Soft plastic recycling

[biggs682]

It's something a lot of people do on here .

I can't help but wonder why these can't be recycled along with the normal recycling stuff.

And I also wonder what's in it for the supermarkets to encourage people to recycle it at there stores ?

 

[MontyVeda]

I don't think there's anything in it for the supermarkets other than complying. The council gives them (or tells them to get) a big bin for soft plastics.
The standard rubbish bin at the exit has been replaced with 4 recycling bins.
It would be easier if the local council could take soft plastics along with the hard stuff, but i guess that's a budgeting issue.

 

[Drago]

Some soft plastics are recyclable. I've noticed Bruce's dog food now comes with the log?o

 

[annedonnelly]

I wish I was confident that it actually gets recycled.

 

[biggs682]

I wish I was confident that it actually gets recycled.

It's not so much if but how and where does it get recycled

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I wish I was confident that it actually gets recycled.

Your sceptism is well-founded. Around 14% of plastics put into UK recycling bins is actually recycled. I haven't seen a figure for soft plastics but I'd expect it to me minuscule.

It is high time that we stop the greenwashing and start burning the stuff in high-temperature incinerators.

 

[oxoman]

When you say soft plastic I'm assuming your meaning shrink wrap type plastic or similar. Company i work with recycles all plastic packaging and shrink wrap. It goes to our shrink wrap supplier who reprocess it somehow into new shrink wrap. Suspect its only a percentage that goes back in to the new stuff.

 

[MontyVeda]

Your sceptism is well-founded. Around 14% of plastics put into UK recycling bins is actually recycled. I haven't seen a figure for soft plastics but I'd expect it to me minuscule.

It is high time that we stop the greenwashing and start burning the stuff in high-temperature incinerators.

Or maybe start recycling it properly?

 

[BrumJim]

Hard plastics get sorted in a machine that gets clogged up with soft plastics.

Soft plastics are an incredibly efficient way of packaging materials. The two problems are:
1. Litter. Plastic discarded doesn't degrade, and therefore has multiple problems with the food chain, including micro-plastics, ingestion and wildlife getting wrapped up with the stuff.
2. Over enthusiasm for plastic wrapping for people who seem to think that it stops them coming into contact with germs. Potatoes, brocolli, bananas, hard fruit, etc, etc, don't need to be wrapped in plastic.

 

[T4tomo]

Your sceptism is well-founded. Around 14% of plastics put into UK recycling bins is actually recycled. I haven't seen a figure for soft plastics but I'd expect it to me minuscule.

It is high time that we stop the greenwashing and start burning the stuff in high-temperature incinerators.

indeed it would be much "greener" than shipping it to 3rd world countries to dump / bury it

 

[annedonnelly]

2. Over enthusiasm for plastic wrapping for people who seem to think that it stops them coming into contact with germs. Potatoes, brocolli, bananas, hard fruit, etc, etc, don't need to be wrapped in plastic.

I know. I have to work hard to find places that I can buy fruit and veg unwrapped. I don't think it's just germs though. I think the retailers want us to be buying everything in the same size portions so that they don't have to weigh goods at the checkout.

 

[BrumJim]

I know. I have to work hard to find places that I can buy fruit and veg unwrapped. I don't think it's just germs though. I think the retailers want us to be buying everything in the same size portions so that they don't have to weigh goods at the checkout.

There is also a cultural thing. My local grocers only offer paper bags, but when I am down at the market, it is a struggle to avoid having your loose veg put into a plastic bag when you have chosen your £1 bowl.

 

[MontyVeda]

indeed it would be much "greener" than shipping it to 3rd world countries to dump / bury it

that needs to banned globally. Every nation should be responsible for managing their own waste domestically.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Or maybe start recycling it properly?

One day when you have time, take a look at the economics of recycling. Also take a look at the reality of your local council's recycling activities. Get the latter through a FOI if you don't believe what they write on the website.

Remember, no matter how green people want to be, when it costs money, only a small percentage of people will pay the price for being green.

 

[classic33]

There was a change in March this year over how industrial waste is to be disposed off.