One In Five Skip Recycling Due To Confusing Guidelines

Published on Thursday, Apr 02 2015

With recycling guidelines often changing, it’s easy to get confused.
 
In a recent study Tetra Pak found that 20% of respondents did not regularly recycle because they aren’t sure about how and where their packaging can be recycled – that’s almost one in five people!
 
The study also found that the main reason people were skipping recycling was because they weren’t sure what could be recycled (55%). Another 33% have said that confusion has led them to put all of their waste into the recycling bin without really knowing what is and isn’t suitable for recycling.
 
The research found that more than half believed it was important to be seen doing the right thing in front of peers, colleagues and family members. Here at Wessex Packaging we’d like to help clear the confusion with the most common packaging symbols and what they mean:   

Plasticsplastic

This symbol represents which type of plastic resin has been used to make the packaging. The ‘Resin Identification Code’ ranges from 1-7 to identify the different types of resin, which you can then cross-reference with what can be recycled in your area.

Mobius Loop mobius loop

The Mobius loop indicates if packaging can be recycled. On occasions you will see the symbol with a percentage in the centre to explain how much recycled material the packaging contains.
Not currently recycled
 
Other packaging materials aren’t currently recycled across the country. This symbol is shown when under 20% of UK councils have the proper facilities for a certain type of packaging.  

Not widely recycledTray

For other packaging products (again dependent on your area) that are not widely recycled you will need to check with your local recycling depots.   

 

Widely recycledPlastic_Film_Port

Over 75% of councils offer residential collection services for this type of packaging.
 
We hope this helps to clarify what items can and cannot be recycled.
Here at Wessex Packaging, we also try and take responsibility for the environment and packaging.
 
Where we can, our packaging products are manufactured with due respect for the environment and are recyclable. View our complete range of packaging or call us today for bespoke requirements.   
 

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