AIBU?
To not scrub recycling out and soak the labels off FFS
RainbowsFriend · 09/04/2013 21:22
We are temporarily homeless, and living with the "inlaws".
I am very grateful (especially for the help with childcare when I have all-fucking-day sickness as pregnant with #2) and thank them for any meals cooked/hospitality etc.
But I really CANNOT be arsed to do more than swill out plastic bottles and cans etc that are going straight into the recycling bin in the garage.
Apparently in this house the labels must be soaked off and recycled separately, and the cans/bottles etc must be thoroughly cleaned.
WHY? 
. I only swill them out so they dont go manky in the bin and attract pests, but they don't need to be squeaky clean as they get cleaned again when recycled. Surely?
I am also of the opinion that windows in modern window envelopes are now recyclable and don't need tearing out (or cutting out with special scissors in this case FFS), but I am willing to be informed that I am wrong on this.
So... recycling experts - who's right?
everlong · 09/04/2013 21:30
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
CloudsAndTrees · 09/04/2013 21:32
Oh, if that's what you're after, then YANBU!
Soaking labels off is an especially pointless exercise, in our area everything they collect for recycling goes in the same space in the lorry to be sorted at the recycling place. The recycling place is probably mingingly dirty, meaning that any clean stuff that goes there is just going to get dirty again.
LineRunner · 09/04/2013 21:33
I am a recycling freak, OP, but strangely I think you are kind of right. It does all get 'handled' at the modern materials recycling facility. Rinsing is good because it helps to avoid big-food-lump contamination, but it doesn't have to be pristine.
To be on the safe side, I would ring the Council and ask to be put through the recyling officer, and you will undoubtedly make a geek's day. 
)Xiaoxiong · 09/04/2013 21:39
Is today recycling day on MN or something?
LineRunner is correct - different councils have different rules but certainly our council's guidelines are that they collect mixed recyclables - no scrubbing of labels necessary. I usually do a cursory rinse if there's lots of food on something, just because we only put recycling out once a fortnight and if there's lots of food it just sits there.
IdreamofFairies · 09/04/2013 21:41
i never washed my stuff out either but recently we had a person in (worked for the council to educate about recycling no idea of her title lol) work and she said if there is any evidence of food waste bean juice for example on the rubbish (they dont count a few drips) they will throw the whole bag in the black bag pile.
i was surprised as i though as someone here said that they washed everything anyway.
must admit the removing of labels and windows seems a bit excessive. i would be tempted to talk to someone in your council see what the protocol is though.
steppemum · 09/04/2013 21:41
While I have a lot of sympathy, I heard a guy on the radio recently who said that plastic recycling centres can cope with labels, but not with them being dirty.
Don't know the whys an wherefores. So we rinse all plastic in hot soapy water, so it is pretty clean
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/04/2013 21:49
My dad tears up thin cardboard into small pieces.
Seriously, he cannot put a cereal packet into the recycle (we have as many bags as we want, He has a wheely bin sized recycle bin) unless it is torn into pieces the size of a playing card.
Feel
My
Pain
Apileofballyhoo · 09/04/2013 21:55
I wash anything greasy in hot soapy water and often wonder how 'green' that could be... I did see a documentary where anything 'contaminated' was getting thrown away, and that seemed to be a huge amount, so I am an obsessive rinser, washer, dryer now. DH thinks I am excessive.
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