Do you clean out your recycling?

[MarineBlue33]

My new cleaner said that I am the only person who does this. Surely not?
I rinse it out, wash with soap, let it dry and then put it in the recycling bin.
Wondering what others do...

@YourenutsmiLord

I do but my DDs don't - they are much busier than me though.

It only takes a few seconds to rinse out any recycling.

@LethargicActress

It’s not wasting water, you use water you are already using for washing up etc

That only works of you do your washing up in a stagnant bowl or sink full of water. Not everyone does that, some of us prefer to wash up in running water, so more washing up for recycling automatically means more water.

If you're washing up in running water, I don't think you're too worried about water usage.

We rinse everything that can come clean by rinsing. If not it goes in the dishwasher.
I can’t understand people who put dirty, smelly stuff in the recycling. Especially in warmer weather.

I wash out my recycling as we have to bring it away ourselves and it often when i am on my way somewhere that i do it .i hate when the bag is stinky and dropping all kinds of everything that may then drip on my clothes .Plus that I also think of the people at the end of the line that have the awful job of sorting plastic recycling .Surely awful when everything is caked in food rest.

This is an interesting thread !
I work for a council and collect the recycling. We sort the recycling from each box into the collection vehicle at the roadside. People who don't wash and sort their recycling are just mingers. I hope their homes aren't as filthy as their recycling 🤣😳♻️

I rinse bottles and jars, but we have been told specifically not to rinse tins, just to empty them well. I imagine it's because the tins are melted down at a high heat and any food residue will burn off.

My husband told me he once did a few days temp work in a recycling sorting plant. He said the unwashed cat food tins were the absolute worst and would almost make him sick 🤢

Yes I rinse out things

I always rinse mine out and even if it wasn't compulsory, I'd still wash it out. I dont want my bin to stink and people have to sort through everyones crap at the other end. It takes seconds to rinse