Plastic Recycling


I've become totally confused at what can and can't be recycled in the plastic line in North Wiltshire lately, so for the sake of clarity for my fellow local readers, here's the edited highlights of what I've found out (NB, the numbers I refer to are the numbers you can find inside a small triangle stamped on most plastic packaging):

My e-mail to Wiltshire County Council yesterday:
I'd like some clarification on what can and can't be recycled at the household waste centres, such as my local one at Stanton St Quintin. The guidance in Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's directory, says any plastic labelled 1,2 or 3 is recyclable. Until recently this guidance seemed to be in line with the helpful display board at the recycling centre showing examples of what could and couldn't be put into the plastics skip. That sign has been removed and replaced with a sign saying plastic bottles only. Now plastic bottles can be labelled either 1 or 2 - are both these types still acceptable? If they are, does this also mean that other plastic waste labelled with a 1 or 2 is also acceptable? Examples I have in my current rubbish include - milk bottle tops (2), Vitality yoghurt drink containers (2) and Sainsbury's vine tomato packaging (1). If these are not acceptable, can you explain why this is, when it's the same base material as the plastic bottles.
Can you also confirm whether plastic type 3 is still recyclable? If it isn't, why was it earlier, but not now?

Their quick response, today:
You are still able to recycle types 1,2 and 3 plastics at the Household Recycling Centres (it is only at the mini recycling centres, located in West Wiltshire and Salisbury where there is a limitation of plastic bottles only). I have notified our recycling contractors, Hills Waste Solutions and they have advised me that they are re-vamping the signage to make it clearer as to what can and can't be recycled. But as far as they are aware the signage has always said 'plastic bottles only'. However, plastics type 1,2 and 3 can definitely still be accepted at the Household Recycling Centres and the signage will be changed in the near future to make it clearer that types 1, 2 and 3 plastics can be accepted.

I hope this clarifies the situation. For more information on recycling in Wiltshire visit here

Comments

Your essential reads

Jack Go To Bed At Noon

Salad Days: Mastering Lettuce

Testing Times: Tomatoes

Things in unusual places #26: Rubber Ducks

Chelsea Fringe 2014: Shows of Hands - Episode I

Merry Christmas!

The Resilient Garden

#mygardenrightnow: heading into summer with the Chelsea Fringe

That blue flower: A spring spotter's guide

Introducing the #mygardenrightnow project