Is it Normal to wash/rinse the plastic recycling before putting it in the bag 🤷‍♀️

[endofmytether26]

I've always rinsed out plastic pots/containers etc before I put them in the recycling bag. OH said not to bother as it's a waste of time and just put it straight in the bag after use.
I think he's probably right and it's just a habit I've got into but do you rinse it or fling it?
Lighthearted - I'm not losing any sleep over it 😍

I think most councils actually recommend this, if you leave food debris etc on them then it risks contaminating the load therefore it could potentially not be recycled..

Absolutely you wash them. The recycling should be clean & dry, and not compacted.

If you put dirty items in the recycling it contaminates the whole collections.

They're quite strict in my area about it.

Recycling instructions in our area are to rinse before putting out for recycling.

Yes I rinse tins and jars before putting in recycle, bit messy otherwise.

As others have said, our council asks for things to be clean. I just shove stuff in the dishwasher to make up a full load or rinse it immediately after use.

Yes all washed here. Everything goes in the green wheelie together so the paper/card would get all messed up.

This is what my local council advise-

Place all items for recycling loose in your green recycling bin
Items for recycling should be rinsed out
Do not squash bottles or tins
Keep paper and card flat

I was just discussing this with someone moaning about doing it.
Thing is surely the hassle of cleaning these fiddly plastic containers will discourage us from using them - I mean that's what we actually need people to do, avoid recycling. - don't buy them in the first place please!

Always rinse. The recycling bin would stink otherwise.

Yes our council says "wash and squash"

Of course rinse, pretty disgusting not to - people physically sort this rubbish, it's not all done by machine.

We rinse ours in the used washing up water

@gingercat02

Yes our council says "wash and squash"

I wonder why we aren’t allowed to squash? 🤔

It takes up less space in the bin and we are on 2 weekly collections so thats maybe why. Perhaps they are easier to sort (by hand or machine) if they are full size?

@gingercat02

It takes up less space in the bin and we are on 2 weekly collections so thats maybe why. Perhaps they are easier to sort (by hand or machine) if they are full size?

Ours are two weekly as well we can barely get anything else in by day ten. Squashing would improve things dramatically.

Ours says to rinse, do people rinse soap and shampoo bottles or just food?

I rinse most things (or the dog licks them clean 😉) but what about drinks cans? I always fully drain them but I never actually rinse them out.

Always rinse in this household. We keep ours in the garage but don't want it smelling as things can be there for up to 2 weeks.

@halcyondays

Ours says to rinse, do people rinse soap and shampoo bottles or just food?

I don't rinse toiletries or cleaning products bottles.

Where I live, our Council asks us to do this. I usually just wash the plastics out when Im doing the dinner dishes, then put it in our recycle bin.

I stick somethings in DW if it's running. Like the trays ready meals come in.

Recyc Bin would be foul otherwise

I just think of the people involved on the sorting lines. Yes machines do a lot of the work but they are supervised by humans I think.

I once worked for airline catering and when the carts came back from the aircraft full of dirties the stench was enough to make me gag every time.

I am pretty strong stomached as well.

Oh good.

Drinks cans we give a quick rinse.

I wash it. The bin only gets emptied fortnightly so I don't want the garage smelling. Also, just better for the other end.

I rinse everything because we are on a 3 week bin collection and the bin would stink otherwise. I also was toiletries and cleaning product bottles as I like to make sure I’ve used every last bit.

Interesting how different areas have different rules. We don't have bins yet just the clear recycling bags which everything goes into. So to those of you that have recycling bins do you also get recycling bags which you fill up and then the whole bag goes in the bin? Have to add - I'm very impressed with @SoupDragon who puts hers in the dishwasher!! And to @halcyondays - I just do the food containers.