How to become part of the plastic pollution solution

Ten ways you can avoid single-use plastic and help to protect our planet

1. Take a reusable coffee cup on the go

In the UK alone, around seven million coffee cups are thrown away every day. Less than 1% of these can be recycled. So next time you’re in need of a caffeine fix, remember to bring your own cup. Some places even offer small discounts on your drinks if you bring your own!

2. Remember your bags for life when you go shopping

Plastic bags can take around 20 years to decompose in landfill, and supermarkets now charge a minimum of 10p per single use plastic bag. Investing in some bags for life that you can reuse each time you go shopping can help the environment and your wallet.

3. Avoid buying bottled water

One million plastic drinking bottles are purchased globally every minute and one single plastic bottle can take up to 450 years to decompose in landfill. You can help to reduce this by investing in and using a reusable bottle.

4. Buy loose fruit and vegetables

Food wrappers often end up in our oceans. Supermarkets are increasingly selling fruit and veg loose to cut down on wasteful packaging, so buy these where you can. You could use paper or reusable bags if you need something to carry them in.

5. Opt for refillable cleaning products

Whilst most cleaning products need to be stored in a leak-proof container, there are increasingly available options for refillable versions. Although this one may be trickier to get on board with until more supermarkets offer these as options.

6. Use shampoo and conditioner bars

Ditch the bottle for a bar. Many companies now sell a range of products like shampoo, conditioner, soap, and deodorant in bars.

7. Visit your local refill shop

Refill shops have become more popular around the UK. They allow you to bring your own storage jars and fill up on cupboard essentials, like pasta, rice, nuts, and cereals.

8. Choose foil instead of cling film

Cling film is made from a type of plastic that cannot be recycled. You can use foil or invest in some reusable food coverings instead to cover leftover food in the fridge.

9. Sign up for a milk round

Traditional milk rounds are growing in popularity around the UK. Glass milk bottles can be reused and recycled, and many companies offer more than just milk in the deliveries.

10. Ditch single-use cutlery and straws

Plastic straws and stirrers can take up to 200 years to decompose. Opt for paper straws or wooden cutlery if you need a disposable option. Or, look for reusable options for on the go.

Which plastics can be recycled?

PET plastic

PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalate) is the type of plastic most widely recycled. Products made from PET plastic include single-use water and drinks bottles and some yoghurt cartons.

To identify this type of plastic, look for the recycling symbol with a number one and letters PET.

You can recycle PET plastic with your household recycling.

HDPE plastic

HDPE plastic (high density polyethylene) is also widely recycled. Though you may need to check with your local authority to see if you can recycle it with your household recycling, or if you need to take it to a local recycling centre. Products made from HDPE plastic include plastic bottle caps, ice cream tubs and shampoo bottles.

To identify HDPE plastic, look for the recycling symbol with a number two and letters PE-HD. Harder, coloured bottles or cartons are probably made from HDPE.

Which plastics cannot be recycled?

PVC plastic

PVC plastic (polyvinyl chloride plastic) cannot be recycled in household recycling or local authority collections. Products made from PVC plastic include clingfilm, medicine blister packaging, pipes, and plastic furniture.

If you have medicine packets, you can check to see if you can recycle these at a local Superdrug pharmacy, or check to see if your local pharmacy has a free medicine packet recycling program, as some of them have partnered with TerraCycle to offer this.

You can identify PVC plastic by looking for the recycling symbol with a number three and the letters PVC.

Polystyrene

There are two main types of polystyrene - regular, which is hard and breaks easily, and expanded, which is lightweight and often used in packaging products. Products made from regular polystyrene include CD cases, plastic forks, and some yoghurt pots. Products made from expanded polystyrene include packing peanuts, Styrofoam and foam takeaway containers.

Polystyrene cannot be recycled anywhere, so it has to be placed in your household waste bin to dispose of it.

You can identify polystyrene by looking for the recycling symbol with a number six and the letters PS.

Which plastics can be recycled at recycling facilities?

LDPE plastic

LDPE (low-density polyethylene) products include bread bags, frozen food bags, some carrier bags, and squeezable bottles containing creams and gels. LDPE plastic can be recycled in many local authority recycling facilities.

If your local authority does not recycle carrier bags, you can check with your supermarket, as many of them now have dedicated recycling bins for carrier bags.

You can identify LDPE plastic by looking for the recycling symbol with the number four and letters PE-LD.

PP plastic

PP plastic (polypropylene) products include plastic straws, takeaway food containers and plastic cutlery. PP plastic will need to be taken to your local authority recycling facility. Make sure you check online before making the journey in case your local authority does not recycle this type of plastic.

To identify PP plastic, look for the recycling symbol with the number five and letters PP.

Crisp packets

Crisp packets fall under the ‘other’ plastics category and are made from composite plastics. They cannot be recycled in household recycling collections, but several supermarket chains offer crisp packet recycling facilities in-store.

You can identify this ‘other’ plastics category by looking for the recycling symbol with a number seven.