To not put used tissues in the dry recycling bin?

[Augustaprodworthy]

My DH is adamant that its fine to put used kitchen roll and snotty tissues in the blue recycling bin as they apparently get recycled.
Surely you can't recycle them?

[treaclesoda]

ewww, no, I'm with you on that one!

[CecilyP]

YANBU; if you can find the instructions that the council left when they first delivered the bin, you will find that they say you must NOT put used tissues in the recycling bin.

[Augustaprodworthy]

I've looked it up and it says
NO black sacks or carrier bags
NO clothes, textiles, or shoes
NO paint tins
NO broken toys
NO batteries
NO shredded paper
NO cling film or polystyrene
NO polystyrene & plastic egg boxes
NO Food Waste


Hence the argument. I can't prove him wrong!

[KatAndKit]

Ewww that is gross. I would flush them down the toilet myself to get rid of snot germs
definitely not recycling!

[ErrolTheDragon]

I wouldn't have thought so. Mainly because its nasty for the people who have to do the recycling, but also I'm pretty sure its too low grade (probably fibres too short). Contaminated paper/card (eg greasy pizza boxes) shouldn't go in the recycling either.

The list of what can go in our paper/cardboard bin is:
Catalogues and Directories
Wrapping Paper (Non Foil)
Newspaper
Magazines
Junk Mail
Cardboard Food Packaging
Cardboard Boxes (Up to 50cm x 50cm)
Toilet Roll and Kitchen Roll Tubes
Greetings Cards
Cereal Boxes



If you do composting, used kitchen roll can go in there (wouldn't do that with snotty tissues).

[redexpat]

I put ours in the compost because I figured it was the same as ktichen roll.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

We put used tissues and used kitchen towel into our compost bin, and have been doing so for years. Nothing terrible has happened yet.

[CecilyP]

I see the dilemma then. I know that my leaflet says no used tissues or paper towels because one of my colleagues put used paper towels in the paper recycling at work, so I brought the leaflet to show that you shouldn't. Unfortunately, he still does it - I can't really understand the mentality. If you have a recycling bin where you can also put in tins and plastic bottles, as we do, then someone as to sort it out, so it can't be very pleasant for them to find used tissues and, as Errol says, the fibres are too short to be of much use.

[kiriwawa]

Compost bin - yes. Paper recycling - no

[QuacksForDoughnuts]

Eurgh, YAdefoNBU! I had a colleague who used to do this in the recycling in our office. I didn't notice until one morning when I was in extra early and saw that the cleaner had to remove them, and was doing so with her bare hands. Luckily he seemed to stop after having this pointed out to him, but why couldn't he see the problem before?!?

[complexnumber]

I'm missing the problem here. The council has not banned that type of waste, so why shouldn't he dispose of it in that manner.

If people are worried about the sensibilities of the sorters, I am sure there are a heck of a lot of jobs where people have to deal with a lot worse than a snotty tissue.

[Bunbaker]

"I would flush them down the toilet myself to get rid of snot germs
definitely not recycling"

You shouldn't do that. Paper tissues don't biodegrade as quickly as toilet roll and can bung up the plumbing.

[CecilyP]

Yes, there are dirty jobs that are dirty because that is the nature of the work. But why should people have to remove snotty tissues from recycling when the people using the recylcling facilities have been told not to put snotty (or indeed any) tissues in them.

[complexnumber]

But why should people have to remove snotty tissues from recycling when the people using the recylcling facilities have been told not to put snotty (or indeed any) tissues in them.

But I thought that the OP was saying that there was no directive with regards snotty tissues.

(I can't believe I have just used the word 'directive' feel free to hurl abuse)

[CecilyP]

Perhaps OP should email her council and ask for a 'directive'.

[Jan49]

Augusta, isn't there a list on the website of what should go in the recycling as well as what shouldn't?

Our council used to say used tissues should go in compost waste, then later changed this to putting them in the landfill bin.

[Coupon]

YANBU. They don't want everyone's germs in the recycling!

[Augustaprodworthy]

No, there's nothing in the website about tissues, will have to call them tomorrow to settle the argument.

[phantomnamechanger]

You are right OP - and DH is being daft at saying they are not on the banned list - that list is obviously NOT exhaustive - it does not say no dirty nappies, cat litter, sanitary dressings, or numerous other things!

used tissues can go in food waste, or in general rubbish