Do you ever stand in the middle of the kitchen, stretching out crumpled plastic film that’s been used for food packaging to see if you can recycle it?
As much as we all want to “save the planet”, it’s not always easy.
Sometimes, the packaging is clearly marked as recyclable, other times not so much. And then there’s the unhelpful advice to take the wrapping all the way back to the store for recycling.
There are a number of everyday items you might assume are recyclable but are not.
It’s never a bad idea to check in with your local authority to see what they will accept. That’s because certain items that cannot be recycled will actually upset the recycling process.
A good example is plastic straws. There’s a real “hate thing” for paper straws, but plastic straws also have a serious environmental impact.
Here are six everyday items you shouldn’t try to recycle – and they might surprise you:
To-go coffee cups – True, these single-use cups are made of paper. However, they have a plastic coating to prevent them from getting soggy and collapsing. With millions of cups used every day, you’d think someone would have worked out how to recycle them on an industrial scale. Not yet. Only specialised facilities handle the job without contaminating other items.
Plastic bags – The appearance of biodegradable grocery bags are becoming increasingly common. However, experts say they should be dropped off at a specialised facility that handles plastic film packaging. Plastic grocery bags are usually made of more than one type of plastic. They usually end up in landfill.
Bubble wrap – This is another type of plastic film that recycling processes do not handle easily. Don’t recycle envelopes with bubble wrap, either.
Bags mountain – It’s not uncommon to store up plastic bags in the home with the intention of using them for a second or third time. However, your collection can get a little out of control. Find a recycling facility that can handle them. Some stores will take them for recycling. The best strategy is to buy sturdy, reusable grocery bags.
Suck it up – Never put plastic straws in the recycling. They are too lightweight for the recycling process.
Snack packs – Wrappers for candy and snacks shouldn’t be recycled, either. They’re made of different plastics and are expensive and difficult to handle. They’re destined for landfill.