Which items can’t be recycled?

Many people think items such as plastic bags and coffee cups can be recycled when they can’t. Here are the do’s and don’ts

British consumers are increasingly willing to recycle their household waste but are failing to grasp the basics, according to the latest research by the British Science Association. Failure to get it right means that a lot of recyclable waste is going to landfill, the BSA says.

The issue is further complicated by inconsistency among councils, which make their own rules and funding decisions on recycling collections.

Common mistakes include putting tissue boxes in the recycling bin without first removing the plastic insert. On the flipside, people often wrongly think that empty deodorant aerosols cannot be recycled.

To help UK households get it right, the industry has compiled a list of some of the most common misconceptions about what can and cannot be recycled.

Top items that people wrongly think can be recycled

• Hand soap pump dispenser tops
• Kitchen roll
• Non-paper gift wrap
• Coffee cups
• Plastic bags
• Tissues
• Wine glasses
• Glass cookware
• Window glass
• Straws
• Greasy takeaway pizza boxes…