Increasingly, plastic packaging such as pots, tubs and trays are being accepted as part of household recycling schemes. Collections of these items does vary across the country though – so please check with your council in the first instance.
If your council does accept these items, typically it will include:
Yoghurt pots
Food ‘pots / tubs’ for soup, noodles and cakes
Tubs containing cleaning products like stain remover and detergent
Meat trays
Margarine tubs
Ready-meal containers
Punnet style containers that hold fruit / vegetables, such as mushrooms or grapes
Hair gel containers
Pots containing facial or body creams
How to recycle…
Give items a quick rinse using your left-over washing up water
Squash / flatten (where appropriate) – it saves space in your recycling bin!
Do not include plastic film lids or cling film
Note:
Other types of plastic pots and tubs, such as flower pots, cannot be recycled at home: however you can sometimes recycle them at household waste and recycling centres. The best option for these types of tubs is to find a keen gardener who might be able to re-use them!
What else can I do with them?
Plastic pots, tubs and trays can be very useful for storing odds and ends – from paperclips, to jewellery to pens and pencils!
