J&B Recycling Knowledge

One of the most common reasons people put the wrong thing in their kerbside recycling bin is that the labels  on packaging are really confusing! There are lots of labels that seem to be telling us that it is ok to recycle the item in your recycling bin at home, but actually very few (if any) actually mean that you can definitely recycle the item in your bin at home! So we have developed this handy guide to help explain what the most common symbols actually mean >> Click here to download and print the guide.

First up are common symbols that catch people out! Some of these symbols do mean that an item is recyclable, but that doesn't mean that they can be put in your recycling bin at home! They may need to be taken to your Household Waste Recycling Centre (local tip) or sent off to a specialist scheme to recycle.

Next up is the International Resin Identification Coding System. These symbols often catch people out!! None of these symbols indicate that an item can be recycled. They simply identify which type of plastic resin the product is made of.

As waste management specialists, we do understand that labelling on products often isn't clear and it can be very confusing. Having a greater understanding of the symbols and what they mean can make a big difference when it comes to the levels of contamination we see in in kerbside recycling, which ultimately helps improve the recycling process and is better for the environemnt.

Some manufacturers are getting better at clearly labelling packaging to indicate which elements can and can not be recycled in your recycling bin at home, but there is still a long way to go! 

Local authorities also differ in what they do and do not accept, so it does make labelling more challenging. There are some materials that we are able to process and that are accepted by some local authorities but not others, so we can't really provide a comprehensive guide to what you can and cannot recycle! The only way to be 100% sure is to check on your local authorities website.

J&B Recycling have been operating throughout the North of England since 1998. Our commercial collection services operate from the Scottish Borders down to Hull and North Yorkshire. Our main areas for collecting and processing commercial waste include Teesside (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton), Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Sunderland, North Tyneside and Northumberland. Get in touch for more information and to request a quote.