EnviroSort - FAQs

Can I put shredded paper into my recycling bin?

Although paper is recyclable, shredded paper is so small that it can get mixed up with other materials so is difficult to separate. This will contaminate the other materials.  In particular, glass, as the pieces of shredded paper are small enough to fall through the gaps in the Glass Breaker, a machine at EnviroSort that separates glass from your other recyclables. 

Loose shredded paper will also blow around our plant and may get stuck in our machines and cause blockages.

Shredded paper can be put into home compost bins or re-used at home for packaging or animal bedding. 

Any shredded paper that you do put into your household recycling container should be contained inside an enclosed paper item such as an old envelope, paper bag or used cereal box, then squash it down so it looks flat.

Please do not put it inside a plastic bag as it will be classed as mixed materials and cannot be recycled.

Can I recycle wrapping paper?

Only certain types of wrapping paper can be recycled. The easiest way to tell is to try to rip it or do the ‘scrunch test’. Scrunch the wrapping paper into a ball in your hand…if it ‘scrunches’ and holds its shape or rips easily (like newspaper) then it can go into your household recycling bin.

If it bounces back when you ‘scrunch’ it up (in the same way as a crisp packet would) or it is difficult to rip then it will need to go into your household non-recycling bin as it is likely to be made from metallic or plastic materials. 

Embellished wrapping paper with sequins, glitter, bows etc. cannot be recycled – try to separate those decorations where possible and if you can’t then it needs to go into your non-recycling bin.

Alternatively, you could use re-usable packaging, such as gift bags which can be used over and over! If you use recyclable wrapping paper, or brown paper to wrap presents, do re-use these types of paper before recycling them. 

Do remember to remove tape and any sticky labels. Plastic based tape is a contaminant, and even paper tape can cause issues as it may come off and cause blockages in our machines.

Can I recycle greetings cards?

Yes, as long as they do not have lots of embellishments on them.

Badges, bows, batteries and glitter cannot be recycled at the paper mill so separate these items. If you can re-use things like bows then that’s a great solution.  Otherwise bows and glittery card can go into your non-recycling bin. 

Batteries should go to a supermarket collection or to your nearest Household Recycling Centre where they can be recycled - check whether your local Household Recycling Centre can accept them here. 

Alternatively, greetings cards can sometimes be re-used at home – old Christmas cards for example can make great gift tags for the next year!

Can I recycle coffee cups?

Coffee cups (and similar packaging) cannot be recycled in your household recycling bin even if they are marked as being recyclable. The plastic lining which ensures they are leak-proof is difficult to remove and can only be done by a specialist reprocessor. 

As EnviroSort process over 75,000 tonnes of green bin recycling every year, there is not the capacity to handpick these items out.

Can I recycle paper Quality Street wrappers?

Yes, you can recycle paper Quality Street wrappers if they are treated as shredded paper.  Please place these wrappers inside an envelope, paper bag or empty cereal box (no plastic inner) then squash down so it appears flat.  (Paper sweet wrappers if placed in loose will contaminate the glass they are small enough to fall through the gaps in the Glass Breaker machine.)

There is a thin vegetable-based coating on paper Quality Street wrappers which has been specifically produced as not to affect the recycling process. 

All other paper-based wrappers and non-paper/plastic/cellulose wrappers must be placed in the residual waste/black bin.  Foil wrappers can be scrunched together and placed in the metal container at your local Household Recycling Centre.

Can I put old books into my recycling bin?

No, books cannot go into your recycling bin. 

Books should be taken to a local charity shop if they’re in good condition or many communities now offer a ‘book swap’ service.

Alternatively, many of our Household Recycling Centres can accept books to be recycled or re-used. Check whether your local Household Recycling Centre can accept them here.

Newspapers, magazine, telephone directories can go into your household recycling bin (just be sure to remove any plastic wrappings or free gifts). 

Can I recycle takeaway pizza boxes?

Pizza boxes can be included in your household recycling container as long as they don’t contain any food residues.  If a section of the takeaway box is heavily contaminated with food or grease then rip this part out and put it into your non-recycling bin, the clean section can then be put into your recycling bin at home.

Can I recycle egg boxes?

Yes, carboard egg boxes can go into your household recycling container. Please squash them so they look flat.  (Clear plastic egg boxes can also be recycled from your recycling bin, please do not squash these. Styrofoam-type egg boxes cannot be recycled from a recycling bin collection and these need to be placed in your general non-recycling waste bin.)

Can I recycle tissue products like toilet paper, tissues, tissue wrapping paper, paper towels and kitchen roll?

