Leave It Loose

The ‘RECYCLING LOVES TO BE LEFT LOOSE’ initiative concentrates on residents’ CONFUSION on what to recycle, and CONTAMINATION in recycling collections.

WHAT’S CONTAMINATION?

• This means that the wrong things are being put in the recycling bin – and if there is enough of those wrong items, then the bin can’t be recycled – and all that effort that you as a resident have put in will be lost.
• Contamination can also include things like recyclable items that have been bagged and put in the bin, or even just normal waste being put in the recycling bin.
• We can’t sort or separate bagged recyclables and can’t remove normal waste from recycling bins.
• In fact – no bin liners, plastic bags or refuse sacks of any kind.
• The bags also damage equipment and increase the costs of dealing with your waste.
• Please remember recycling loves to be left loose… and please don’t mix your recycling with any normal waste.
• Putting bags and normal waste in recycling collections is a waste of your time and effort – and means we can’t recycle.
• Keep it simple – just lift the lid and put it in!

CONFUSION:

• There is a lot of confusion about what can and can’t be recycled in your recycling bin.
• We know that most things that we throw away will have logos and instructions saying that it can be recycled.
• BUT  – here in the Liverpool City Region there is a strict list of what CAN and CAN’T be put into your recycling bin – and then be recycled.
• These are all of the items that can be placed in your recycling bin.*

*If you live in St Helens this list varies – please go to this page for more information

ST HELENS COUNCIL

CANS AND TINS: Ensure cans and tins are empty and free of food and liquids. Metal lids can be placed inside the tin or can. Do not crush or flatten cans and tins

• Drinks cans
• Food tins (fruit, soup, beans etc.)

CARD: Ensure cardboard is free from sticky and parcel tape, labels, staples and remove all plastic packaging and polystyrene. Please flatten boxes.

• cardboard boxes
• cardboard packaging
• cereal boxes
• corrugated card
• egg boxes (card)
• greeting cards
• pizza boxes (clean – no grease or food)
• toilet roll tubes
• washing powder boxes
• cardboard food packaging (remove the plastic windows)

PAPER

• catalogues (no hard covers)
• envelopes (you don’t need to remove the plastic window)
• newspapers
• junk mail (removed from any plastic bags)
• magazines (removed from any plastic bags)
• writing paper
• telephone directories and Yellow Pages
• wrapping paper (no foil or glitter)
• soap and toothpaste boxes

GLASS JARS AND BOTTLES: Ensure that jars and bottles are rinsed and free from food and liquids. Glass should not be smashed or broken.

• food jars and metal lids
• cosmetic bottles (glass)
• glass drinks bottles and (metal tops can be put back on)
• medicine bottles (glass) metal jar lids and bottle tops

PLASTIC BOTTLES: Ensure that plastic bottles are rinsed and free from liquids. Do not crush or flatten plastic bottles. Plastic bottle lids and tops can be left on .

• fabric conditioner bottles
• plastic bottle tops
• shampoo and shower gel bottles
• plastic drinks bottles (including milk bottles)
• bleach and cleaner bottles (remove spray or pump tops and lids)
• cosmetics bottles (plastic)
• medicine bottles (plastic)