To think putting raw meat packaging in dishwasher is crazy?!!

[DrSeuss84]

We went to stay with family this Christmas. Whilst emptying the dishwasher I noticed an empty bacon packet and mentioned it thinking it had just fallen in by accident. Turns out no…. They put all plastic packets including from raw meat through dishwasher before recycling it. Is that thing?! Is it just me that thinks it is a huge Health hazard? On one occasion I opened it and there were three empty packets up with all the cups. Im really interested to know what other people think.

I do this, it’s less effort than rinsing and more hygienic

Maybe it is just me but any boards or plates I’ve used for raw meat, especially chicken, I wash first before putting in the dishwasher. Maybe I’m on my own in that though.

But why? The higher temperature in the dishwasher (plus the detergent) is more than enough to make everything really clean.

But the risk of cross contamination is so much higher doing this

How is it wasteful if there is space in the dishwasher anyway?
It's not like the machine uses less water or electricity if it isn't completely full is it? If anything I would say it is less wasteful to put any recycling which needs washing in the machine if there is space, rather than run an incompletely filled dishwasher and then also use an extra sink of water to rinse your recycling.

This is unnecessary and wasteful. It’s also a bit stupid. Why?

Yes, but recycled plastic needs to be clean so putting in dishwasher is normal, obviously not by this thread which gets me wondering how many chuck dirty plastic into the recycling, which totally defeats the object as it will be rejected

I'll remember this thread next time we get a sanctimonious thread castigating us all for not recycling. Chucking your dirty plastic in the recycling bin doesn't count

I don't own a dishwasher, so in the sink it goes to be washed.

My DMum washes all her recycling, much of it in the machine. She's taking the stipulation it should be "clean" literally.

She also soaks paper labels of cans, jars, bottles and plastics, and cuts the plastic spout off tetrapaks

I really don't know how much difference it makes to recycling compared to just rinsed, and without components separated. Anyone work in waste management and know?

But dishwashers are more efficient than washing by hand. And recycling needs to be fully clean or you can end up contaminating the whole load and stop it from being able to be recycled. From an environmental point of view, dishwashing recyclables is infinitely preferable to only rinsing (because of contamination) or properly handwashing them (because of water and energy efficiency).

If you're going to put recycling bin still dirty, that's worse than not recycling at all as it will cause contamination meaning the whole load gets rejected.

I don't own a dishwasher so a bit of a mute point for me , but I can't see the issue with it.

I am surprised that you can recycle plastic meat packaging, any molded plastic like meat and mushroom trays can not be recycled under my council.

I am puzzled why some councils will and some won't do this .

I wash them on their own. Under the tap with some detergent and very hot water to get any residue and bits off then put it through a hot cycle in the dishwasher. Especially for poultry. But I am open to the idea I may be the weird one that’s why I wanted some other opinions to find out 😂

Its crazy and completely wasteful there's no need to wash jars or clean anything before recycling it.

not crazy at all imo.
we do that to avoid stinky things in the recycling bin.

Why do you wash them twice?

Recycling needs to be clean. If you put dirty stuff in recycling then you will cause contamination and the whole batch will end up being sent to landfill instead. Please, please wash your recycling. If you have a dishwasher, it's more efficient to put it in then than to wash by hand.

Jars and butter cartons go in dishwasher when room.

Packaging just wash usually. But don't see a problem

Some councils tell you not to wash the recycling as it wastes water and they wash the recycling again at the sorting plant

Yet on the other side of the channel you are specifically told not to clean recyclables because the water used must then be treated. They say that the items can be cleaned at the recycling plants using far less water.

Typical poster

I had a friend that put the tins that sardine/mackerel in oil are packaged in the top rack of the dishwasher. They then used minimal powder detergent on low heat. Everything came out stinking & covered in an oily film. Nothing quite like a fishy oily cup of tea served in a mug that had been in the same wash! Very strange.

I do this. I don’t want any splatters to go round the sink. It is the same as washing meat at the sink. You don’t do it. All my meat/ poultry containers, boards, knives go in the dishwasher.

But they’re putting the dishwasher on anyway so it saves gas and saves time.

It says a quick rinse on that link. Most people don't have dishwashers. Washing tin cans up by hand is hazardous. I doubt many people go to those lengths outside the privileged world of Mumsnet!

Really? I'm quite surprised by that as it's not been the case at any of the council's I've worked at, and that quite a few. That said I guess it depends what MRF they use and what agreements they have in place, but I've never heard of a Council washing recycling or paying for it to be washed - I can't imagine they have the funds for that. To my knowledge the guidance always is that the recycling must be clean (and for good reason).

My Council won't accept anything going into the glass/plastic recycling unless it is clean

Very much so. Competitive hygiene.