How to bin bad habits & recycle waste properly

Rinse out containers, if possible, with old washing-up water. A bit of pizza crust is not a huge problem but food residue should be no bigger than a golf ball. Bottles should also be empty. Nappies, metallised plastic food pouches and toothpaste tubes cannot be recycled and should go in the general waste bin.

Soft plastics and layered containers made of cardboard and plastic, such as soup and juice cartons can potentially be recycled but require specialist recycling processes. Check with your council for more details. Batteries, vapes and small electricals are extremely dangerous as a fire hazard at plants. They should not go in general waste bins either. Supermarkets and other retailers with special bins can take old batteries and vapes. These can also be disposed of at your local waste recycling centres.

Do not put in wet or soiled paper or cardboard. When dry they are simple to handle and recycle into new products.

Each item you put into your mixed recycling bin needs to be loose. It cannot be inside or attached to another container or plastic bag. Screw up wrapping paper. If it stays in a ball, it can be recycled, but if it unfolds it is probably laminated which makes it hard to recycle, so must be placed in general waste. Remove sticky tape, gift tags and ribbons.

Paper cards and crackers can be recycled but remove any plastic, glitter, foil, batteries or electronics first.

Aluminium trays and foil can be recycled but rinse them to remove any food. Scrunch them into a ball as it is easier to recycle. Leave aluminium screw top lids on jars and wine bottles. Polystyrene is a type of plastic which is not commonly recycled and should be placed in the general waste. For large amounts, consider taking it to your local recycling centre if it is accepted there. Crushing cans, breaking down boxes and other packaging will mean you can get more in your recycling bin making each collection more effective.