To be annoyed at Tesco meal deal sandwiches?

[Sweetforthesummer]

New to mumsnet so if I get things wrong in this post please excuse me.

Anyway, the other day I got myself and the DC a tesco meal deal for lunch.

I had to get back to doing some jobs so I left the DC to finish their sandwiches.

I came back to check on them about 20 minutes later and found torn paper from the sandwich wrapper all over the kitchen table.

I asked DC1 what on earth was going on and they explained to me that they had to peel off the plastic to recycle the card. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

We cleaned up the card in the end and recycled it but AIBU to think that working, busy people aren't going to go to that much effort to recycle some paper?

Went back to tesco today to get some more and they claim to be fully recyclable on the packaging.

Yeah right! Obviously I'm still going to use them so just a rant really.

That's what I do. Same with envelopes 🤷‍♀️

Well done to your DC I would say!

Yeah I know but I tried myself and it was quite hard to get all the plastic off, not like an envelope it was properly stuck down and hard to get off

How is this even an issue? Who cares?

You since you replied I would assume?

Just put the whole thing in the normal bin. What a pointless drama.

It is in theory fully recyclable.
They can say ‘fully recyclable’ on many things on a technicality. The fact that certain materials can only be recycled in certain places or that materials need separating first doesn’t technically mean it’s not recyclable.
A plastic bread bag is fully recyclable, but not generally via your home recycling.
Annoying yes. But they’re not saying anything that’s inaccurate.

I don't think I'll be posting on mumsnet for long! A lot of you seem very miserable

Yes but very frustrating!!

How is landfill or multiple waste streams that are impossible to easily recycle an issue? 🤔

Thank you!

Just put the whole thing in the normal bin. What a pointless drama.

I find it sad that young children are having the importance of recycling drilled in to them at school, and seem to be responding to it (well done to your kids OP!) while adults still have this attitude. I know it’s over a small thing, but it kind of sums up and highlights the whole issue of future generations having to clean up the older generations mess when it comes to the environment and climate change. It’s really not fair on them.

Just cut out the plastic, you don't need to shred out every bit of card

I don't think we're supposed to recycle packaging that's been in contact with food, are we? So the supermarkets can put what they like on the box, it's mostly designed to make everyone feel like they are making a difference as far as I can tell

Part of it is stuck to the card.

Or make a sandwich so you don't have the hassle and expense

I agree it's difficult to recycle the packaging

Good on your kids for being clued up and making the effort! You're obviously instilling good sense of initiative and concern about recycling, so you should feel happy about that 😀

Thanks!

I tend to agree with you - items that need to be torn up / disassembled to be recycled is a lot of faff and probably counter productive

I’m sure a lot of people put the whole packet into the recycling on the basis of their labelling and this causes contamination and I believe whole bins worth of recycling going to landfill as a result!!

they’d be better off doing away with the plastic window altogether

YANBU to complain about it though as it is all a faff!

You are so lucky you don't have any real problems!

YANBU.

I try to be good about recycling but I usually end up putting the whole thing in the main bin as it's too tricky to get all the plastic off.

Only a small amount of what is recyclable, that we put in the recycling bin, actually gets recycled anyway. It’s all a bit of a con, governments need to sort it out.

I don't think we're supposed to recycle packaging that's been in contact with food, are we?

What? Of course you can! Surely food packaging makes up the vast majority of anyone’s overall recycling? Otherwise what’s the point? Obviously it shouldn’t be covered in food, you give things a rudimentary clean if it needs it.

I'm not allowed to put takeaway pizza boxes in my recycling bin, I assume because they don't want food residue on cardboard. So i wouldn't put sandwich packets in either. The bin men actually rummage through my recycling bin and leave a red tag on it if I've put something wrong in there - it's quite intimidating!!

Sandwich boxes go straight in the bin. Same for pizza boxes. Any grease or food residue is not good for recycling systems.