Each tonne of paper recycled saves 17 average sized trees, as well as their surrounding habitat and wildlife.

Recycling paper reduces the amount of energy used by up to 50% of producing new paper and cuts pollution by even more.

The increasing demand for paper has led to tree planting in areas that are unsuitable, resulting in the destruction of wildlife habitats, the erosion and degradation of soils and silting.

Every tonne of glass recycled saved 1.2 tonnes of raw materials and the equivalent of 30 gallons of oil energy.

If all the aluminium cans sold in the UK were recycled there would be 12 million fewer full dustbins each year.

Plastic cups can be recycled into a wide range of products. It takes 1 plastic cup to be recycled to make a pencil and only 5 to make a ruler.

The UK currently only recycles 11% of its waste compared to 50% in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands.