What do I do with the bottle tops?

Take the tops off the bottles and discard them. They are made from a different type of plastic and can reduce the value of the collected plastic if left on. Don't worry about removing the small collar left by the top - plastic reprocessors can cope with these being left on.

Do I need to take the labels off my bottles?

No. The labels will come off during the recycling process. The bottles will be thoroughly washed and then chopped up. The labels will disintegrate and be removed in the washing process.

Why does the scheme say plastic bottles only?

"Plastic bottles only" is a specification made by the majority of local councils who collect plastics. The reason for this is that bottles are very easy to identify, account for 40% of all household plastic waste and are easily separated into three polymer (plastic) types. These are PET (e.g. fizzy drink bottles and squash bottles), HDPE (e.g. milk and juice bottles (natural HDPE) and detergent bottles (coloured HDPE)) and PVC (e.g. large squash bottles and water dispenser bottles), although the use of PVC is in decline.

What about flower pots?

The majority of flower pots are made from polypropylene (PP), although some are made from polystyrene. Markets for recovered flower pots are limited, although some nurseries are starting to offer take-back schemes for re-use. Check with your local garden centre to see if they offer such a service or re-use the pots in your own garden.

What can I do with all of my carrier bags?

Carrier bag recycling facilities are starting to appear in supermarkets across the country. Markets for the bags do exist, but the material is so light weight and thin that vast quantities have to be collected before transporting them becomes viable. Bags that are sent for recycling tend to be used in dark applications such as bin liners because of the contamination effect of the ink used to print designs and logos on the bags.

If your local supermarket does not have collection facilities for carrier bags, why not use them instead of swing or pedal bin liners? You will be helping the environment and saving money too!

What do I have to do with my bottles before I recycle them?

It is a good idea to give your plastic bottles a quick wash before you put them out for recycling. This helps to maintain the quality of the collected plastic and stops any nasty smells while you store your bottles. Use the left over washing up water rather than running fresh water.

Give your bottles a quick squash so that they take up less space. Squashing them also makes them more economical to transport as you are not moving as much fresh air around!

Where can I recycle my plastic bottles?

If you have a recycling scheme, simply check that the scheme collects plastic bottles either by calling your local council or by checking their website. You can also use the recycling bank locator on the website
www.recycle-more.co.uk

Look out for recycling facilities in local supermarkets and civic amenity sites where you may be able to recycle a number of materials including plastic bottles, glass, paper and cans.

If there is no scheme in your area, contact your local recycling officer and find out whether they have considered recycling plastic bottles.

I've heard that we can fund wheelchairs by collecting plastic bottle tops - is this true?

There is a scheme operating on the Continent whereby organisations can collect their plastic bottle tops and use them to help to finance wheelchairs. Unfortunately the scheme cannot operate economically in the UK due to the cost of transporting the lids to the scheme. The operators of the scheme, Bouchons D'Amour, have advised Recoup that the collections are not viable in the UK.