Are shopping receipts recyclable?

Polyamide

This fabric is used in many different fields, and not just in the textile industry. In your wardrobe, you’ll most likely find it in swimwear, functional clothing or tights. It is also called nylon, perlon, helanca, teflon, tactel, grilon, dederon or antron.

Elastane

Elastane often constitutes just a small share of a fabric mixture, but it makes the product more elastic as it can be stretched to up to 500% or 700% of its original form without breaking. It has to contain at least 85% polyurethane in order to be called elastane. It can also be found under the names lycra, spandex, dorlastan or polyurethane. The environmental issues with elastane are similar to those of other synthetic fibres.

Inna Chashchyna

Have you ever thought how harmful the receipts are that we receive in shops, malls, supermarkets, banks, restaurants and cafés everyday? Most receipts are made from multiple materials and printed on thermal paper (the shiny kind), which contains BPA and BPS chemicals. Both are potentially harmful, hence they have already been banned from things like single-use plastic water bottles.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is the main problem in this combination. BPA is a xenoestrogen, a proven endocrine disruptor, exhibiting oestrogen-mimicking, hormone-like properties that raise concern about its suitability in consumer products and food containers. It enters our bodies through the stomach, respiratory system and skin. Since the skin is our biggest organ, it is highly recommended not to touch thermal paper or its derivatives, such as bank cheques and cashier receipts. The issue of BPA, however, doesn’t end at receipts: it expands to a series of other products in daily use, such as baby bottles, food storage containers and

Be advised that BPA-containing plastic is usually marked with the following resin Identification codes: 3 (polyvinyl chloride), 6 (styrene) or 7 (other, e.g. acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate, polylactic acid). The absence of a code can also tell you about BPA presence.

What should we do with the receipts we get?

1. Of course it is better to go to street markets and buy what we need without receipts, but if we don't have the opportunity and need to go to supermarkets, the current advice is to bin them, rather than place them in the recycling. But the good news is, more and more shops are opting for digital receipts via email or smartphone. There is such an initiative in the Ukraine to develop digital receipts, and let's hope that soon we will see this system in all shops, banks, cafés and restaurants. 2. Wash your hands after contact with cashier’s checks, ticket receipts and other forms of thermal paper.

23 ecognize.me/ www.wired.co.uk/article/receipt-recycling-uk-thermal-paper-digital-receipt www.countryliving.com/uk/news/amp24837096/shopping-receipts-bpa-receipts-recycling/