For recycling to be successful we need to buy recycled products and ‘close the loop’. Recycled products that are readily available include stationery, glassware, garden furniture and recycled black bags.

It is really important to check the recycled content of products because sometimes they are not what you might expect. Many toilet rolls and tissues are made mainly from virgin raw material with a low recycled paper content. This is not a good use of raw material because tissue paper is nearly always flushed or thrown away and therefore the paper in it cannot be recycled further.

For more unusual items and possible gifts you could check out the following websites:

• www.recyclenow.org.uk – lots of gift ideas and links to other websites
• www.recycledproducts.org.uk – directory of recycled products
• www.naturalcollection.com – a good selection of ‘eco-products’
• www.ecotopia.co.uk – a good selection of recycled glass products
• www.remarkable.co.uk – a wide range of stationery made from recycled materials
• www.cutouts.net – various unusual products made from recycled materials e.g. coasters made from mobile phones and personal organisers made from old circuit boards
• www.cat.org.uk – a good selection of 'eco-products' and books