Recycling misconceptions mean people who think they are helping the environment are actually doing more harm than good.
New research by the British Science Association (BSA) shows that consumers in Bristol and across the UK don’t actually know what they can and cannot recycle.
Out of 2,000 people who were quizzed about what they can recycle, none of them scored full marks.
This is resulting in people putting out contaminated recycling that ends up in landfill as a result.
Are you one of the confused? Here are the top items which Brits across all age groups wrongly thought they could put in the recycling bin:
- Soap pump dispenser tops (44%)
- Used kitchen roll (34%)
- Shiny/metallised wrapping paper (26%)
- Coffee cups (24%)
- Glass that isn’t a bottle or jar e.g. window glass (23%)
- Plastic bags (22%)
- Straws (21%)
- Greasy takeaway pizza boxes (21%)
- Soft plastic / metallic packaging like pet food pouches (19%)
Photo paper (18.50%)
The top items which Brits don’t know they can put in their recycle bin are:
- Kitchen foil and foil trays which are used but still clean (66%)
- Empty deodorant aerosols and hairspray with the plastic cap (58%)
- Empty surface cleaner bottle with the trigger spray (57%)
- Metal lids (56%)
- Empty bleach bottles (51%)
On the positive side of things, the results showed that Brits are increasingly rolling up their sleeves to tackle plastic pollution, with UK households on average putting equal amounts of litter in their recycling bin and their rubbish bin every week.
Craig Stephens, campaign manager for Recycle Now, said: “Seventy-nine per cent of plastic waste ever created is still in our environment.
“While more and more of us are recycling, it’s clear that it’s as important as ever for everyone to go the extra mile to protect our planet. And by recycling everything we can, we can find new life for materials, and reduce the chance of them ending up in our environment.
“We know that understanding what and how to recycle can be tricky.”
Ivvet Modinou, head of engagement at the British Science Association, added: “It’s encouraging to see lots of people are concerned about plastic waste, but what you can and can’t put in the recycle bin can often be confusing.
“The industry as a whole needs to address this issue if we are to collectively improve recycling performance. For instance, manufacturers of plastic products could provide clearer information on packaging and local councils should be actively working to improve guidance for local residents.
“In addition, small, individual actions can really make a difference - such as asking your local cafe not to stock plastic straws - or checking the back of packaging for recycling information.”