You may have heard that if you don’t wash your recyclables properly, they won’t get recycled – but how true is this?
While most of us rinse our jars and tins in water before tossing them in the bin, it begs the question of how clean they really need to be – And what a bit of residue really makes a difference under New recycling rules.
To get to the bottom of this commonly asked question — and find out whether things like greasy pizza boxes and hard-to-clean coffee pods can be recycled — we spoke to two waste experts.
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Do you have to wash recyclables?
Yes, it’s always a good idea to wash and squash your recycling where possible, says Hannah Dees, external communications manager. Bristol Waste Company.
“We always recommend residents wash their recycling – you can use your washing water to go extra green and reduce water consumption,” she explains. “Proper washing and squashing improve the quality of recycling materials, keep people’s recycling containers clean, eliminate odors and reduce the risk of entrainment. Insects (in your bin).”
“It also helps keep our crews safer and makes their jobs more pleasant. It’s easy to forget that there are humans who load our recycling into trucks, often by hand. We appreciate people taking the time to rinse their recycling quickly!”
That said, while there may be a moral duty, there is no real legal requirement to do so (yet).
Hannah Dees is External Communications Manager at Bristol Waste Company and has been part of the team for almost five years, helping to make Bristol safer, cleaner and more sustainable.
How do you clean recyclables?
When it comes to how clean your recyclables need to be, a quick rinse will suffice, according to Sean Martins, director of sales and marketing. Fresh Start Waste Services. Contrary to what some people believe, you don’t need to scrub them clean or put them in your dishwasher.
“One of the unintended consequences of the ‘everything should be perfectly clean’ message is that some people put off recycling altogether because they think it’s too much trouble,” he explains. “Others go the other way too far and use a lot of hot water, detergent and energy to wash things that don’t really need it.”
Sean Martins is Director of Sales and Marketing at Fresh Start Waste Services, a North West-based waste and recycling business serving across the commercial, construction and facilities management sectors. With nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, Sean specializes in helping businesses improve recycling operations, reduce waste costs and better understand where their waste actually ends up.
Do recycling centers reject the entire batch if one item is dirty?
No, a recycling center is unlikely to reject an entire batch just because one item is a little dirty. Sean explains that modern facilities are used to deal with some contamination and is aware that household recycling is never going to be completely clean.
“What causes problems when enough is enough Wrong thing mixed. “If too many households put food waste, nappies, black bags of general waste or leaking containers in their recycling, then the whole load starts to smell, leak and become uneconomic to sort,” he says.
While a slightly dirty tin probably won’t result in a rejected batch, it’s easy enough to finish your part and give it a quick rinse. Sean adds that batches are more likely to be rejected when a hazardous item – such as a battery, gas canister or dirty paint tin – is mixed in and poses a safety risk. If you’re wondering how Recycle building materialsOur guide can help.
“One of the biggest causes of fires in waste wagons and recycling facilities is vapes and items containing lithium batteries – these should always be disposed of properly either by vape shops who are now legally obliged to take them or by returning them to domestic recycling centres,” he adds.
How about coffee pods and greasy pizza boxes?
Now we know it’s best to rinse our recycling, but what about things like greasy pizza boxes that can’t be washed?
Sean says, “A pizza box with a little grease on the lid will usually be recycled even if it goes in the right bin. If the box is soaked or has half a pizza in it, I’d say don’t recycle it. In that case, tear off the clean part and recycle it.”
Whether coffee beans can be recycled is another hot debate. The good news is that many recycling centers will accept your used coffee pods (both plastic and aluminum) for free. Podback Service – You just need to leave them. You can also do this in many supermarkets if it’s easier.
“If everyone puts half-filled tins, leftover food and leaking bottles in their recycling, the whole load quickly becomes unpleasant and harder to process. So the public message should be simple: empty it, give it a quick rinse, then recycle it,” concludes Sean Martins.
For more recycling advice, read our guide What can and cannot go in your recycling bin And How to manage waste when you don’t have an outdoor space.
