gases. These damage the surrounding environment and wildlife, including humans.

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 Recycle We
ek What Is Recycling?
Recycle Week is an annual event Recycling is the process of turning
which celebrates and promotes old things that we no longer need or use
recycling. Now in its 21st year, into something new or the same thing again.
Recycle Week was first held There are many items that you may already
in 2004. The aim of Recycle be recycling, such as glass, cans, tins, paper,
Week is to encourage people cardboard, plastic, food waste, garden waste
to recycle more by explaining and clothing. Paper remains the most recycled
the importance of it and by material in the UK today. However, there are a
providing them with new ways huge number of other items that we all have
and ideas for how to recycle in our homes that can be recycled or
at home. Each year, there is a reused but tend not to be:
different theme and focus for the
week and this year’s is 'Rescue • ●electrical equipment
Me'. In 2024, Recycle Week will • ●toys
run from 14th to 20th October.
• ●furniture

• batteries (It is estimated that we throw

away over 600 million batteries every
Did You Know...? year in the UK.)
As much as 80% of the paint
things that we throw
away in the UK could Why Is Recycling Important?
be recycled.
Recycling is more important than ever as our planet is
actually being damaged by waste and pollution. Most of
the rubbish that we throw into the bin ends up in landfill.
Some rubbish can take up to 400 years to degrade
and plastic takes even longer. As it does, it can release
dangerous chemicals and gases which cause pollution and
climate change.

Recycling helps to save our natural resources. For example,

by using less paper or recycling used paper, fewer trees
will need to be cut down to make new paper. This means
that less wildlife will lose their homes and natural habitat.

It takes less time and energy to recycle an old item than it does to make a brand new
one. Therefore, recycling helps to save energy. For example, recycling a single glass
bottle will save enough energy to power a laptop for half an hour.

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 Recycle Week
'Rescue Me'
This year's theme has been chosen to help
people think about rescuing items that can
be recycled from the rubbish. If everyone
rescued just one item a day and recycled
it, it would make a huge difference to the
environment.

This planet is ours and we all have a

responsibility to look after it!

Glossary

degrade: To break down or rot away.

landfill: A place where rubbish is buried.

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 Recycle Week

Questions
1. How often does Recycle Week occur? Tick one.

weekly
yearly
monthly
daily

2. What is the most commonly recycled material in the UK? Tick one.

glass
plastic
paper
cans

3. How much waste from UK homes could be recycled? Tick one.

100%
50%
20%
80%

4. Underline one word in the quotation below that means the same as ‘break down’.
Some rubbish can take up to 400 years to degrade.

5. Name two items that can be recycled but tend not to be.

• 

• 

6. Fill in the missing word.

This year's theme has been chosen to help people think about rescuing items that can be
recycled from the .

7. Explain in your own words why rubbish is bad for the environment.




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 Recycle Week
8. Explain why it is important to recycle more paper.




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 Recycle Week

Answers
1. How often does Recycle Week occur? Tick one.

weekly
yearly
monthly
daily

2. What is the most commonly recycled material in the UK? Tick one.

glass
plastic
paper
cans

3. How much waste from UK homes could be recycled? Tick one.

100%
50%
20%
80%

4. Underline one word in the quotation below that means the same as ‘break down’.
Some rubbish can take up to 400 years to degrade.

5. Name two items that can be recycled but tend not to be.
Accept any two of the following: electrical equipment; toys; furniture; batteries; paint.

6. Fill in the missing word.

This year's theme has been chosen to help people think about rescuing items that can be
recycled from the rubbish.

7. Explain in your own words why rubbish is bad for the environment.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: Putting rubbish in landfill is bad for the environment
because it can take up to 400 years to degrade and as it does so it gives off dangerous
chemicals and gases. These damage the surrounding environment and cause pollution
and climate change.

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 Recycle Week
8. Explain why it is important to recycle more paper.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: It is important to recycle more paper because the more
we recycle, the fewer trees that need to be cut down to make new paper. This means
that less wildlife will lose their homes and habitat.

