Plastic recycling

Plastic is one of the most popular and useful materials of modern times: we use about 20 times more plastic than we did 50 years ago. It’s vital that we recycle all the plastic we can we can.

In Sandwell, it’s really easy to recycle your plastic container packaging such as plastic bottles, food tubs, yogurt pots and other food containers from your home by placing them into your blue lid recycling bin. Just make sure they are empty, clean and dry.

Your plastic's recycling journey

How is it recycled?

Once your plastic container packaging has been separated from other recycling at the materials recycling facility in Stratford-Upon-Avon, it is sent to recycling factories to be made into new items. The plastic is then:

Sorted (by type of plastic)

  1. Shredded
  2. Washed
  3. Melted
  4. Turned into pellets
  5. Made into new products.

New products

There are a wide range of products made from recycled plastic including:

  • Drinks bottles and food trays
  • Polyester fabric for clothing
  • Benches and chairs
  • Refuse sacks and carrier bags
  • Wheel arch liners and bumpers on cars
  • Reusable crates and pallets
  • Bins and food caddies.

Environmental benefits

We use a large amount of plastic packaging so it is vital that we recycle as much as possible. By recycling your plastic container packaging you will be:

  • Conserving non-renewable fossil fuels (plastic is made from oil)
  • Reducing the consumption of energy used in the production of new plastic
  • Reducing the amount of waste going to landfill
  • Reducing emission of gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Different types of plastics and the problems

There are many different types of plastics which can make it confusing to know which ones can go in your blue lid recycling bin, as not all can be accepted.

Plastic items may often display a number in a triangle indicating which type of plastic is it but this isn’t always the case.

The general rules is that you can recycle plastic food, drink and liquid containers in your blue lid recycling bin.

For example, plastic bottles, food tubs and yogurt pots can be recycled while plastic toys, coat hangers and plant pots should go in the grey household waste bin.

Yes to: Plastic bottles, tubs, food pots and food trays.

No to: Black bags, polystyrene, bubble wrap, hard plastics such as toys, coat hangers and flower pots. And no to electricals and crisp packets.