RECYCLING MISTAKES

Common Recycling Mistakes

Recycling isn’t always as simple as it may seem at first glance. When you dig a bit deeper in to being more eco-friendly, it can actually be a bit confusing. Is all plastic recyclable? Do you need to take off the lids on glass bottles? Can wrapping paper be recycled with the cardboard? These are all questions I've asked myself and tried to find answers for over the years. So, incase like me, you’re not 100% clear on what can and can’t be recycled, here are a few common mistakes people make when it comes to recycling.

Plastic Caps

Yes, plastic caps on bottles can be recycled. However, make sure you take off the plastic caps from glass bottles and add them to your plastic recycling bag. They CANNOT be recycled if they are still on the glass bottles. Also, make sure you take off the lids and add them to your recycling separately as some recycling centres won’t take them still on the bottles.

Coffee Cups

Due to the thin layer inside the coffee cups that make them waterproof, means they cannot be recycled. Switch to re-useable cups whenever you can to save waste.

Dirty Cardboard

Dirty or greasy cardboard or paper can actually make your entire bag of cardboard become un-recyclable. For example, if you have a greasy pizza box, tear out the greasy part and recycle the clean part. Also, if you receive a card that has glitter on it, this also can’t be recycled so this will need to go straight in to the bin.

Glossy Paper

Contrary to common belief, magazines can actually be recycled! These can go in the recycling with your newspapers.

Wrapping Paper

Even though wrapping paper is made mainly from paper, it is

NOT recyclable. Normally because it’s laminated with plastic, foil or other nonpaper materials. If it has sticky tape still on it, or glitter, that also means it can’t be recycled and can disrupt the recycling process.

Nappies

No, nappies like pampers cannot be recycled! If you want to be more eco-friendly when it comes to nappies, you’ll need to find a different brand.

Plastic Bags

ANYTHING you put in to a plastic bag, whether recyclable or not, will go straight in to landfill. Make sure you separate anything out that can be recycled. If you have any plastic bags, reuse them as much as you can as these cannot be recycled. Do not buy new plastic bags, instead take your own bags to the shops with you.

Drinks Cartons

Cartons such as milk cartons with a plastic lining should be recycled in with your plastics. Do NOT put these in the cardboard recycling as they will end up in landfill. Depending on your area,

‘Tetra Pak’ cartons can now also be recycled in with your plastic recycling.

Check your area BEFORE you recycle as each area is slightly different.

Batteries

Due to the chemicals in batteries, these cannot be recycled. If you need to use batteries in your home, opt for the rechargeable ones instead so you can use them again and again.

Food Waste

ALL food waste can be either recycled or put in to a compost bin. If you put food waste in to your general waste, it too will end up in landfill in your nonbiodegradeable bags. Sat there forever, when it could have gone back in to the ground as nutrients. Make sure you use bio-degradable bin bags for all your food waste and NOT the normal plastic bin bags.

Old Clothes

Old clothes often find themselves in the bin, even though they can quite easily be recycled in a few different ways. Once you are done with your old clothes, instead of throwing them away, perhaps you could give them to a charity shop.

You could even make them in to something else. For example, if you have a pair of ripped jeans, you could cut them down to be shorts. Or that old smelly towel could be cut up in smaller pieces and used as cleaning rags. Aerosol Cans

Once your aerosol can is empty, remove the plastic cap and put BOTH in to your plastic recycling bag. Do NOT try to pierce a hole in the can as it is likely to explode.

Frozen Food Boxes

Due to the waxy coating on frozen food boxes, it makes them difficult to recycle, so should be thrown in the bin unless the box states otherwise. However, some boxes do not have this waxy coating so check before you throw away.

The Lifestyle Blogger UK