No, tissue products like tissues, kitchen roll and toilet roll should go into your non-recycling bin.

Paper can be recycled between 4 and 7 times.  Each time paper is recycled, the paper fibres get shorter. When paper is at the end of its recycling life, it is made into low-grade paper products such as toilet paper, tissues, tissue paper, paper towels and kitchen roll. 

At this point, the paper fibres are not strong enough to withstand another recycling and these products cannot be placed in the recycling bin as they will contaminate other materials in the recycling bin, in particular, the paper stream. 

Can I recycle receipts?

Receipts printed on shiny, thermal paper are not recyclable as they are coated with a substance called bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol S (BPS).  These coatings cannot be removed. 

Can I recycle greaseproof/baking paper?

Greaseproof and baking paper are made to be fat repellent. The process includes a silicone coating which makes these products non-recyclable as they cannot be removed.

Can I recycle wallpaper?

Wallpaper cannot be recycled due to the patterns and coatings added in its manufacture. Wallpaper paste is also a contaminant.

Can I recycle scratch cards?

No, scratch cards cannot be recycled from a recycling bin collection, even if they are marked as being recyclable. The scratchable coating is made from latex which is a contaminant.

What is the biggest size piece of cardboard I can recycle?

Cardboard needs to be a maximum of A2 size. 

This is 420 x 594 mm or 42 x 59.4 cm. In inches, A2 paper has a size of 16.5in x 23.4in.

If it is any bigger than this, please cut it or rip it to size.  Please don’t fold it to size as it will flop open when it is tipped out from the lorry.  You can take large cardboard boxes to a Household Recycling Centre. 

Oversized cardboard is one of the biggest causes of blockages at EnviroSort as it is too big for the conveyor belts. 

Why can’t I put black plastic into my recycling collection?

Black plastic should go into your non-recycling bin.

Plastic items are sorted by optical scanners which use the reflection of light to identify the types of plastics.

Black plastic doesn’t reflect light, so cannot be seen and sorted by the scanners.  Any other colour is absolutely fine.

Why can’t I put plastic film into my recycling collection?

Plastic film can be very difficult to recycle and can cause technical issues with the automated sorting equipment, causing mis-sorting and the rejection of otherwise good materials.

Lots of supermarkets can accept carrier bags and films in their stores now.  You can find your nearest recycling point for films here.

Can I recycle plastic bottle tops?

Bottle tops can be included in your recycling, once you have cleaned your bottles please screw them back on and put them into your recycling bin.

Can I put plastic plant pots in my recycling collection?

Plastic plant pots can be placed in your recycling collection so long as they are not black. The optical scanners at EnviroSort do not recognise black plastic and, therefore, it cannot be separated.

Please wash plastic plant pots before recycling to ensure bits of compost and other garden residues do not contaminate other items in the recycling bin.

Alternatively, if you use terracotta plant pots they will be accepted at Household Recycling Centres in the ‘soil and rubble’ container.  You can find the details of your local Household Recycling Centre here.

Can I recycle plastic household bottles with a ‘pump’ top?

You should put the body of these plastic bottles into your recycling bin but make sure you remove the pump top and put that into your non-recycling bin.
These tops tend to be made of several different materials so are difficult to recycle.  They can also often still contain a liquid residue. 

Why can't I recycle glass in my recycling sacks?

Placing glass in your recycling sacks poses a number of health and safety risks to the collection crews and those working in EnviroSort.
Your local Household Recycling Centre may be able to accept glass bottles and jars. 

Check whether your local Household Recycling Centre can accept them here.

Can I recycle any glass other than bottles and jars?

The only glass items that can go into your household recycling bin are bottles and jars.

Other items such as window pane glass are made of a different type of glass to bottles and jars and should be safely disposed of with non-recyclable waste.  For bulky items you can locate your local Household Recycling Centre here.

If you have recycling sacks instead of a recycling wheelie bin then you can’t include any type of glass.

Did you know that some light bulbs can be taken to your local household waste site for recycling? Fluorescent tubes, energy saving lightbulbs and LED bulbs can be recycled at many local Household Recycling Centres.  Check whether your local Household Recycling Centre can accept them here.

Can I recycle any colour glass?

Yes, as long as it is a glass bottle or a glass jar then these can go into your household recycling bin. You can even leave the lids on glass bottles and jars as these will be separated in the process.

If your bottle has a cork then this needs to go into your non-recycling bin.

Can I put large metal sweet and biscuit tins in my recycling collection?

