A bale of plastic bottles at the MRF in Wandsworth, ready for recycling.
We often get asked questions about the finer details of recycling by our conscientious recyclers, so we thought as part of Recycle Week, we’d bust a few myths and confirm a few truths!
Do I need to remove my bottle tops?
Yes please! When your bottles (glass and plastic) arrive at the MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) for sorting, the lids can cause problems for the machinery. Also, if they become separated from the bottle, they can contaminate other material streams, for example paper.
Do I need to remove the clear windows from my envelopes?
No, this used to be an issue but modern paper mills are able to cope with the removal of windows.
Do I really need to wash all of my recycling?
You just need to make sure that food residue is removed from packaging, so items such as yoghurt pots and margarine tubs need a rinse before going in your orange sack or estate recycling bin. Too much food residue can damage other materials such as paper and is also unpleasant for workers who sort materials by hand. Use your washing up water when you’re finished to reduce water usage.
What plastics can I recycle in Lambeth?
You can recycle plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays.
- Plastic bottles – for example, drinks, shampoo, toiletries and cleaning products
- Pots – for example, yoghurt, houmous and cream
- Tubs – for example, ice-cream, margarine and soups
- Trays – for example, fruit and vegetables, meat and ready meals
Plastic bags and film are not recyclable in your orange sack or estate recycling bin but your local supermarket may have a collection point in the foyer.
Do you have a question about recycling? Tweet us @lambeth_council #recycleweek or leave a comment on this post.
For more information about recycling in Lambeth, visit our website www.lambeth.gov.uk/recycling.
Very helpful. It’s not just about removing bottle-tops. It seems you shouldn’t recycle them but put them in the landfill bag/dumpster.
Hello Paul
That’s right, we ask that you remove the lids and put them in your rubbish bin.
However, your waste no longer goes to landfill. Rubbish collected in Lambeth is sent to a new Energy from Waste Plant in Belvedere (London Borough of Bexley).
The waste is burnt, generating enough electricity to power 100,000 homes. The end product is a mix of ash and non-combustible items such as metal and brick, all of which gets recycled.
Most encouraging – that the non-recyclable rubbish is used for fuel.