7 Welsh adventure essentials that are ready for their next journey
Wales is already one of the world's best recyclers, in fact, we're currently second on the global charts. But every great adventure wants to reach No.1.
This summer, we're backing Wales Recycles' Be Mighty. Recycle. campaign to help make that happen, one bottle, can and banana skin at a time.
Every recyclable item has a story to tell that doesn't end when you're finished with it.
Put it in the right bin and it keeps valuable materials in circulation for years to come, whether it's becoming something new or, like our food waste, helping to power Wales.
Here are seven adventure essentials that are ready for their next chapter.
- The drinks bottle that's ready for its next Welsh adventure
After keeping you hydrated on a coastal path, castle trail or mountain summit, a plastic drinks bottle still has plenty left in the tank.
Recycling just one plastic bottle saves enough energy to power a smartphone 14 times! Not bad for something that spent most of the day rattling around in a hiking pack.
Its next adventure starts with the right bin.
- The can that's already planning its next summit
Aluminium drinks cans are one of recycling's true legends.
They can be recycled again and again without losing quality, making them one of the most remarkable materials in the recycling world.
Pop it in the right bin and it could be back on the shelves and out on the trails well before next summer rolls around.
- The glass bottle with miles still to go
Glass is a material that loves another chapter. It can be recycled endlessly and transformed into new bottles and jars time after time.
Even better, recycling a single glass bottle saves enough energy to power a lightbulb for hours. That's a lot of mileage from one simple choice made on a Welsh hillside.
- The suncream bottle keeping the good times topped up
Suncream is a Welsh summer essential, whether you're exploring Pembrokeshire's coastline or soaking up the views from Yr Wyddfa. But once it's empty, the job isn't done.
When recycled, the plastic can be transformed into new products, helping valuable materials stay in use for longer. The same goes for many of the everyday essentials we pack for a day out, from toiletries to hand sanitiser to aerosols. Pop them in the right bin.
A little protection for your skin. A little protection for the planet too.
- The foil that's been on quite the picnic
Whether it wrapped your sandwiches on a clifftop, your snacks on a forest trail or your picnic spread on the beach, foil has one of the longest careers in recycling.
Producing products from recycled aluminium uses around 95% less energy than making them from raw materials. Which means that scrunched-up piece of foil could still be making a difference long after your tan has faded and your boots have dried out.
- The yoghurt pot ready for another Welsh adventure
From beach breakfasts to snacks on the go, pots, tubs and trays are a familiar part of any Welsh day out.
Don't let the fun stop there. When recycled correctly, plastic pots, tubs and trays can be transformed into new products and packaging, helping keep valuable materials in circulation for longer.
Today's yoghurt pot could be tomorrow's hummus tub. Now that's quite the transformation!
- The banana skin with surprising power
Some of the most impressive performers are hiding in plain sight.
In Wales, food waste collected for recycling is turned into renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser.
In fact, just one recycled banana skin can generate enough renewable energy to fully charge a smartphone. That's more photos of those incredible Welsh views, more videos of memorable moments, and a few more chances to capture the magic of a Welsh summer.
So when you're enjoying Wales this summer, make sure all your food waste, from apple cores and inedible peelings, to tea bags, eggshells and leftovers all goes in the food waste caddy.
Every great adventure deserves another chapter
From bottles and cans to yoghurt pots and banana skins, every recyclable item has the potential to do something amazing after you've finished with it.
And every item recycled correctly helps Wales move one step closer to the top spot.
So when you're out exploring castles, coastlines, mountains and everything in between this summer, give your recycling the send off it deserves. Choose the right bin.
Want to see where they go next? Visit Wales Recycles and discover the journey your recycling takes after you bin it.