As part of our most recent County Views survey, we asked our panel if there were any items they didn’t know or were unsure which bin they go in.
Overwhelmingly, you said it’s plastics that cause you to pause most often over the recycling bin and ask yourself… can I recycle this?
Plastic bags and films
Carrier bags, films that come on top of food packaging, and flimsy plastics like bread bags – these can’t be recycled at home in Lincolnshire. Put these in your general waste bin.
Or, you can find plastic bag recycling points at most supermarkets and other food stores. These collection points allow huge quantities of these thin plastics to be collected from across the country and then sent for recycling.
Dark plastics
Black or dark brown plastic trays can’t be recycled in Lincolnshire. Put these in your general waste bin.
Waste processing plants use a laser to sort plastics for recycling. These lasers can’t penetrate dark coloured plastics, so they can’t be sorted properly.
Cleaning products and toiletries
Empty bleach bottles, toilet cleaners, shampoos, shower gels and bubble baths – these can all be recycled here in Lincolnshire.
Plastic tubes, like those for toothpaste or face wash can’t be recycled in Lincolnshire and need to go in your general waste bin.
Hard plastics
Things like toys, washing-up bowls, laundry baskets – these are made from harder, thicker plastics that can't be recycled at home. You can put these in your general waste bin at home, or better yet, recycle them at to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.
If you’re getting rid of old toys, please remember to remove any batteries before binning; they can cause fires!
Lids
Ideally, please remove lids from plastic bottles before you put them in the recycling bin. The lids can be recycled too, but they’re often made from a different type of plastic, so by separating them you’re making it easier to sort. The same goes for metal lids on glass jars.
Wondering about any other waste items? Check your local district council’s website, or drop us a message on Facebook or Twitter.
Find out more about the County Views panel by visiting Let's Talk Lincolnshire.