Yes, you can put large metal sweet and biscuit tins in your recycling. Please ensure the tin is empty and place the lid on the tin. Remember there is no need to squash the tin.

Remember you can only recycle food and drink cans in your household bin. 

Please do not wash out empty oil cans or paint tins in order to recycle them as the contents are classed as hazardous and could pollute the water supply. 

For large container such as empty paint tins please visit your local Household Recycling Centre. Check where your local Household Recycling Centre is here.

Why can I not put tin/aluminium foil and foil food containers into my recycling bin?

There are a number of reasons why you cannot put foil into your recycling bin at home.

It has to be processed differently to other aluminium items such as aluminium cans and it accounts for a negligible amount of the commingled recycling (approx. 0.001%) so would take up valuable storage space at EnviroSort which can be more beneficially used for other materials.

Most Household Recycling Centres have a container where foil can be taken to be recycled. Check whether your local Household Recycling Centre can accept it here.

Can I recycle any type of metal?

Please only include food and drink tins and cans or empty aerosols in your household recycling bin.

Most other metals will be accepted at our Household Recycling Centres. You can find the details of your local Household Recycling Centre here.

Can I recycle aerosols?

You can also recycle empty, non-hazardous household aerosols such as deodorants or air fresheners. Just make sure you put the plastic lids into your bin separately. If aerosols have any product left in them, they are classed as hazardous and would need to be taken to a Household Recycling Centre.   

Please do not put gas canisters into your recycling bin as it can cause a hazard to our operational team and could damage equipment in the plant.

Can I recycle empty tomato/garlic/pesto puree tubes?

No, you cannot recycle puree/toothpaste tubes as they will be contaminated with product residue.

Can I recycle coffee pods?

No, coffee pods are too small for the machinery in most recycling centres plus they are often made from a mix of plastic and aluminium (mixed materials) which is difficult to recycle. Most coffee pod manufacturers should have their own recycling schemes. 

Can I recycle saucepans, coat hangers and cutlery?

No, saucepans are contaminated with either chromium (this is the additive that creates stainless steel) or they may have a non-stick coating which is also a contaminant.  

Cutlery cannot be recycled from a domestic recycling collection as it is either contaminated with chromium (if stainless steel) or may be coated with other additives such as silver plate which would also be a contaminant. Cutlery handles may also be made from other materials such as plastic.

Metal coat hangers have a lacquer coating which is a contaminant.

Coat hangers, cutlery and pipes may jam our machinery and cause injuries to staff.

If saucepans and cutlery are reusable, please take them to a charity shop. 

Can I recycle food pouches, crisp packets etc?

The shiny metallic inside crisp packets and food pouches might look like metal but it’s usually plastic or a mix of plastic and aluminium. Many “foil” lids on yoghurt pots aren’t metal foil but are plastic-based. These cannot into a domestic recycling bin. 

Many of these items can be recycled via a supermarket soft plastic collection. Please check locally. 

Can I recycle needles, syringes, knives, screws and pins?

These items may cause injuries to staff working in the recycling centre. In addition, needles/syringes are classed as clinical/medical waste and can only be disposed of using a clinical waste collection. 

Do I have to remove the plastic spout / opening device from cartons?

No, plastic spouts can be left on the cartons. Please remember to squash your cartons.

What items should be squashed when I put them into my recycling bin?

You SHOULD squash – paper, card, cardboard and cartons. 

Please DON’T squash – plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays or aluminium cans and steel cans.

The main separator in EnviroSort works by separating flat things e.g. paper and card, from 3D things like cans and bottles. That’s why we ask you not to squash bottles and cans or scrunch up paper.

Why can't I put textiles into my recycling collection?

As your recyclables are collected mixed together in one container we cannot collect textiles for recycling because they might get spoilt.

You can donate textiles to charity for re-use and there are also recycling sites throughout your area where you can take unwanted textiles. You can find the details of your local Household Recycling Centre here.

What textiles can I take to the clothing bank?

All of our Household Recycling Centres have ‘clothing banks’. You can find the details of your local Household Recycling Centre here.

You need to be sure that the textiles you throw into the containers are clean and dry.  Each of the ‘clothing banks’ has instructions written on them to advise what you can and cannot throw away.

If the clothing has a small rip or tear it can still be put into the ‘clothing bank’ as it can be recycled into cleaning rags.  Even things like curtains, shoes and socks can be recycled in the ‘clothing banks’.

Why can’t I put all my items for recycling in a carrier bag?

Recyclables should be placed into your household recycling bin loose.

