We all know the importance of recycling and likely do our best at home, but do we really know how to recycle plastic, cardboard and food packaging properly?
Seeing as every local authority has different recycling guidelines and, as the war on single-use plastics picks up momentum in highlighting non-recyclable household culprits we previously weren't aware of (enter contact lenses, tea bags and glitter), do we really know how to recycle as efficiently as we can?
According to new research conducted by The Modern Milkman, if our current habits continue, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050. While many consumers are switched on when it comes to environmental issues, there are still barriers making a real impact — as well as the lack of education on how to recycle properly.
During the Country Living Beach Clean back in 2018, on Rottingdean Beach in Brighton, we were joined by Friends of the Earth campaigner Rosie Cotgreave and local GRAB volunteer Libby Darling.
"It's little wonder people can find it baffling to work out what can and can can't be recycled – it can be very confusing. We need a consistent recycling service across the whole UK, with clear information," says Rosie. "Ultimately, companies should be forced to drastically cut the amount of waste they produce in the first place and ensure, at the very least, that their products and packaging can be easily recycled."
Take a look at how to recycle better below. Remember, always check recycling guidelines with your kerbside council collection service.
1. Black and dark plastic is non-recylable
Black plastic might be cheap to manufacture, however waste sorting systems cannot recognise black pigments which don't allow the packaging to be sorted using standard optical sorting systems.
It's not just black plastic that is hard to recycle — any dark coloured plastic is difficult. People should avoid products that come in dark plastic containers.
Simon Mellin, Founder & CEO of the Modern Milkman, says: "It's worth checking with your local council, as some do accept black plastics. But to be safe, avoid purchasing any items sold in black plastic packaging wherever possible. Instead, opt for foods packaged in clear or white recyclable plastic."
2. Dirty plastic can not be recycled
Food packaging must be rinsed before it goes into the recycling bin, otherwise councils will not accept it during the sorting process. Always clean your recycling, remove lids and squash the can/plastic bottle (under a shoed foot) as flat as humanly possible.
"To prevent your efforts going to waste, simply give all items a quick rinse before popping them in the recycling bin – glass jars can even be put through the dishwasher to make sure they're as clean as possible," Simon adds.
"Household cleaning bottles, such as bleach – despite the harsh chemicals, can also easily be recycled as long as they have been given a thorough rinse beforehand."
3. Know which plastic can't be recycled. Including...
- Humous pots
- Soup pots
- Yogurt pots
- Fruit and vegetable punnets
- Takeaway containers – When getting a takeaway, choose a restaurant which serves its food in cardboard or clean and reuse any plastic ones.
- Pouches (like those used for baby food)
- Tetra packs (packaging on lots of food, particularly takeaway sandwiches) – These are not easy to recycle because they contain layers of card, plastic and metal film that need to be separated. Not all councils collect these so check yours does before recycling.
- Toothpaste tubes – Opt for a plastic-free brand. A solid toothpaste bar lasts as long as two tubes of the classic product.
4. Always buy bulk because small pots can't be recycled
If you buy tiny pots of things like yoghurt, you may find that they are not recyclable. If you buy large pots, like 450ml bucket size, there is less packaging and you can upcycle them into plant pots, storage etc.
5. Take recycling back to the supermarket
Some big supermarkets will take plastic bags, as well as frozen veg plastic bags, bread bags and freezer bags. Check with your local store and get into the habit of taking it back to the shop.
Read: What happens if you leave plastic at the till?
6. Plastic labelled as “compostable” should be put in the food waste bin, not recycling
They should be put in with home composting or food waste collections if you have one.
7. Don't just rely on the council
Look for your local recycling drop-off point, as you can sometimes recycle extra pieces there that the council won't collect, like tetra packs and clothes.
8. Not all cardboard can be recycled
Cardboard that is covered in food or fats is deemed non-recyclable. Some cardboard that protects frozen/chilled food is plastic laminated so can’t be recycled.
9. Know what to do with aerosols
Aerosols can be recycled but you must check with your kerbside collection and make sure it’s empty first – it will stop hissing when empty. Don't pierce, flatten or crush aerosol cans, and try not to detach any loose or easily removable parts, such as the lid.
The same goes for hair products and makeup. These can also be recycled as long as the containers are empty and rinsed. If you are unsure about what makeup products to recycle, you can always drop them off at your local John Lewis or Superdrug store — both offer empty beauty recycling schemes.
