Plastics pots, tubs, trays and tubes
What new plastics can now be put in your recycling bin?
Under the new Simpler Recycling legislation, you can now recycle all plastic pots, tubs, trays and tubes. This includes fruit punnets, ready meal food trays (as long as they are not black in colour), plastic egg boxes, ice cream tubs and toothpaste tubes. Please make sure these are clean and empty, with lids replaced where possible.
Why can't black food trays be recycled?
Black plastic is invisible to the infrared sorting machinery used to process recycling, so is excluded from the new Simper Recycling regulations.
Most manufacturers are trying to avoid using black plastics, but if you have these they need to go into your general waste bin (not the recycling bin).
Do I put bottle tops in the kerbside bin separate to the bottle?
No, please wash, squash and put the bottle top back on the plastic bottle before placing it in your kerbside recycling bin. If they are placed in the bin separately they may not be captured for recycling as they will slip through the sorting machinery at the Mansfield Materials Recovery Facility.
Can I put my trigger spray or pump action bottle tops in the kerbside bin now?
Yes, please rinse out the bottle and replace the trigger spray or pump action lid as these can now be recycled. Please don't place trigger sprays or bottle tops in your recycling bin separately.
What plastic codes should go in my recycling bin?
Plastic codes are placed on items by packaging manufacturers, but not necessarily for recycling purposes.
Under the new Simpler Recycling legislation, all plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays and tubes can go into the recycling bin.
If I put a plastic item that is not a bottle, pot, tub, tray or tube (like a toy or plastic carrier bag) in my recycling bin – what happens to it?
Every item that goes into the recycling bin that is incorrect could cause the whole load of recycling to be rejected once it arrives at the sorting facility. This means the whole load has to be disposed of as general waste and none of it is recycled.
What happens to the plastic bottles collected at the Materials Recovery Facility?
Mixed plastic bottles go to a UK processing facility where they sorted into polymer type, milk bottles for example are then chipped and turned back into food grade plastics – becoming new plastic bottles.
Can I put carrier bags / black bin bags in my recycling bin to be recycled?
No, never put a carrier bag or bin liner in your recycling bin.
We are currently unable to recycle plastic films which include carrier bags as they are low grade plastics and often get tangled around the sorting machinery causing problems. Please reuse them where possible – or place in your general waste bin.
The good news is that under the new Simpler Recycling regulations, plastic bags will be collected from 2027. Find out more about the Simpler Recycling regulations.
What about the plastic film on fruit punnets, ready meals etc?
With pots, tubs and trays, please remove any plastic film and place this in your general waste bin. Then just make sure the container is clean and dry before popping it in your recycling bin. The good news is that under the new Simpler Recycling regulations, film will be collected from 2027. Find out more about the Simpler Recycling regulations.
Can bubble wrap and film go in the recycling bin?
No. We are currently unable to recycle bubble wrap and plastic film as they are low grade plastics and often get tangled around the sorting machinery causing problems. Please try to reuse them or put them in your general waste bin. The good news is that under the new Simpler Recycling regulations, bubble wrap and film will be collected from 2027. Find out more about the Simpler Recycling regulations.
Can polystyrene go in the recycling bin?
No. Polystyrene is not accepted for recycling and causes a problem as it mixes with paper during the sorting process at the Materials Recovery Facility. Please place in your general waste bin.
Can crisp packets and biscuit wrappers go in the recycling bin?
No. We are currently unable to recycle these as they are low grade plastics and will not be sorted at the Materials Recovery Facility. The good news is that under the new Simpler Recycling regulations, these items will be collected from 2027. Find out more about the Simpler Recycling regulations.
Can plastic lids from bottles go in the recycling bin?
Plastic lids can only be recycled if they are attached to the container they came from. Loose plastic lids are too small to be sorted by the machinery at the Materials Recycling Facility and can end up contaminating the paper and card stream which impacts how much can be recycled.
