England's household recycling rate has remained at 43.7%, with recyclable materials still ending up in landfill because of contamination and common mistakes. Waste management specialists are urging households to rethink what goes into their recycling bins, and several everyday items that look recyclable should actually be placed in general waste.
Receipts, tubes and wrapping paper
Most till receipts are printed on thermal paper, which contains chemicals that make them unsuitable for standard paper recycling. Receipts with a shiny coating are usually thermal paper and should go in the general waste bin.
Pringles tubes are made from multiple layers of cardboard, plastic and metal that cannot easily be separated during recycling. Graham Flynn, waste management expert and managing director of Anenta, said: "Check whether your local authority accepts them or whether there is a specialist recycling scheme in your area. Otherwise, they should go in your general waste. In some areas, you may be able to recycle the lids, so it's worth checking this as well."
Wrapping paper with glitter, foil finishes or metallic coatings is not recyclable. A scrunch test can help: if the paper holds its shape when scrunched into a ball, it is more likely to be suitable for recycling. Foil, glitter and laminated paper should be disposed of in general waste.
Coffee cups, trays and crisp packets
Most takeaway coffee cups contain a plastic lining that prevents them from being recycled through standard household collections. Flynn advised using dedicated coffee cup recycling points where available or switching to a reusable cup.
Black plastic food trays used for ready meals and takeaways can remain challenging for some recycling facilities to identify using optical sorting equipment, so they are not accepted everywhere. Households should check their local council's guidance before putting them in the recycling bin.
Crisp packets and sweet wrappers are made from layers of plastic and foil that cannot usually be recycled through household collections. Flynn said they should be taken to supermarket soft plastic recycling points where they are accepted.
Toothpaste tubes, tea bags and hoses
Most toothpaste tubes are made from a mix of plastic and aluminium, making them difficult to recycle through kerbside collections. Specialist collection points at shops or dental practices may accept them, or consumers can choose brands offering recyclable packaging.
Some tea bags contain small amounts of plastic used to seal the bag, meaning they cannot be composted. Plastic-free versions can typically be composted along with the tea leaves.
Flynn said garden hoses are not suitable for household recycling because they are manufactured from durable mixed plastics that cannot be processed alongside everyday plastic packaging. If the hose still works, it can be given away or repurposed; if it has reached the end of its life, households should check whether their local recycling centre accepts it, or put it in general waste.
Wet wipes
Flynn said the vast majority of wet wipes contain plastic fibres, meaning they cannot be recycled and should never be placed in the recycling bin. He added that wet wipes are one of the biggest causes of sewer blockages when flushed down the toilet, even if they are labelled as flushable. Used wet wipes should always be disposed of in general household waste.
