Most of us are aware of how important recycling is, but are you doing it wrong? Do you casually throw things in the recycling in the hope that it is actually recyclable? If so, you are likely to be an ‘aspirational recycler’. You mean well, you are trying your best to save the planet and feel good about yourself in the process, but are you secretly making things worse? Here are 5 signs that your recycling habits are destined for the bin.

1. It's a 'pizza' cake

We all love a pizza on a lazy Sunday afternoon (and probably some dough balls). But when you’ve eaten that last slice, do you simply place the pizza box straight in your recycling box? If so, chances are that box will become just another ‘pizza’ rubbish in a landfill. The grease stains on the boxes make them un-recyclable – so don’t forget to cut the greasiest parts out first!

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giant_Pizza_box_Copenhagen.jpg

2. Give it a shot

A flat white is a Monday must. Recycling that cup after is not. Coffee cups have plastic based linings that mean they are not recyclable. Either put it in the bin (minus the cardboard heat sleeve of course) or get yourself a reusable cup.

https://www.burpple.com/f/a-vEQPsF

3. Hello darkness my old friend

Black plastic. The worst of all plastics. In the UK black plastic is not widely recycled. We consign an estimated 525,000 tonnes of plastic containers a year to our recycling boxes, according to a study conducted by Local Government Association (LGA) – only a third of which is recyclable. What can you do? Don’t buy it and if you must, put it in general waste.

https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/wrap-tells-councils-to-view-black-trays-as-rubbish/

4. Contain yourself

Food containers that haven’t been cleaned out properly, often end up in landfill. Recycling covered in food will likely be classed as contaminated and all that lovely recyclable waste will wind up in landfill! Don’t use too much water washing them out though, a quick rinse will do.

http://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/news/Caf%C3%A9-Vita-Parkwood-Leisure-Matt-De%E2%80%99ath/335994

5. Stamp it out

Letters, letters, letters. Even in 2018 we receive more junk mail that ever before. If you are throwing the envelopes with plastic windows straight in the bin, they are going straight to landfill. Rip out the window first and then recycle the rest.

http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/1/19/infographic-paper-waste

However the most important advice is still: reduce; reuse; recycle (in that order).