YOU’VE seen Blue Planet. You’ve seen the plastic debris by the side of the road. You’ve seen the pictures of beaches and river banks smothered with bottles, packages and tins. The world has a serious problem with throwaway plastic and other rubbish, and needs to start to recycle much more of it.

But there is a lot of confusion about what can and can’t be recycled, or even how to recycle. Do you take the tops off bottles for instance? Should you take the labels off tins? Do you have to wash everything out before you recycle it? And is it true that one mis-placed item can contaminate an entire batch and render it un-recyclable?

In our new two-part series, we will be answering those questions.

Tomorrow we will be visiting a recycling centre to find out what happens after you drop off your recycling, but first we have a guide to what can and can’t be recycled and how to do it properly. Remember that council polices can vary so check what applies in your area, but if you’ve ever worried about whether you are doing your recycling right, this is the guide you need.

Pizza boxes

You might think that pizza boxes can be put in with all the other cardboard and paper for recycling, but the boxes are usually stained with cheese, grease or other food and this means they are not recyclable. The residues of food affect the quality of the cardboard meaning it cannot be re-used. Pizza boxes should be put in the general bin.

Tin foil and aluminium food trays

Do not throw out the foil you wrap food in or those tin foil trays that takeaways come in because they are recyclable. Make sure you rinse or wipe off any crumbs or bits of food – the best way to do it is just to dunk the foil in water. The trick then is to scrunch up the foil, tubs and tin foil lids into as big a ball as possible before putting it in the recycling – the bigger the ball, the easier it is to recycle.

Plastic bottles

Most plastic bottles are recyclable, including those for shampoo, detergent, bleach, juice and milk. Rinse the bottles out first and squash them as much as possible. The tops do not usually need to be removed although council policy varies. With spray bottles, remove the trigger and spray bottles, but you do not need to remove the labels.

Plastic film

Most plastic film cannot be recycled, including bubble wrap, clingfilm, crisp packets and food and drink pouches. Where carrier bags are accepted for recycling – at larger supermarkets for instance – other types of plastic film can be recycled such as bread and freezer bags, plastic wrappers for toilet roll and magazine and newspaper wrap. Polystyrene is not recyclable.

Toothpaste tubes.

The squeezable type of toothpaste tube is made from plastic, but it is a type that is difficult to recycle so most councils will not collect them for re-processing. The same goes for other squeezable tubes containing suntan lotion, hand cream, shower gel and the like. Tubes of this type should go in the general rubbish. The pump-action style of toothpaste tube is made from a different type of plastic and is easier to recycle – check with your council to see if it collects them. Deodorant plastic containers are made from a mix of plastics so are not usually recyclable.

Greetings cards

If the card is made entirely from card or paper, then it will be recyclable, but check first whether the card has any ribbons or embellishments of any kind because they will have to be removed before the card is put in the recycling. If the card is musical, then remember to take the batteries out and recycle them separately.

Carrier bags

Carrier bags are recyclable, but most councils do not have the facilities to do this, so they should not be put into ordinary recycling. Any bag put in with other recycling will mean it having to be sorted and removed for disposal. Some of the bigger supermarkets have collection points for carrier bags so they can be recycled; alternatively re-use the bags as much as possible. Those that end up in landfill can take hundreds of years to break down.

Glass bottles and jars

Most of the glass you use every day in the house will be recyclable, but obey some simple rules. First, rinse out bottles and jars; leave the top or closures on – these will be removed as part of the recycling process – but remove corks from wine bottles. If you’re using a bottle bank that requires glass to be sorted by colour, put blue glass in with green. There are certain types of glass that cannot be recycled because it melts at a different temperature – it includes window glass, light bulbs, and Pyrex, nail varnish bottles, mirrors or drinking glasses.

Food and drink cartons

These are recyclable, and most councils collect them as part of general recycling. You can leave on the plastic tops or straws as these can also be recycled. Most cartons are made from a mix of paper, plastic and aluminium which the recycling process will separate out for different uses. Laminated food/drink pouches for pet or baby food are not recyclable and should be put in the general rubbish.

Coffee pods and cups

Single-use pods used in coffee machines are not usually accepted in home collections so should be disposed of in general waste. Alternatively, the company Teracycle organises collection points (there are a number in Scotland). Check their website terracycle.co.uk for more details. Most one-use coffee cups cannot be recycled – the technology is developing but for now most councils will not accept these as they can cause problems in the recycling process and must be separated out.

Crisp and sweetie wrappers

Most of the metallised plastic film which is used in wrappers of this kind is not recyclable and should therefore be put in general waste. However, do the scrunch test first – scrunch the wrapper in your hand and if it remains scrunched then it is foil and can be recycled. If it springs back, it is metallised plastic film and is not recyclable.

Newspapers and other paper

Most paper is recyclable, but before recycling newspapers, remember to take off any plastic film or glossy inserts. Envelopes can also be recycled but if they have a plastic window, remove that first. Shredded paper is usually not accepted because it can jam the machinery. Wrapping paper can be recycled apart from the plasticised type. Wallpaper, kitchen roll and tissue paper are not recyclable.

Cotton wool

Cotton wool is not recyclable so should be placed in your general rubbish. Do not try to flush it away as it expands when placed in water and can cause blockages. Cotton wool buds with plastic stems are also not recyclable and are being phased out. Again, do not flush.

Plastic tubs and trays

The policy of councils varies on this one (Glasgow City Council for example does not currently accept plastic tubs in their mixed recycling) but more and more councils are accepting them. If your council does accept them, you can recycle yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, ready-meal containers, and pots for hair or body creams. Give them all a rinse out first and flatten them as much as you can. Flower pots are not accepted.

Food tins and drinks cans

Usually made from steel or aluminium, these are 100 per cent recyclable and can be re-process over and over again. Before you put them in the recycling, rinse them out and completely removed the lid. You should then place the lid in the tin and squash it as much as you. Labels do not need to be removed.

Read part two tomorrow.