Blue Bin and Recycle Labels

There's a lot of symbols! The labels are useful, but it's a bit of a minefield. Local Government - in our case Suffolk County Council - do most of our recycling. They do it by 'kerbside collection' (bins),and through recycling centres. Many other things can be recycled (that's the labels) but to collect the greatest amount in the most efficient way - ONLY PUT IN THE BLUE BIN WHAT YOU KNOW CAN BE RECYCLED!

As a rule of thumbs..  

1) Is the item "disposable" or "single-use" i.e. something you would normally throw away once you've used up the contents? 'Yes' -go to next test..'No'- black bin

2) Is it a container i.e. something with a defined and set shape, such as a bottle, pot, tub or tray (so NOT thin ones such as film or items you can screw up like bags or wrappers).'Yes' twice - Blue Bin. 'No' - Black Bin

If the answer to both tests is "yes" (and it has to be "yes" to both parts) then that plastic item should go in your blue recycling bin.

'Trays' DOES not mean the polystyrene ones. There is an easy way to distinguish polystyrene from all other plastics - try to crumble it up in your hands. If it disintegrates into crumbs easily it will be polystyrene and must go in the black (landfill) waste bin. Meat trays for example are often made from polystyrene, and takeaway foods are often in polystyrene containers.

And carton DOES not include Milk or juice cartons (often called 'Tetrapak') because these are made from mixed materials. Take these to the recycling centre in Hadenham Road, South Lowestoft Industrial Estate.

EMPTY CLEAN DRY are the watchwords

Blue Bin - The latest info

Link to Suffolk County Council's Recycling page

Click on the label on the right to read.