Recycling is becoming increasingly important at government, business and community level. The most important influence on the level of recycling activity is the increasing costs of waste disposal via landfill.

• Landfill disposal costs are inevitably set to increase as landfill sites become scarcer. The landfill tax introduced by government in 1996 has also increased the cost of disposal.
• Recycling also takes precedence over incineration in the waste hierarchy, even if energy is recovered from the burning of waste, as recycling saves valuable natural resources

• By recycling there may be an opportunity to generate income from the sale of the materials. This can then be offset against the waste collection costs incurred.
• New legislation will also serve to increase the level of recycling. The 'Producer Responsibility for Packaging Waste' legislation has placed the emphasis back upon businesses who handle packaging to encourage reuse and recycling. It is inevitable that the government will continue to promote recovery and recycling and will ensure the costs of not doing so are such that recycling will make economic as well as environmental sense.
• Finally, by minimising your waste, this will help to improve your Environmental Impact and improve your image.