10. Take off the tape
"Plastic tape cannot be recycled, so it's important to remove this from any parcels or packages before adding them to the recycling pile," Simon explains.
"Although it can be tempting to throw your mountain of Christmas wrapping paper straight into the recycling bin, make an effort to peel off any sellotape before doing so. Don't forget - plastic windows in paper envelopes or food packaging also need to be removed before recycling."
11. Make the extra effort
From gardening products to batteries, some household products can be a little more complicated to recycle — but that doesn't mean you shouldn't make the extra effort. According to Simon from The Modern Milkman, most supermarkets offer recycling collection points for used batteries, while many waste centres will dispose of electrical items and garden waste.
But that's not all: opticians will also recycle your old glasses and contact lenses, whilst pharmacies will take blister packets from finished medicines. It might seem like a hard-to-recycle item, but with a little research, you'll be sure to find someone who can put it to good use.
12. Reuse old jars
"Recycling is a great way to ensure you are looking after the planet for future generations, but why not go one step further and do better by committing to refilling and reusing bottles and jars, where possible?" says Simon.
"Not only is this a more eco-friendly option, this method also offers a convenient way to top up your groceries whenever you're short – making sure you don’t over purchase products. A number of supermarkets have introduced refill schemes, which allow you to fill up your own containers will pulses, pasta and more."
13. Don't use bags
In many cases, black plastic bags are often not opened at recycling facilities, meaning that many will end up straight on the landfill. If you do choose to use a bag for your recycling, choose one which is eco-friendly — or, even better, use a canvas shopping bag that will last for years.
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24 eco-friendly Christmas gifts for 2021
CleanNatured Shampoo Conditioner Set - Glass Amber Refillable Bottles | Bathroom | Kitchen | Dish soap | Eco | Conditioner | Body wash | Decor
A personal favourite of our Executive Digital Editor, Emma-Louise Pritchard, these refillable glass bottles not only help you become plastic-free in the kitchen and bathroom but also look super stylish in the home. Order through Etsy and you can choose what label to have printed on the front and which top (pump or spray) to be included. You can use them for shampoo, conditioner, washing-up liquid, cleaning sprays, hand wash... anything!
There's something really luxurious about a new set of towels. This ethically made set from Dip & Doze is made from 100% organic and fairtrade cotton. They don't use harmful chemicals so the fabric is gentle on sensitive skin. And the best bit? Each towel has a handy yet stylish hook so they look neat and tidy when hung up in the bathroom. Dip & Doze also sell sustainably made bedding and loungewear. They are a great find.
What's better than sustainable gin? Bullards Coastal Gin subscription starts you off with a beautiful glass bottle and an eco refill pouch of their premium gin. Simply fill the bottle and post the empty refill pouch back to the distillery so they can recycle it. You just pop it in the post box, no envelope or stamp required. A new refill pouch of gin will arrive monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly or annually, depending on which subscription you choose. You can choose from four flavours: Coastal, London Dry, Strawberry & Black Pepper or Old Tom. In 2020, it won The Gin Guide's Sustainability award.
The fully electric Kensington e-bike from Volt is something special. The design is classic and stylish, it's practical with storage options on the front and back, and it's a joy to ride. It's Lithium Ion 36v battery lasts up to 60 miles and makes for effortless cycling. Live in a hilly area so choose to use your car instead of your bike? With this bike, that's not a problem. Simply choose between five different power modes to get you anywhere. It's got top level security and locking systems, too. This is, admittedly, a more expensive gift but if it means using the car less and saving on both fuel cost and emission fumes, it's a worthy investment.
Discover 18 eco-friendly beauty products in the limited-edition Green Beauty Box by Good Housekeeping, from a collection worth £274. Each luxury product included has at least one of the following green credentials: sustainable packaging, certified organic, made in the UK, vegan, cruelty-free, plastic-free, recycled/recyclable packaging or natural ingredients. Plus, they’ve reduced the packaging used to send them to you, with FREE UK Tracked delivery.
For a limited time only, get 33% off your beauty box with the exclusive Black Friday discount for only £40 (Was £60).
For every bottle of Sapling vodka sold, a sapling tree is planted. Sapling Spirits has partnered with Whatley Manor to launch Whatley Manor Citrus Vodka. The vodka is infused with citrus peel (lemon and orange), using only fruit from the hotel’s kitchen, which would otherwise have gone to waste. The bottle is beautiful and would look great on the table at upcoming Christmas drinks.
