Waste experts have coined a phrase to describe people putting unrecyclable goods in the recycling bin in the hope it will be recycled and therefore, in their mind, have done the right thing. It is known as ‘wishcycling’. Surveys show that 80% of the public have tried to recycle something that can’t be recycled and it is getting worse. Is this a response to being told that is important to recycle but not knowing what to do? In other surveys, 55% of the British public admit they are confused about how to recycle and so it is estimated that only 50% what can be recycled, is recycled. Of course we want to be good and do the right thing, but in this case ‘over-recycling’ products that can’t be recycled can backfire and cause more environmental problems.

Contamination of recyclable products:

What often makes products unrecyclable is that they are contaminated and cannot be broken down in the recycling process and turned into pulp. A famous example is dirty nappies. The contents of the nappy mean it impossible or separate the materials of the nappy from the mess and it is not possible to wash it away. If a nappy is thrown in the recycling bin, they can spread their contamination to other recycled products that were not initially contaminated and now cannot be broken down in the recycling process. ‘Over-recycling’ is worse than just recycling the things you know you can because recycling properly means you limit the amount of contamination.

Things NOT to put in your home recycling bin:

1. Batteries
2. Toothpaste tubes
3. Dirty nappies
4. Plastic toys
5. Plastic cartons
6. Flexible plastic
7. Kitchen roll, toilet roll and tissue if it not made out of recycled material
8. Wet wipes
9. Containers that have been contaminated by grease from food, such as takeaway pizza boxes which have absorbed grease.

So, when choosing to decide which bin to throw something, only throw an item in the recycling bin when you are clear it should go in there and it is not contaminated. There are usually pictures on the recycling bin of what can be recycled. If you are unclear whether to put something in the recycling bin, put it in general waste. You are not helping the environment by putting as much as you can in the recycling bin.