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Where can you recycle LDPE Type 4 plastic and what happens to it?

6 replies

Haberdash · 24/03/2019 11:52

DD subscribes to The Week Junior which wraps their magazines in LDPE Type 4 plastic. After she first wrote to them to complain about this a few months ago they have now put the type of plastic in big letters on the front of the wrapper with a claim that LDPE is "recyclable".

She wants to write back to challenge this claim. She has managed to find that only 5% of LDPE is in fact recycled but it seems harder to get facts on the following:

  • Where can you actually recyle LDPE in the UK? Our local authority doesn't allow you to put in the recycling for example. Some people have said "at a supermarket" to me but I have never seen any signs about this at Lidl, Aldi or Tesco's where I go. Which supermarkets accept LDPE to be recycled?
  • What actually happens when they do accept it? That is, is LDPE recycled properly/efficiently into something useful? A friend suggested this might not be the case.

Any help very much appreciated.

OP posts:
AliMonkey · 24/03/2019 12:09

Here in Epsom & Ewell, we put all types of plastic including wrap in our recycling bin and it is apparently all recycled. No idea into what though.

jackparlabane · 29/03/2019 20:03

In the supermarket, are there bins for recycling carrier bags? They may take it.

OMGIwonacar · 29/03/2019 20:08

www.recyclenow.com/what-to-do-with/plastic-film

Dodge01 · 21/05/2019 22:00

Delphis Eco cleaning products which. Lean as well as the strongest chemical cleaner unlike Ecover and Method and which is totally organic and good for the environment and you and the family use bottles made from 100% recyclable plastic and are the only company as far as I k ow that do this are now being sold on Amazon and a site called Viking and I think they are now available in Robert Dyas too. Buckingham palace are using it to clean!!!!

Weirdfish11 · 30/05/2019 11:19

Our local council recycling doesn't accept LDPE 4 but it seems that the local Sainsbury's does so I'm going to try that.
We get National Trust magazines delivered in compostable bags so you can use them in the food caddy which is handy.
I wonder whether compostable plastic like this or recycling LDPE is overall better for the environment?

Wildernesstips · 29/06/2019 05:55

LDPE 4 should be recycled with carrier bags and bread bags and are often collected at supermarkets. They become bin liners, plastic furniture and floor tiles according to an article in Which that I have just read.

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