Can You Recycle Food Packaging?
Food packaging recycling is possible, but there are important guidelines to follow. Putting unsuitable or contaminated packaging into the recycling stream can lead to major issues like contaminating entire batches of recyclables, forcing recycling facilities to send them to landfills instead.
What is Food Packaging Recycling?
Food packaging recycling is the pivotal process of salvaging and reprocessing spent food containers and materials. By transforming used wrappings and other packaging elements into new products, we can significantly reduce the waste sent to landfills and conserve precious natural resources.
The Importance of Proper Food Packaging Recycling
This practice of tossing non-recyclable items into the recycling bin is called “wishcycling” and stems from a lack of understanding about what is truly recyclable. Such practices can contaminate entire batches of recyclable materials, leading them straight to the landfill
How to properly recycle food packaging:
- Check local recycling guidelines, as rules vary by municipality on what types of packaging are accepted.
- Remove any loose food residue or particles, as contamination makes packaging unfit for recycling. Small surface stains are usually okay.
- Separate components of multi-material packaging into their respective recycling streams (e.g. plastic tray, cardboard sleeve).
- Avoid wishcycling non-recyclable items like greasy pizza boxes, food-soiled paper plates/cups, plastic wrap, bags, and Styrofoam containers
Common recyclable food packaging includes:
- plastic bottles/jars,
- aluminium cans/foil,
- cardboard boxes without stains,
- paper bags,
- glass bottles/jars when rinsed
What can’t you recycle?
Unfortunately, most plastic food packaging cannot be recycled into new food packaging due to missing recycling processes and safety concerns. There are also issues with recycled plastics accumulating and releasing harmful chemicals that can contaminate food. Reusing plastic food containers improperly can lead to similar chemical contamination risks
Beware of these commonly mistaken items that are not recyclable:
- Greasy pizza boxes: The grease compromises the recycling process.
- Food-soiled paper plates and cups: Contamination makes them unfit for recycling.
- Plastic wrap and bags: Typically, non-recyclable through kerbside recycling collection.
- Styrofoam containers: Rarely accepted in municipal recycling.
- Compostable/biodegradable packaging: Only recyclable if your local program explicitly accepts them.
The best solution is to reduce reliance on single-use plastic packaging and shift towards safer, more sustainable materials that are reusable or able to be recycled properly. Choosing minimally packaged foods and bringing reusable bags/containers helps reduce packaging waste.
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