Wash it before you throw it

We are creating more non-degradable plastic waste as our population increases and we are spending more on consumer goods manufactured and packaged in plastic.

In industry, plastic is being used more frequently to protect products from moisture and contact damage. This means that when products are unpacked they are received in an undamaged condition. The packaging material is often just dumped without being recycled and goes to the landfill as general waste. This is an opportunity to avoid contributing to contamination of landfill sites with non-degradable products by recycling industrial plastic waste.

Wash your containers before recycling. When you recycle plastic containers, scrape out any food residue and give them a rinse to clean them. You can use dishwashing up water to achieve this before you pull the plug. There is no need to put your recycled plastic in the dishwasher.

To remove oil from plastic containers, put in a few drops of washing up liquid and some warm water. Screw on the top, give it a shake and rinse it out. It will be clean enough for recycling and will not prevent the recycling of other products.

To learn more about the wonders of recycled packaging, check out the rest of our blog – or feel free to contact us.

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