An RHS membership lasts all year and will allow the receiver to spend more time enjoying beautiful gardens and flower shows. They'll be able to learn more about gardening and how to welcome more wildlife into their own outdoor spaces.
To be more eco, consider travel to and from RHS locations. Can you get public transport or car pool with a group of people who would like to go? Can you visit them when you are already in the area instead of making a special journey?
These wireless earbuds are from sustainable audio brand House of Marley. They are made using sustainable materials, including natural bamboo. Perfect for commuters, they have an eight hour battery life or 30 hours with the case. They are sweat and water-resistant too. Every purchase helps plant trees across the globe.
Boostology's Volcanic Potpourri claims to be an "eco-friendlier alternative to scented candles as no part of the product ever needs to be thrown away, and it uses no electricity and no flames." You simply pour essential oils over the porous lava and obsidian rocks. They soak up the oil and slowly release the scent. Plus, Boostology plant one tree for every order placed, deliver in plastic-free parcels and everything is made in the UK.
A perfect stocking filler, these tooth tabs are a plastic-free toothpaste alternative that are worth a try. They are ideal for traveling or look great on your bathroom shelves compared to the ugly tubes we have become used to. Designed by dentists, they are eco-friendly, vegan, plastic-free and British-made.
For the person in your life who currently uses cotton wool pads, buy them these washable, reusable face pads and you'll save them environmental footprints as well as money. These handmade, 100% cotton rounds come in different patterns with a matching bag to wash them in.
Reusable water bottles have become somewhat of an accessory in recent years and this white marble, stainless steel, BPA-free, insulated drinks bottle keeps beverages hot or cold for up to 24 hours. It's 100% leak-proof, too.
Country Living subscription
We've made the switch from plastic bags to paper wraps on our subscriber copies, making a Country Living subscription a worthy eco-friendly Christmas gift. All our paper is FSC certified and can be recycled.
HelenRoundDesigns Linen Bread Bag - Pure Linen - Handprinted with flowers from the Garden Design - Perfect Bread Storage - Helen Round, Helen Round Designs
This hand-printed linen bread bag, made in Cornwall, is both beautiful and practical. Take it to the bakery or supermarket and feel better about not bringing your purchase home in a plastic wrap. It's machine washable and available in different colours.
Botanist Timothy Walker explains how we can all make a difference by adapting our behaviour as gardeners to help save threatened plants.
byFoke is a sustainable gifting company. Their website states their intentions as: "Supporting and championing small independent brands, creating an ethical and sustainable business that has as small a footprint as possible and above all creating memorable gift experiences for both the purchaser and the recipient." The Heidi gift set is 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free. It contains an artisan hand towel made from 100% cotton, bath salts and soap.
We've all heard the devastating truths about how much plastic is in our tea bags. The alternative? Go loose. All you need to make a loose leaf brew is a beautiful tea pot and a strainer (£12.99, Amazon). We like to use metal tea bags (£4.99, Amazon), which are great for single mugs, too.
Cheeky specialise in plastic-free baby and make-up wipes, period and incontinence products, and nappies. This sustainable period starter kit includes:
- three high-waisted period pants,
- small double wetbag
- luxury cotton cloth period and leak proof day pads
- cloth period bamboo day pads
For bookworms, this is a great packaging-free gift they can enjoy for months. On top of one book credit a month to download new releases, Audible members can enjoy a host of free books and podcasts too.
Tried, tested and loved by our CL digital team, these merino wool trainers are completely waterproof thanks to weather-repellent natural materials. The are warm, cosy and look amazing.
Tried, tested and loved by our CL digital team, there's a reason why Ethique's hair and skin bar range has been a huge hit since it made its debut in Holland & Barrett earlier this year. This shampoo bar is made using pink grapefruit and warming vanilla and foams up just as generously as a liquid shampoo. Slightly more expensive than a bottle of shampoo, it lasts a lot longer so is actually cheaper over all.
Help a loved one welcome more birds into their garden with this stylish bird box. Watching them flit in and out will be a mindful and soothing activity and the birds will be grateful for the help.
This gift is perfect for those who love to travel or live life on the move. The lightweight set includes a bamboo knife, fork, spoon, reusable straw and cleaning brush.
Helping to make pack lunches both zero-waste and stylish.
