Dear Seb…
Oh, Seb – I feel your pain. It takes courage to admit something like this, so I applaud you. And you’re not alone. A recent survey revealed that while 8 out of 10 people believe that recycling makes a difference, they have no idea how to do it. Surprising, right?
It’s commendable your office understands the importance of recycling – recycling just 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours, so the benefits are huge. But putting non-recyclable items in the recycling bin can contaminate the recycling stream, so this may be one case where a mass email is justified! And because I believe everyone should be able to enjoy their lunch hour almost as much as I believe in the power of recycling, here’s a list of what you can and can’t recycle in the office kitchen:
Recyclable
Disposable paper, plastic or card plates and bowls (empty and rinsed of any leftover food or liquids, which should go in the food waste bin)
Juice and milk cartons (plastic tops left on)
Aluminium takeaway trays
Food tins (lids placed inside)
Drink cans
Non-recyclable
Crisp packets
Laminated food or drink pouches
Sweet wrappers
Cling film
Coffee pods and capsules
Wooden cutlery (to be placed in a garden waste collection instead)