{"id":1804,"date":"2021-11-08T12:19:21","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T12:19:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coolboxsolutions.co.uk\/?p=1804"},"modified":"2023-01-30T13:42:55","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T13:42:55","slug":"what-can-i-recycle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coolboxsolutions.co.uk\/what-can-i-recycle\/","title":{"rendered":"What can I recycle?"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;][vc_column_text]Recycling\u2019s easy, right! We all know you can recycle plastic, cardboard, glass \u2013 so just chuck anything made of those materials in the recycling bin and you\u2019ve done your bit to help the environment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>WRONG!<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;][vc_column_text]Sadly, this misconception of recycling is all too common, and it\u2019s not down to people being wilfully negligent when it comes to recycling \u2013 people who do actively recycle tend to have the best of intentions for making sure the items they\u2019ve finished with go on to be recycled and reused. The problem lies in the lack of transparency when it comes to both manufacturer information given on products, and also how much info local councils give out about what their recycling facilities actually can and can\u2019t process.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;][vc_column_text]\n<h2>Kerbside recyclable products<\/h2>\n<p>The phrase \u201ckerbside recyclable\u201d is fast becoming one of the new buzzwords for those involved in pushing environmentally friendly processes and innovations, and one that all members of the public should be aware of. It relates what can actually be put straight into a normal recycling bin (that is collected from the kerbside by council refuse collectors) and will be recycled with no issues around separation of materials or machinery that cannot process items that *should* be recyclable).<\/p>\n<p>There are numerous examples of products that end up in landfill even though technically they tick the recyclable box based on material alone; these include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Black plastic takeaway cartons \u2013 might be made of plastic but most domestic recycling plant sorting machinery cannot \u201csee\u201d the colour of the plastic, and as such these end up in landfill.<\/li>\n<li>Plastic one-use straws \u2013 too small to recycle, can damage the machinery<\/li>\n<li>Plastic hot drink stirrers\u2013 too small to recycle, can damage the machinery<\/li>\n<li>Cardboard takeaway cups \u2013 usually these are made up of multiple layers of material, so they look like cardboard on the outside but on the inside, they have thermal layers which can\u2019t be recycled. Because the machinery used in recycling plants can\u2019t break this down, and it is too costly\/time consuming to have people do this by hand, they end up in landfill.<\/li>\n<li>Broken balloons \u2013 may look like they\u2019re recyclable, but they\u2019re made from latex. Latex can only be recycled by specialist machinery which most local councils do not have \u2013 although do check with your local council just in case they do.<\/li>\n<li>Clingfilm \u2013 Clingfilm contains PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride) which is difficult to recycle, although it can be done \u2013 again, the machinery used to do this tends to be specialist and not used in most domestic recycling plants. As such, clingfilm tends to end up in landfill, where it will take around 450 years to break down.<\/li>\n<li>Plastic carrier bags \u2013 like clingfilm, they contain plastics which have to be recycled by specialist machinery, which tends to not be available at plants where items are taken through kerbside recycling collections. There has been an uprising of specialist plastic carrier bag recycling schemes by supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is just a short list but there are many, many more \u2013 some that people are aware of (like plastic straws) and many more that people aren\u2019t.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;in_container&#8221; full_screen_row_position=&#8221;middle&#8221; column_margin=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_tablet=&#8221;default&#8221; column_direction_phone=&#8221;default&#8221; scene_position=&#8221;center&#8221; text_color=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; row_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; row_border_radius_applies=&#8221;bg&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; shape_divider_position=&#8221;bottom&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221;][vc_column column_padding=&#8221;no-extra-padding&#8221; column_padding_tablet=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_phone=&#8221;inherit&#8221; column_padding_position=&#8221;all&#8221; column_element_spacing=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; background_hover_color_opacity=&#8221;1&#8243; column_shadow=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_radius=&#8221;none&#8221; column_link_target=&#8221;_self&#8221; gradient_direction=&#8221;left_to_right&#8221; overlay_strength=&#8221;0.3&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; tablet_width_inherit=&#8221;default&#8221; tablet_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; phone_text_alignment=&#8221;default&#8221; bg_image_animation=&#8221;none&#8221; border_type=&#8221;simple&#8221; column_border_width=&#8221;none&#8221; column_border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;][vc_column_text]\n<h2>Time to change<\/h2>\n<p>There are different initiatives that have been developed in recent years, designed specially to raise awareness of both what can and can\u2019t be recycled, and alternatives to cut down the number of items that end up in landfill overall. These include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Specialist recycling schemes \u2013 these for items that can be recycled but not via kerbside recycling collections, such as crisp packets, plastic bags and hot drink cups.<\/li>\n<li>On-Pack Recycling Labels (OPRL) \u2013 this is an award winning scheme aimed at ensuring all items have clear recycling labels, so end consumers know whether they can or can\u2019t be recycled, and the method of recycling (kerbside v specialist recycling schemes)<\/li>\n<li>More information out there for consumers to raise awareness of what can and can\u2019t be recycled \u2013 for example, RecycleNow, which is the national recycling campaign for England, supported and funded by the UK Government.<\/li>\n<li>Quality First campaign from The Recycling Association, which aims to raise awareness of the need for the UK to improve the quality of its recyclate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Whilst it may feel like an uphill battle at times, it\u2019s important that we all do our bit to understand how recycling schemes work, and take steps to find alternatives if kerbside recycling for certain items isn\u2019t an option. Self-education is key with making recycling work, although local councils do also need to play their part more with increased transparency and information available for household recyclers to be more aware of what is and isn\u2019t kerbside recyclable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oprl.org.uk\/\">On Pack Recycling Label Scheme<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.terracycle.com\/en-GB\/\">TerraCycle \u2013 home of specialist recycling schemes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.recyclenow.com\/\">RecycleNow \u2013 info for consumers as to what can and can\u2019t be recycled<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/recycling-collections\">GOV UK Recycling Schemes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.therecyclingassociation.com\/the-quality-first-road-map\/\">Quality First campaign by The Recycling Association<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There is a definite lack of transparency around what can and can&#8217;t be recycled in domestic waste collections; this needs to change as we move into 2022<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1761,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1804","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"category-recycling"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What can I recycle? 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