To not wash out recyclable containers??

[DisgruntledGoat]

I think it's totally unnecessary to blast containers with water that are going to be cleaned and recycled anyway. My DH sometimes puts them through the dishwasher which drives me nuts. They flip the right way up and fill with dirty water and when you pull the rack out they spill water everywhere covering the clean stuff with the dirty water that's trapped inside. Plus you wouldn't wash out non recyclables to put them in the general bin?! AIBU or does anyone else put dirty recyclables straight into their recycling bins?

I get into a dither about wasting water too - but you do need to clean stuff before putting it in the recycling.

Its pretty easy to do at the end of a sink load of washing up - just give them a quick wash. No biggie.

As for a peanut butter jar, just wash it out when you do the washing up?

I agree lurkinghusband and londonrach. It doesn't seem environmentally sound to me.

A very quick google does throw up a few articles which suggest that the overall practice of recycling saves so much water (which is needed in the manufacturing process) that it far outweighs any water used in rinsing.

So I have learned a little - just to underscore the complex nature of modern life. I suspect having discovered this fact, it will be my job from now on ...

And to wash them just so it makes it more pleasant for the people who have to sort by hand seems a bit precious - wear some thick marigolds?!

Gloves won't do much about the smell though will it?

The recycling is sorted in a lorry as it travels along on bin day here. It's horrid to inflict unwashed jars/Cans on the people who do this. I'm a slob, so just wash out stuff in the last of the dish water everyday . Doesn't take any time at all.

I've always wondered about this! I rinse out plastic milk cartons but, just like noblegiraffe says, I never know what to do with something like a marmite jar that would need a proper scrub.

Recycle it as it is? Wash it out properly? Or put it in the non-recycled rubbish?

But we need to rethink our ideas on rubbish don't we? Recyclable materials are a resource. So it's not just "putting rubbish in the dishwasher".

Cross post - it seems that I should be cleaning it and recycling it.

Yanbu
I'm on a water meter so I'm not willing to wash empty rubbish.

For things like peanut butter I find filling with hot water and and a dash of washing up liquid and leaving to soak before dishwashing gets the worst off.

And of course you should clean as they are often sorted by hand.

I rinse them quickly. Horrid for recycling people otherwise. And smelly in the bin. Tuna cans, yuck!

I saw that programme Seeline linked to and felt very sorry for the minimum wage workers having to work flat out sorting stinking rubbish people hadn't bothered to rinse and sort. All the shredded paper looked like a pain in the arse too, made it look like some grim lucky dip. It would be helpful if there were separate paper banks beside bottle banks.

Nose plugs? I agree it's not going to be a pleasant job and thank god there's people who can do these sort of jobs, but you must know that rubbish is going to smell when you go into this line. Personally I think supermarkets and manufacturers should take more responsibility with the way they package and present items and with the packaging that's left over. I try to go for the less packaging option when I can, loose fruit and veg etc, but they still supply plastic bags for you to put them in. What's wrong with paper? Gone off on a tangent now

I'm on a water meter so I'm not willing to wash empty rubbish.
I think most of the country are on water meters!

And it's not rubbish - but a recyclable resource.

Perhaps if you aren't prepared to take responsibility for your recycling you should buy a lot less packaging to begin with?

No, I don't rinse unless it's really got a lot of food residue (like a peanut butter jar). If it's just a few drops of milk or tomato juice I don't. But we have weekly recycling collections so less time to go rank.

Agree 100% about less packaging. My aubergines come in individual sealed plastic bags. Why???

you must know that rubbish is going to smell when you go into this line

You think that people's life's dream is to 'go into this line'? Really?

Just rinse your stuff out - how bloody up yourself can you get that you can't wash recyclables out but let someone else do it for you once it has gone rancid?

Our neighbours' recycling bin kept falling over in a storm earlier this year. I had to remove her food packaging from my garden on three occasions. They don't rinse anything. I was gagging.

Yep I always give them a quick rinse as our council asks it and they stink otherwise. DS stayed the other week and didnt rinse his yoghurt pots and they reeked when I opened the recycling box..I also dont want maggots on meat containers.

For peanut butter we use Tommee Tippee long plastic spoons anyway as they are brill for getting the last bits out, but a this spatula will get the last bits out.though with stubborn ones I have chucked the odd few

I always rinse or clean stuff before it goes in the recycling bin. I also crush boxes and empty cartons down to save space.
I hear people complain their bin is full before collection day but they have big boxes just stuffed in that could be flattened.

abraiid2 I'd have asked them to clear it up themselves! eww...

The problem I have with recycling is meat containers. You're not supposed to rinse meat or packaging because of the risk of bacteria splashing, but then, you can't recycle the packaging without washing it.... argh!

I don't, but if there is food waste on recyclable material it is no longer recyclable.

As Rose, says, you're supposed to wash off food residue.

Unless you're looking after people with mutiple disabilities, or are moderately disabled yourself, our life in the UK isn't that difficult that you can't take responsibility for any aspect of what you use.

Marmite jars are easy to clean - kitchen roll in to wipe off majority of dregs, very hot/ boiling water then pour down the sink. Same with pesto jars. With peanut butter I use a lot of kitchen roll as I don't want the oily stuff in my sink. Then rinse with hot water and soap.

I am really surprised that so many people don't rinse their stuff.

I rinse. What I don't understand though, is the recycling bins in the street next to the litter bins. None of the stuff that goes in them will be rinsed and presumably it all ends up in the same place. Doesn't that contaminate the rest?

Of course you rinse it. It's just a splash of water as long as you rinse it as soon as it's empty.

The idea that it's ok to leave moldering food on recyclable materials because it's someone else's job to process it is pretty fucked up.

I suppose you just chuck all your shit in the street too since it's someone's job, somewhere, to pick it up?

Just rinse your stuff out - how bloody up yourself can you get that you can't wash recyclables out but let someone else do it for you once it has gone rancid?

^ exactly.