Every Item Counts: Small Choices, Big Impact!

Most of us want to recycle as much as possible, which is a great mindset to have. However, sometimes our enthusiasm leads to “wishcycling” – tossing items like coffee cups or crisp packets into the green bin in the hope they’ll be recycled.

While it feels like the right move, these materials can actually slow down and contaminate the sorting process.

The Top 5 Common Contaminants

To keep our recycling system efficient and effective, it helps to know which everyday items don’t quite make the cut for the green bin. By placing these in the black bin instead, you ensure the rest of your recycling remains high-quality and ready to be repurposed.

• Items Under 5cm: Small plastics like bottle caps and sweet wrappers are tricky – and anything smaller than a post-it note can slip through the gaps or jam the machinery.
• Crisp Packets: They might have a shiny, metallic look, but they are actually made of multiple layers of plastic polymers that can’t be separated easily. These are best suited for the black bin.
• Coffee Cups: Even if they feel like cardboard, most takeaway cups have a thin plastic lining to keep them waterproof. This makes them difficult to process with regular paper. Unless a cup is specifically labelled for recycling , the black bin is the most reliable choice to avoid contaminating the rest of your waste.
• Nappies: These are strictly non-recyclable. Beyond the material contamination, they create significant hygiene risks for our teams. Please always place these in the black bin.
• Disposable Vapes: Never put these in your household bins. They contain lithium-ion batteries that pose a major fire risk.

Why Your Sorting Matters

It’s easy to think, “If I can’t recycle this one thing, why bother at all?”

But here’s the encouraging truth: Clean recycling is incredibly powerful. When we keep the “wrong” items out of the green bin, we ensure that the paper, glass, and plastic bottles you do recycle can be processed efficiently.

By being mindful, you are directly helping us reach our EU Circular Economy targets, which aim to recycle 60% of municipal waste by 2030. Every bottle and box you put in the right place moves us one step closer to that goal!

Your Toolkit for Success

We want to make being an eco-hero as easy as possible. You don’t have to guess! If you’re standing at the bin and feeling unsure, we have the perfect cheat sheet for you:

Keep these easy My Waste Booklets bookmarked on your phone! It’s a quick, friendly guide to help you decide exactly where each item belongs.

Remember:

If it’s a “yes”: You’re saving energy and raw materials!

If it’s a “no” (Black Bin): You’re preventing contamination and keeping the whole system running smoothly.

If you’re unsure: Check the booklet!