Plastic Recycling

Which plastics can be recycled using the purple box?

YES

All plastic bottles including milk, detergent, shampoo, fizzy drinks and water bottles.

NO

Plastic bags, plastic film, food trays, yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, ice cream tubs, polystyrene, toys, electrical goods etc.

Please note that although carrier bags cannot be collected for recycling it is possible to use them as containers to present additional materials alongside the recycling boxes.

It is impossible to avoid plastics. Because of the versatility of the material we find it all around us, being used in everyday products.

There are about 50 different groups of plastics, with hundreds of different varieties. However, when it comes to recycling plastics, things can sometimes be confusing, as only some of these plastics can currently be accepted in Council collection schemes.

When choosing which materials can be collected as part of its recycling service, Council's must have a readily available outlet or market. Currently this does not exist for all types of plastics within the UK and reprocessors tend to concentrate on the those that are most viable and easiest to recycle.

Many plastic items are used to store food or produce and become contaminated meaning they have little recycling value. It may also be true that different types of plastics are used when packaging a product and it is sometimes difficult to successfully seperate the different types for recycling.

Undoubtedly over time plastics will be more widely recycled as more facilities for dealing with mixed plastics are built. However, until that time it is currently only possible to collect plastic bottles.

The most common forms of plastic packaging found in the home are often marked with a code. The code can be either a number or letters and is usually found in or with a recycling sign.

• 1 or PET = polyethylene terephthalate (e.g. fizzy drinks bottles and water bottles)
• 2 or HDPE = high density polyethylene (e.g. milk bottles, detergent and oil bottles)
• 3 or PVC = polyvinyl chloride (e.g. food trays and food wrap)
• 4 or LDPE = low density polyethylene (e.g. plastic bags and bin liners)
• 5 or PP = polypropylene (e.g. margarine tubs)
• 6 or PS = polystyrene (e.g. yoghurt pots and throwaway utensils)
• 7 or other

Because collection schemes concentrate on collecting plastic bottles it can be seen from the list above that numbers 1 and 2 are the most commonly recycled.

Are there any alternatives?

Some localised or smaller schemes can sometimes be found for other types of plastic.

Plastic bags - some supermarkets have in store return facilities for used carrier bags. These are often turned into garden benches and furniture for local charity schemes.

Plastic wrap - polythene packaging and wrap used on magazines and mailings can be posted to:
Polyprint Mailing Films Ltd, Unit 21a, Mackintosh Road, Rackheath Estate, Rackheath, Norwich, NR13 6LJ.
Please note that the company only recycles HDPE and LDPE i.e. polymer symbols numbers 2 and 4.

Flower pots - if the flower pots are still in relatively good condition (not split or cracked) then some garden centres will take them back to be reused. Try the Braywick Heath Nursery Scheme, Braywick Road, Maidenhead.

If you would like more information, please contact the Customer Service Centre on 01628 683800 or complete the CSC on-line form