Am I recycling or wishcycling?
When you put something in the recycling bin, it might seem like the end of a journey, but it’s just the beginning. Mixed recycling gets sorted, processed and transformed into new helpful products. Wishcycling causes contamination and makes this process more difficult
What is wishcycling?
We’ve all done it. We’ve all dropped something that cannot be recycled in the mixed recycling bin believing that it is somehow going to help the environment. This is wishcycling. Even though our intentions can be good, it has the opposite impact. In fact, wishcycling can lead to the contamination of other materials in the bin, causing even more resources to be wasted.
There are two main types of wishcycling. The first is what we call non-target materials. These are items that cannot be sorted and processed with mixed recycling. These include materials that are not currently recycled such as crisp packets and foil pouches. This also includes materials that are recycled but need specialist processing such as soft plastics and plastic film.
The second type of wishcycling is widely recycled materials that are contaminated. These items can be processed at our mixed recycling facilities, but only if they are free from residue. Glass jars with food still in, half-empty shampoo bottles and cheese-stained pizza boxes are examples of contaminated wishcycling. Even if the pack says to recycle, if it has residue on it, we are unable to recycle it. If it cannot be rinsed or wiped, then it needs to go in general waste.
How to avoid wishcycling
Being aware of commonly wishcycled items helps save valuable resources from being wasted.
Our experts have identified twelve commonly wishcycled in our handy guide ‘How not to wishcycle’. Share with your customers and colleagues to raise awareness and support them in making sustainable recycling choices.
How not to wishcycle
What is wishcycling?
Items that cannot be recycled
Putting waste items that cannot be recycled into a recycling bin is one form of wishcycling. It happens mostly in mixed recycling bins where multiple items are accepted.Common items in this category are plastic film, composite packaging made of layered materials such as soup cartons and juice boxes, items made of mixed plastics, drinking glasses, rubber items, textiles, and electronic devices.
Items such as plastic film and electronic devices like vapes, can be recycled but not with mixed recycling, as they need specialist collection and processing. Biffa offers a free waste audit to assess your waste management needs where options like specialist waste streams can be assessed.
Items that are recyclable but are contaminated
Putting recyclable materials that have been contaminated into a recycling bin is another form of wishcycling. Examples of contaminated wishcycling include plastic bottles or containers with fluid still in them, metal tins or glass jars stained with residue, foil trays with content stuck to it, cleaning products that have not been emptied, and wet cardboard.Even if the pack says to recycle, if it has residue on it, we are unable to recycle it. Residue can damage machinery, create hygiene risks, and potentially spread contamination to the other materials in the bin.
