Do you wash rinse bottles out before you recycle?

[GFFord]

I don't normally but I've read that remaining liquid can contaminate the rest of the recycling. Additionally, can the pumps in hand wash be recycled? I've seen on a UK recycling site that you can't but it's vague, should I be disposing of the pumps and recycling the bottles, and also washing the soap out of these bottles?

Do you wash things before putting them in the bin?

Our Council requires it. We also have to wash out all food packaging before chucking it. It's a good habit to get into. I'm surprised to discover that not all Councils demand this - it's probably our really rubbish Rubbish Contractors!

Yup, I do it when washing up.
Takes a couple of minutes.

Yes. The bane of my life is peanut butter jars that get left in the sink for weeks while we try and soak away the remains of the spread inside. We've found if they go in the dishwasher they leave peanut oil over everything.

Rinse everything. I always make sure any wine of beer bottles have been rinsed because glass needs to be taken to a bottle bank here. I detest when stale alcohol seeps into the bag holding the glass - boak 🤢

Fill a third full with hot water & washing up liquid. Lid back on. Vigorous shake. Job jobbed.

Previous boyfriend who was a senior manager for a glass bottle producing company said not to bother cleaning glass jars/bottles as the temperatures involved in the furnaces when they are recycled burnt off any remaining contents.

That was c30 years ago though, so things might have changed.

I do rinse out tins and make sure plastic bottles are properly empty though as they go into the same wheelie bin as the paper and cardboard.

Yes I wash pretty much all empty food containers and separate out the recyclable parts from the non recyclable. Also all empty waste bottles and jars etc. It's all goes in the last bit of the washing up. I really hate smelly bins .

No nothing!
A, its my water bill
B DSF works on bins and often if its the end of the shift and the recycling lorry is full and they dont have time to offload they get the standard waste lorry to collect the recycling so goes in normal landfill.
It often happens in my street.

@Pashazade that's strange about your council only collecting certain lids, didn't know that was an issue in some councils. Might depend on what company they use for recycling, but would be good if councils made info about what you can and can't recycle more accessible. My council had changed what bin glass should be put in without really telling the public. Took a recycling bins collector to tell me outside my house, was a bit embarrassing.

Yes, always...

I rinse stuff out because otherwise it would start to smell. Just a quick rinse. Tins go in the dishwasher and jars as well. Also the recycling people ask that you only put in clean stuff.

Just started recycling plastic and cat food pouches - that's made the biggest difference.

Yes, i wash out everything plastic and glass that goes into the recycling.

Always, every bottle/jar/tin that goes in the recycling is washed or at least rinsed first.
Personally I think it’s disgusting to put anything dirty/smelly/both in the bin.

Yes.. Doesn't everyone? I also take the labels off and the tops and stack them neatly flat down and side by side in the recycling bin😥I know I am so sad😅

Oh! And the pumps out of hand soaps definitely go in the bin and not my lovely stacked up recyclable bin (faints at the thought of this)

I used to, then found no one else in our close bothered. So I still do glass and some tins, but plastic bottles I don't. It's my water bill.

Yes, the recycling them sits in a bin in the conservatory till full and going out to the council wheelie bin

Our council specifically says not to put lids into recycling. I think there are two reasons (but I'd need to find the original guidance again): 1) that the small lids can cause blockages in the sorting machinery and 2) if the lids are still on the bottles, it involves more power to squash them

Yes

No because we have a water meter and can't afford to waste the water.

Yes.

Any tiny bit of food left on items in the uncovered recycling boxes will attract foxes who distribute everything round the whole area. People have to shove it off the road in order to drive off in the morning. The bins are emptied some time between 5.30am and midday so they have to be left out.

The road sweepers come the day before. Despite my many emails to the Council.

Those that put it in dishwasher, do the labels come off? I’ve put jars in before, but the labels come off and have to be scooped out of the bottom of the machine

Your recycling bin must absolutely stink, especially at this time of year.

Are you absolutely sure that your council haven't requested that you rinse your recycling?

I don't rinse any bottles out, the majority of ours are water/soda water/cordial other than that it's the odd milk carton.