To not scrub recycling out and soak the labels off FFS

[RainbowsFriend]

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?

70isaLimit Noooooo! Small bits of paper and cardboard often can't be recycled effectively because of the teeny-tininess of the ripped fibres. That's why shredded paperfrom confinertial bins often can't be recycled and goes off to the incinerators (which to fair produces electrickery so not all bad.)

from confidential bins

(sorry, cat trod on my hand)

www.care2.com/greenliving/10067.html

OP - you need my dh, he is very ecologically sound obsessive about recycling so I don't need to be!

We wash all our recycling with hot soapy water. We don't scrub off the labels but invariably they come off if we soak the jars.
We do, however, take out the plastic windows as we don't want to contaminate our paper recycling.
None of it takes long: we pile it up and do it once/twice a week.

I rinse, but don't soak off labels. But I do tear out windows in envelopes.
I'll put jars through the dishwasher.
DP, who is normally very lacksadasical in general for some reason will trouble himself to take the plastic pouring bit off a tetrapak.
However, as you are living with your inlaws I think you should follow their rules

I rinse things when I am doing the washing up anyway (at the end), so that I am not using hot water and detergent specially.

I certainly wouldn't soak off labels. I can't say what I'd do with envelopes, because we can't put envelopes in the recycling here.