Putting items in the right bin at home can make a huge difference when it comes to Northern Ireland's recycling efforts.
While councils across the region use different systems to help us reduce the waste going to landfill and ensure more of what we throw away can be reused in other forms, putting the wrong stuff in the wrong bin can make whole lorry loads of waste unrecyclable.
This recycle week (October 17-23) we have put together a handy list of what goes where to help reduce the emissions created when waste is thrown away.
Read more: Councils want producers to pay for NI plastic problem
Recycling across the UK saves 18 million tonnes of Co2 a year – which in turn helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
Mid Ulster has long held the top spot across NI when it comes to recycling.
But chair of the council’s Environment Committee, Sean McGuigan, is encouraging residents to do what they can to up their recycling efforts.
He said: "Mid Ulster has consistently achieved the highest recycling rates year after year which proves how committed our residents are to recycling and protecting the environment where they live. However, there is still more we can do.
"We should continue to use our blue bins for our recyclable items and our brown bins for our garden and food waste. Our black bins should only ever be used for items that cannot be recycled. Remember to take larger or more bulky items like electricals, furniture and wood to your nearest recycling centre. Unwanted clothing and footwear can also be taken to one of the recycling centres or donated to charity."
Companies like Bryson Recycling are also working hard to ensure the plastic (paper and glass) that goes into your recycling bins finds its way to others that will reuse it - and the closer to home the better says their director Eric Randall.
We visited their Mallusk material recovery facility earlier this year to see how people and robot power make sure no opportunity is missed to give a plastic bottle, juice box or milk carton a second life. And Mr Randall says the triple stacks used in some councils have been a gamechanger for recycling rates in those areas.
He told us around 5% of NI waste was recycled when they started but "we are at about 50% at this point".
"I think we should be getting 65% if we do the right thing,” he added. "To me it’s not just about the quantity of what we recycle - it’s about what happens to it, where it goes and how we get the best from this problem of waste and actually turn it into a benefit."
Belfast has had some recent issues with glass recycling collections, which are still suspended because of driver shortages.
A council spokesperson said: "This affects households that have a purple or black glass recycling box. All other bin and box collections are running as normal, including wheelie boxes and Bryson Recycling collections. We are working hard to put measures in place which will ensure our glass recycling service is back up and running in the coming weeks. We will update our website and social media channels with information, ahead of the resumption of the service."
In Belfast, provisional figures for Apr 21-Mar 22 suggest 41% of household waste collections are recycled, while 38% of combined household and non-household waste collected by the council is recycled. Other commercial and industrial waste operatives also operate within the city and BCC says it does not have access to that information.
You can get more information on what to put in each bin in Belfast at What goes in my bins and boxes? (belfastcity.gov.uk)
But does recycling really make a difference?
The short answer is yes. By getting our recycling right you can have an impact. It saves 18 millions tonnes of C02 a year across the UK and stop items going to landfill and for incineration.
This recycle week and beyond Recycle Now will be providing recycling information and insights to prove that by recycling we really can make a difference.
"One wrong item in the recycling bin from each of us can make whole lorry loads unrecyclable. Never dispose of nappies, food waste, containers that still have food residue or bottles that still contain liquids, in the blue bin. Garden and food waste should be recycled in your brown bin and never disposed of in your general waste bin.
"Recycle more plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays from all around the home as well as metal tins/cans, paper/card and glass bottles and jars. All these items should be recycled in your blue bins and should be presented clean, dry and loose to ensure maximum recycling can be achieved.
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