Welcome to your weekly ecological blog!
My name is Vivian, I am a member of Church of Candomble and I will be here every week, writing about nature and how we can do our part to preserve it. At Church of Candomble we worship the Orixas (nature gods) but the environment is something everyone should be concerned about.

Our topic this week is recycling. I know most households in the UK recycle and this makes a real difference in reducing landfills and protecting our environment.

However, a lot of items are missing the recycling bin and going in our regular bins as most people are not sure if these can be recycled or not:
1- Aerosol containers like deodorant sprays can be recycled; just make sure it is empty and put in the correct bin, depending on the material.
2- Batteries = Rechargeable batteries are better, but if buying disposable ones, do not dispose in regular bins as they contain toxic materials. Take them to your local recycling bank. Alternatively, retailers such as Boots and Poundland have recycling bins for batteries.
3- Junk mail is posted through our letter box daily. We throw it sometimes before even reading it, and forget to put in our paper recycling. Always remember to return to sender any mail that is not addressed to you, thus reducing your household waste.
4- Bathrooms have a lot of recycling potential, with shampoo bottles, toothpaste tubes, and empty tissue boxes and so on. Placing a recycling bin in your toilet ensures all these materials will be recycled and not wasted.
5- Wood, especially in small amounts almost always ends up in the bin. Most recycling banks will take any wooden item, including furniture. Check with your local bank.
6- DVDs and CDs can be taken to a charity shop if your local recycling bank cannot take them.

Here is a link to help you find your nearest recycling centre:
http://local.direct.gov.uk/LDGRedirect/index.jsp?LGSL=534&LGIL=8

Stay green!

Axe,

Vivian