Talking Rubbish - Recycled Content

Many craft beer cans are wrapped in full paper labels rather than being printed directly onto the can, but don't worry, they can still be recycled. We explain how aluminium is separated using eddy currents, why these labels are usually removed during the recycling process, and why they're mainly used by smaller breweries that can't afford the huge print runs required for custom cans...

Sports nutrition products generate a surprising amount of packaging waste, with a single marathon using hundreds of thousands of gel sachets. We explore whether these pouches can be recycled, the shift towards mono-material packaging, and some innovative alternatives, from edible energy bars with beeswax coatings to Notpla's edible sports drink bubbles used at the London Marathon. This episod...

A listener asked what to do with wild animals brought home by a hunting cat. While it might seem like they belong in food or garden waste, dead wild animals are generally not accepted because they fall under different animal by-product rules. Many councils advise placing them, bagged up, in your general waste bin instead, although it's always worth checking your local guidance. This episode o...

A listener asked how to dispose of asbestos safely. Asbestos should never be put in your household bin and is best taken to a household recycling centre that accepts it, after checking with your local council. If you ever need to handle small amounts, take great care by wearing appropriate protection and double-bagging it.  This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from e...

A listener asked whether crushed cans collected during litter picks will still qualify for a deposit return. In most cases, if a can is too damaged for the barcode to be read, you won't get the deposit back, although some manual return points may have discretion. Rejected containers should still be recyclable, and donation options could help ensure deposits still support good causes rather th...

Posters are usually recyclable if they're predominantly made of paper. Plain paper and lightly glossy posters are accepted by most paper mills, but if they're framed or mounted you'll need to remove the frame or backing first. A good rule of thumb is the scrunch test: if you can scrunch it into a ball and it stays scrunched, it's likely to be recyclable with your paper. This ep...

Fruit stickers might be tiny, but they raise surprisingly big questions. In this episode, we explore why they're needed, what happens when they end up in food waste, why composting and anaerobic digestion treat them differently, and why, despite new compostable labels on the horizon, the safest advice for now is to remove them and put them in your general waste rather than your recycling or f...

Expanded foam packaging, such as expanded LDPE used around blinds and picture frames, sits in a recycling grey area. It's neither truly rigid nor flexible, so it's usually not accepted in kerbside or flexible plastic collections. For now, this "Schrödinger's plastic" is best treated as general waste unless a specialist recycling option is available. This episode of Recycle...

What happens to all those discarded drinks bottles at the London Marathon, and what might change when the UK's Deposit Return Scheme arrives? We explore how the event already collects bottles separately for recycling, why marathon bottles aren't a straightforward fit for DRS, and how refill stations and compostable cups help reduce waste. This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Ru...

Wallpaper can't be recycled once it's been used, as it's usually contaminated with paste and often has coatings or mixed materials that make the paper unsuitable for recycling. Any leftover wallpaper in good condition is worth saving for future repairs or offering on local reuse or free swap groups, but once it's been stripped from the wall, it belongs in your general rubbish....

Air fresheners might look like packaging, but under the EU's new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), they're unlikely to disappear. PPWR introduces sweeping new rules on packaging, including bans on some single-use formats and ambitious reuse targets, but because the air freshener container is essential to delivering the product itself, it's more likely to be treated as...

Used cooking oil should never be poured down the sink. In this episode, we explain the best ways to dispose of it, from adding small amounts to your food waste to taking larger quantities to a recycling centre where it can be turned into biofuel. We also look at products that solidify cooking oil, whether they're worth using, and a few simple ways to stop leaky bin bags. This episode of Recyc...

Litter-picked rubbish left for collection can look like fly-tipping, but if it's been arranged with your council or waste contractor, it isn't an illegal waste deposit. Before organising a litter pick, check your council's guidance, use the bags they provide where possible, and arrange collection or take the waste home. Coloured bags or clearly labelled sacks can also help prevent y...

Nasal sprays might look like simple plastic bottles, but are they actually recyclable? We investigate why some carry recycling labels despite containing a metal spring inside the pump mechanism, and reveal why the recycling advice on certain brands may be wrong. This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 92 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 30th April 2...

Emily asked what percentage of AA and AAA batteries are actually recycled. The official UK figure suggests around 45% of household batteries are recycled, but the reality is more complicated. We explain why lead-acid batteries dominate the recycling statistics, why this masks the performance of everyday household batteries, and why the true recycling rate for AA and AAA-style batteries may be clos...

We've had loads of questions about plant pots recently, including from Andrea on WhatsApp and John in the Binbox. The good news is that, under Simpler Recycling, councils that collect pots, tubs and trays should now also be collecting most plastic plant pots at the kerbside, with DEFRA confirming they fall into the same category. If your council says yes to pots, tubs and trays but no to plan...

Why are cartons now going in the plastic bin? It does seem to contradict our usual rule of thumb for composite packaging, where we say to go with the predominant material. If it looks and feels like cardboard, it normally belongs with the cardboard recycling, even if it has a plastic lining. Cartons are the exception. The Government's guidance now recommends councils collect them with plastic...

A few weeks ago we talked about glass plug-in air fresheners, which raised another question: what about the plastic bathroom air fresheners? At first glance, you'd think they'd be recyclable, but they're actually a tricky one. The outer shell is hard plastic with a sealed pouch of liquid inside, and the manufacturer says the unit isn't recyclable because it would need to be tak...

Ever noticed "Wash, Squash, Separate" on a recycling truck? It might sound like it contradicts our usual advice, but it depends on how your recycling is collected. If your recycling is source-separated at the kerb, squash away, it saves space and won't affect sorting. If it all goes into mixed recycling, it's usually better to leave bottles and cans intact because recycling cen...

Disposable floss picks, these tiny plastic-and-nylon dental tools are turning up on streets across Britain, prompting questions about why they're everywhere and how they should be disposed of. We discuss the rise in flossing, why floss picks are a recycling nightmare, and why reusable or disposable interdental brushes used and binned at home are a much better choice. This episode of Recycled...

A deceptively simple question: what's actually more eco-friendly, paper towels or hand dryers? The answer depends on factors like the type of paper, the electricity source, and, most importantly, how long you use the dryer. High-speed hand dryers generally come out ahead if you're only using them briefly. We also revisit one of the greatest TED Talks ever: Joe Smith's unforgettable...

Ice packs seem simple, but not all are created equal. This week we compare water-filled packs with biodegradable gel versions, looking at what they're made from, how to dispose of them, and whether "drain safe" really means it's the best option. We also explore why some meal kit companies are switching to water-only packs and what the environmental trade-offs mean in practice....

With Easter just around the corner (when we recorded this), we put some of the UK's biggest Easter eggs to the test to see which delivers the most chocolate for the least packaging. From classic Creme Eggs to the growing trend of smaller eggs, the results were surprisingly clear: bigger isn't better. We reveal which brands came out on top, why two small eggs can beat one large one, and h...

Can you recycle air freshener bottles? We untangle the confusing guidance from the biggest brands, explain which glass refills can usually go in your recycling, why plug-in devices count as electricals, and why some plastic air fresheners still aren't recyclable despite being made from plastic. This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 86 of Talking Rubb...

Are food waste disposers really a good alternative to a food waste caddy? We look at what manufacturers say, why UK water companies don't recommend sending food waste down the drain, and remind you of all the everyday items, from tea bags to bones and peelings, that can go in your food waste collection. This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 84 of T...