Till receipts aren't recyclable - am i the only one who didn't know?!

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Sorry for being boring but I'm annoyed I've only just found this out!

It's to do with the type of paper they're printed on.
Did anyone else know this?! I feel like it should be communicated better. Would definitely encourage me to say no to them more than I do at present!

Sorry meant to say at the recycling centre the first process on delivery is the recycling passes under large/ powerful magnets and the separation into different streams of waste begins. The metal cans are washed etc to remove debris / labels. Paper labels / glue/ debris can be washed away but old style pringle tubes don’t break down and gunk up the machinery.

We have mixed recycling bins where I live, a big problem is you can recycle soft plastics ( like supermarket bags) and cans in the same bin. What you can not do is bag the recycling and put it in the bin. Even if everything is recyclable because the bag/ any other recycling will taken up with the cans and could block the line.

I didn't know that about milk bottle tops previously. I always just to put the green and blue lids into the recycling.

On another topic though, I'm about the only person I know that removed the clear film from window envelopes before recycling them. I heard years ago that the window part ws not recyclable. Does anyone know if that is still the case?

I am more likely to buy snacks like eg Pop Chips or sharing crisps if they can be recycled. I buy some flapjacks in a blue box and their plastic wrappers can be recycled. It can be a pain remembering intake them home if at work though.

@FuckinghellthatsUnbelievable thanks for that explanation. It's obviously more to do with the metal bottom but I had based my assumption on the inner foil being similar to juice cartons so therefore recycled.

😂
I try to take a re-usable cup shopping but when I forget I take the takeaway cups from the local nice indie cafes to Costa for recycling 😆

Times have changed - most areas don't ask you to remove the plastic windows from envelopes before recycling them.

The only way to be sure though is to check the recycling guidelines on your council website. Ours has a "Waste Wizard" which allows you to search for any item and it tells you what to do.

Thanks - just checked my local council's website and they too have a "Waste Wizard" which states to remove the film window before recycling the envelope.

Manufacturers are now producing BPA- free thermal paper
An EU-wide ban came into effect at the beginning of 2022 making it illegal to include it in paper. Same in UK. It also says you can tell the difference by scratching receipt, if it goes black it's non recyclable. https://recyclecoach.com/blog/the-problem-with-recycling-receipts/

Actually that law obviously didn't come in as the receipts still turn black and it's 2024. I'm in the EU too. Confused as ever now.

BPA/BPS-free till roll is still not recyclable in the UK unless taken to as specialist office paper waste facility. Its the paper itself as opposed to just the chemicals on it which affects recyclability