The recyclables need to be loose so the equipment at EnviroSort can separate the different materials. If you place the recyclables in a carrier bag, the bag would first need to be opened and could potentially contain items which pose a health and safety risk to those working at EnviroSort.

If you find you have lots of plastic bags, you could consider using a re-usable shopping bag rather than single use plastic ones.  Alternatively, many supermarkets now offer a carrier bag recycling service, you can check whether your local one can accept them here

Why can’t I put batteries in my recycling bin?

Batteries are hazardous waste and should not be put into any of your household bins.

Old batteries can be taken to your local household waste site where they are collected for recycling. You can find the details of your local Household Recycling Centre here.

Can I put polystyrene packaging into my recycling collection?

Please dispose of this type of polystyrene in your non-recycling waste container.

Polystyrene packaging like the type found protecting new electrical items or the small polystyrene chips often found in boxes sent through the post, should not be placed in your recycling bin as it cannot be recycled at EnviroSort.

Bulky polystyrene packaging can be taken to your local Household Recycling Centre and included in the ‘waste to landfill’ container. You can find details of your local Household Recycling Centre here.

Double check that your packaging is definitely made of polystyrene.  Some companies now use packaging materials that look like polystyrene but are, in fact, starch based so can be composted in your home composting bin.

How clean do my recyclables need to be?

When you put your recyclables into your recycling container please make sure they are clean and dry.

All they need is a rinse - they just need to be clean enough that there is no residue left in the containers.

For items such as aerosol cans or bleach bottles please just ensure it is completely empty (no more liquid or spray coming out of the container).  Put the lids back onto any plastic bottles before including them in your recycling bin.  Plastic lids from empty aerosol cans can be included in your recycling bin, separate from the metal can. 

If you’re unable to empty any containers fully then you should not put it into your recycling container as there is a risk it could contaminate everything else in there.

Can I only recycle items from my kitchen?

No, you can recycle items from any area of your home as long as they are the following materials:

Plastic bottles, plastic tubs, plastic pots, plastic trays, cardboard, card, paper, cartons (e.g. Tetrapak), aluminium cans or steel cans.

Items that people commonly miss include plastic shower gel bottles (as long as they aren’t black), toothpaste boxes, tissue boxes, perfume bottles, washing tablet boxes, aerosols (such as air fresheners and furniture polish) and detergent sprays.

Can I recycle tubes e.g. toothpaste, moisturiser?

No.  Tubes are very difficult to handle as they can contain many different materials and it’s hard to be certain that they’re clean – even when you have finished a tube of toothpaste you will find there’s still a residual coating on the inside of the tube.

Please put any tubes into your non-recycling bin.

Can I recycle pouches? E.g. juice pouches and pet food

No.  Pouches are very difficult to handle as they can contain many different materials and it’s hard to be certain they’re clean – even when you have emptied a pouch you will find there’s still a residual coating on the inside.

Please put any pouches into your non-recycling bin.

Do I need to remove labels?

No, you can leave labels on your household packaging when you put it into your recycling bin – it will be removed as part of the recycling process. 

Make sure you remove any personal information (e.g. delivery notes) and tape from items such as cardboard packaging boxes.

Can I recycle plastic trays and punnets?

Yes, these can go into your recycling bin as long as they aren’t black.

Make sure you clean them out.  If fruit punnets have a netting around them, a film lid or bubble wrap on the inside be sure to separate that out into the non-recycling bin first.

Can I recycle crisp packets and sweet wrappers?

No, these are often made of multiple materials such as a plastic layer and a metallic layer which cannot be easily separated.

These should go into your non-recycling bin.

Can my disposable coffee cup go into my recycling bin?

No, unfortunately these cups tend to be made of several layers of material which are heat resistant, waterproof and difficult to separate.  Often they can also contain residue of drinks which have been contained in them too.

They should go into your non-recycling bin.

Using a re-usable mug whilst you’re at home can make a huge difference and you can get travel mugs too which can be refilled whilst you’re out and about.

I’m having a party, can I recycle my paper plates and plastic cups?

No.  These items need to go into your non-recycling bin.

Paper plates will often still have food residues on them so may potentially contaminate the other recyclables in the container.  Plastic cups are often made from polystyrene which cannot be easily recycled.

Alternatively you could consider using re-usable plastic cups and plates which can be cleaned at the same time that you’re doing other washing up!

Can I get a bigger bin / more sacks?

If you are recycling more than you can fit in your bin please contact your local council who will be help by providing a bigger or extra bin / sacks.

To find information about your local District Council please click here.

My recycling hasn’t been collected?

Please contact your local district council who will be able to assist.

To find information about your local District Council please click here.