Queries about specific types of plastic bags and films which are / aren't recyclable.

Plastic film – cling film, the film on the top of a packet or pasta or a tub of coleslaw for example is NOT recyclable. It is not included in the specification of acceptable material for either of the MRFs (materials recycling facilities) used by NLWA. We use two MRFs but they both have the same input specification for NLWA material. The reason this material is not accepted is because there is very little market for this type of film plastic, the volumes are very small, the film is often contaminated with food and practically it is difficult for the sorting equipment to separate out from the other recyclable plastic so all that happens is that it ends up contaminating other recyclable plastics.

Plastic bread bag – some of these bags are recyclable some not. Because the type of plastic they are made from is more likely to vary, and because some retailers will accept bread bags at in-store recycling points so some have recycling advice on them for this reason, it makes it difficult to provide a clear message about what to do with these plastics. So in order to provide clear guidance to residents we advise that bread bags are NOT recyclable, but bags that contain salad, bananas or pre-packed apples are. 

The following article outlines some of the difficulties with providing common guidance on recycling - because the materials that different manufacturers use for the same products varies and NLWA and other councils need to provide standard advice, where the material type can vary considerably we generally advise that the material cannot be recycled in order to prevent the wrong material ending up in the recycling. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6680785/Why-one-recycling-bin-…

We have contacted Biffa (who operate the recycling facility) for the avoidance of doubt and confirmed that the below .... is correct

1.Plastic shopping bag Recyclable

2.Glass bottle of wine Recyclable

3.Polystyrene disc from pizza packaging Non-recyclable

4.Drinks can made from aluminium Recyclable

5.Tin of beans made from steel Recyclable

6.Foil tray from a ready meal Recyclable

7.Plastic film food lid, ie from fruit punnet Non-recyclable

8.Plastic tub, ie from fruit punnet Recyclable

9.Plastic prepared salad bag Recyclable

10.Plastic bag for loose fruit or vegetables Recyclable

11.Plastic water bottle Recyclable

12.Plastic ring joiner from multipack of water or cans Recyclable

13.Plastic food pouch ie for baby food or pet food Non-recyclable