Recycling is still one of the most important steps we need to follow when thinking about sustainability and however, there are still so many misconceptions about what can be recycled or not. Some people ‘wish’ recycle, assuming incorrectly that the item is recyclable, contaminating the bins.
Here are some simple dos and don’ts of recycling:
DON’T recycle these items as they will contamine the bin. Here is the list of the top contaminants, with a the percentage of the population mistakenly recycling them.
Drinking glasses (33%)
Foil pouches (29%)
Toothpaste tubes (26%)
Plastic film lids (24%)
Tissues & Paper towels (22%)
Glass cookware (22%)
Plastic film (20%)
Cartons (19%)
Plastic toys (18%)
Frozen veg bags (18%)
DO recycle:
Plastic tubs and trays (butter tubs, yoghurt pots and meat trays after rinsing)
Food tins (wash, the labels can stay on).
Empty deodorant, air freshener, polish and hair spray aerosols (without loose lids)
Cleaning and detergent bottles
Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and lotion bottles
Source: https://wrap.org.uk/