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 Recycle We
ek What Is Recycling?
Recycle Week is an annual event
Recycling is the process of
which celebrates and promotes
turning old things that we no longer need or
recycling. The aim of Recycle
use into something new or the same thing
Week, which is now in its 21st
again. There are many items that you may
year, is to encourage people to
already be recycling, such as glass, cans, tins,
recycle more by explaining the
paper, cardboard, plastic, food waste, garden
importance of it, warning about
waste and clothing. Glass is actually 100%
the dangers of not doing it and by
recyclable and can be recycled over and over
providing them with new ways
again without ever losing quality! However,
and initiatives for how to recycle
there are a huge number of other items that we
at home. Each year, the organisers
all have in our homes that can be recycled or
of the event, Waste and Resources
reused. These include electrical equipment,
Action Programme (WRAP), choose
toys, furniture and paint. It is estimated
a different theme and focus and
that we throw away over 600
this year’s is 'Rescue Me'. In 2024,
million batteries every year in
Recycle Week will run from 14th to
the UK and that only 27% of
20th October.
them are actually recycled.
Previous years' events have seen
great feedback from participants
Why Is Recycling Important?
who attended; after one Recycle
Week, an impressive 3.7 million Most of the rubbish that we throw into the bin
people said they did something ends up in landfill. Some rubbish can take up to
differently as a result of seeing 400 years to degrade and plastic, which contains
and hearing about it. This shows toxic oils and chemicals, takes even longer. As
the power of the event! it does, it can release dangerous chemicals and
gases which cause pollution and climate change.
WRAP is a charity that works
with businesses, individuals Recycling helps to save our natural resources.
and communities to help For example, by using less paper or recycling
them reduce waste, develop used paper, fewer trees will subsequently need
eco-friendly products and to be cut down to make new paper. This means
use resources in a more that less wildlife will lose their homes and
efficient way.
natural habitats.

It takes less time and energy to recycle an old

item than it does to manufacture a brand
new one. For example, recycling a single
glass bottle will save enough energy to power a
laptop for half an hour.

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 Recycle Week
'Rescue Me'

With environmental concerns on the increase,

this year’s theme is more important than
ever! Its purpose is to help people think about
rescuing recyclable items from the rubbish.
If everyone rescued just one item a day and
recycled it, it would make a huge difference
to the environment. This planet it ours and
we all have a responsibility to look after it!

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 Recycle Week

Questions
1. What does WRAP stand for? Tick one.

Water and Resources Action Programme

Waste and Recycling Action Programme
Waste and Resources Action Programme
Waste and Resources Association Party

2. How many people said they changed their behaviours as a result of a previous year's
Recycle Week? Tick one.

2.7 million
3.7 million
7.2 million
7.3 million


3. Find and copy a word which means ‘every year’.

4. What happens to the quality of glass after it has been repeatedly recycled?


5. Fill in the missing words.

The aim of Recycle Week, which is now in its 21st year, is to
people to recycle more by explaining the of it.


6. Most people do not know that batteries can be recycled.

Do you agree? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.




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 Recycle Week
7. Is recycling important to you? Explain your answer. 




8. Predict what would happen if we did not have Recycle Week.





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 Recycle Week

Answers
1. What does WRAP stand for? Tick one.

Water and Resources Action Programme

Waste and Recycling Action Programme
Waste and Resources Action Programme
Waste and Resources Association Party

2. How many people said they changed their behaviours as a result of a previous year's
Recycle Week? Tick one.

2.7 million
3.7 million
7.2 million
7.3 million


3. Find and copy a word which means ‘every year’.
annual

4. What happens to the quality of glass after it has been repeatedly recycled?
Nothing happens to glass as it is 100% recyclable and retains its quality no matter how
many times it is recycled.

5. Fill in the missing words.

The aim of Recycle Week, which is now in its 21st year, is to encourage
people to recycle more by explaining the importance of it.


6. Most people do not know that batteries can be recycled.

Do you agree? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I agree that most people do not know that batteries can
be recycled because the text says over 600 million batteries are thrown away each year
and only 27% of them are recycled so lots of people must not know that you can.

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 Recycle Week
7. Is recycling important to you? Explain your answer. 
Pupils’ own responses, such as: Recycling is important to me because I think we have a
responsibility to look after our planet. The rubbish that we create is damaging not only
to us but to wildlife and the environment too and if we don’t do our bit to help then we
won’t have a planet to look after anymore.

8. Predict what would happen if we did not have Recycle Week.

Pupils’ own responses, such as: If we did not have Recycle week, fewer people would
know about what they could and could not recycle so landfill sites might become more
full and there might be more pollution.

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