National Recycle Week – What Team Absolute are doing to divert waste from landfill

This year’s National Recycle Week theme, ‘Rescue Me, Recycle!’, is all about rescuing recyclable items from the rubbish bin before they end up in landfill. Inspired by this message, the Absolute team are sharing some of the everyday items we’ve reused or repurposed instead of throwing away, benefiting both the planet and our pockets! Here are some nifty ways Absolute rescues rubbish, both in and outside of the office. 

Laura’s Beeswax Sandwich Wrap and Vinted Bargains

Laura’s lunches always look the most delicious in the office kitchen, and better still, they help the environment. As an alternative to cling film or tinfoil, Laura uses beeswax wrap which keeps her food fresh. It can be washed and reused every day, keeping rolls of single-use plastic wrap and foil out of landfill.  

Laura is also a Vinted warrior. She loves finding pre-loved gems on the second-hand fashion app to build a timeless office capsule wardrobe. As well as saving money, buying second-hand means being part of a slower, sustainable fashion industry – one where old pieces get a new lease of life instead of ending up at the tip. 

Jess’s Reusable Water Bottle and Compostable Sponge 

A small change can make a big difference. Instead of buying plastic water bottles, Jess carries her metal bottle everywhere she goes. This is an easy swap, but by switching to a reusable bottle, you can save approximately 150 single-use plastic bottles from use every year. 

At home, Jess also uses a dish sponge made from plant-based materials. It’s machine washable and lasts for 1-2 months – unlike the yellow and green sponges, which break down after 1-2 weeks, release microplastics into the water, and end up in the general waste bin. Jess’s ‘Seep’ sponges are entirely compostable and can go in the green bin at the end of their life, rescuing another everyday product from landfill. 

Ewan’s Repurposed Scaffolding Boards 

Renovation projects tend to leave a mountain of waste behind, and once the dust settles, it’s tempting to send everything off in a skip and forget about it. However, after a home project a few years ago, Ewan saw an opportunity to rescue some old scaffolding boards and use them to spruce up his outdoor table, giving both a new life. 

Just look at that before and after!  

Rachael’s Repaired Bird Table 

Rachael also rescued a bird table last year that was starting to get a bit rotten and broken, rather than discarding it as junk, Rachael decided to repair it. It now stands proud in the garden today, providing food and shade for the local feathered friends.  

Gill’s Reusable Food Covers 

Gill loves to batch-cook and her famous, nutritious pasta salads see her through the working week. Instead of relying on single-use tinfoil or cling film, Gill covers her batch-cooked pasta and other leftovers with washable, silicone stretch lids. These colourful lids are durable, adaptable to your specific bowl or container and will keep food fresh time and time again.