Is everything actually recycled once left on the kerb? How do we know that the materials we put in the bin are recycled and not sent to landfill?
No, not everything is recycled after leaving the kerb. For example some packaging materials, such as paper, cartons, plastic film etc) which have been in direct contact with food cannot be recycled due to the risks of contamination. These food particles and residues will become a source of food for other agents in the biological chain such as bacteria and moulds, which then break down the packaging material. All plastics packaging is recyclable, but not all of it is recycled through kerbside recycling schemes. As the demand for recycled materials grow, more recycling will be possible.
Related Questions
- Is everything actually recycled once left on the kerb? How do we know that the materials we put in the bin are recycled and not sent to landfill?
- Can building demolition materials from renovation projects, such as the following, be recycled rather than going through dumpster to landfill?
- What are the recycled materials we put into the bin made into?
