MILLIONS of adults are still confused about what can be recycled at home, with 55% unknowingly not collecting soft plastics such as carrier bags and salad bags in curbside collections.
A survey of 2,000 adults found that 36% wrongly believed toilet paper packaging could be put in municipal recycling boxes, while 30% thought the same about supermarket bags.
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Others also believed that bread bags (21%), salad wrappers (19%) and shrink wrap for drinks (11%) could be recycled from home.
But only 33% are confident that they can recognize flexible plastic objects in the home.
It also emerged that 95% regularly recycle what they can.
The stats came in a survey by sustainable online grocer Abel & Cole, who commissioned the study to coincide with the launch of its flexible plastics recycling program – which accounts for 300,000 tons of packaging waste per year.
Following a trial earlier this year, the service will be rolled out across the UK and the brand will collect flexible plastics from every retailer from homes to be recycled and reused in sustainable building materials.
Hugo Lynch, Abel & Cole’s Sustainability Project Manager, said: “Since we first launched our organic vegetable delivery service 33 years ago, we have been passionate about doing the best for the planet.
“And that passion extends to helping our customers live their most sustainable lives.
“Rolling out ‘Plastic Pick-Up’ across the country is one of our most ambitious plans to date, but we know it will be worth the effort – with the potential to save tons of landfill waste every day. “
To celebrate the launch and help Brits get to grips with the flexible plastics in their waste, Johanna Konta, former British women’s tennis star, has joined forces with the online retailer to demonstrate the scrunch test to find out what is and isn’t. can be recycled with the new scheme.
Johanna said: ‘I care deeply about the environment and always do my very best to make a positive contribution to it, whether that be at home or being chatty about the use of plastic in my sport.
“But even I struggle to know what I can and can’t recycle at home.”
Recycling isn’t the only news making headlines. Did you know that today there is a big change in the rules for homeowners?
And keep an eye on your pension, because this mistake could easily cost you thousands of euros more.