Recycling cans

[WendyS]

Before you throw your washed empty cans into the recycling bin, do you tear the labels off? (And why, or why not?)

[Plocket]

Yes I tear the labels off otherwise they will clog the dishwasher!!! I then recycle the paper off the labels too!

[Robinia]

Yes, I take the labels off because I thought you were supposed to although someone told me recently that it's not necessary. Being the blonde that I am I recently spent a couple of minutes trying to find the edge of a label before I realised it was printed on the tin. :o)

[spudqueen]

I don't bother and they collect the cans every fortnight. Usually if you put something wrong into a recycling bin they leave a note saying why they didn't take it and I've not had one of those about tin labels.

[willspal]

No I have to admit I don't but only because I never thought you had to. I do wash them out but thats it. I don't think our council have ever said we need to take the labels off. Now you've got me thinking. Will have a flick through the Recycling News paper we get and see what is says.

WP

[shaneystar2]

Nope ..I never take the labels off..I rinse them out and throw them in the bin .You have to rinse them because otherwise the bin will smell. More water wasted.

[nickmo]

Ans this explains some of the process in a AB friendly way... http://www.canmakers.co.uk/education/recycling_cans.asp

[geo0939]

Robinia, amusing picture of you trying to remove the print. Here's another question; my local council recycles most sorts of paper, but not envelopes. Why, could it be that most of them are already recycled? Surely this is the case with otherkinds of paper too.

[Kingaroo]

I have heard that you need to remove the labels from cans but not from glass jars because the temperature at which they melt the glass is so very hot that the paper just burns away, but cans are first heated to a lower temperature to melt the solder and separate out the different kinds of metals and plastic linings. Apparently this low temperature is not enough to completely burn away all the paper and ash, which contaminates the metal.

But personally, no, I don't always bother. I know my city hand-sorts recyclables and someone is being paid to do it.

They also don't want you to stick the lid inside the can. I always thought I was being tidy and protecting the sanitation workers from cut hands, but it turns out the lids are often of a different metal and they have to be separated.

[shaneystar2]

Geo0939....I was told by our local council that they cannot recycle envelopes or shredded paper because they don't have the plant to deal with it.Something to do with the glue on the envelopes and shredded paper gets tangled in their machines.I dont mind recycling and willingly do my bit but they should get the priorities right and the plant in place. We can recycle any plastic but not yogurt pots.Where's the sense in that!
The dustmen around here are nicknamed the "wheelie bin Gestapo".They have become power crazy and go through the bins .Woe betide you if you have not recycled correctly.
They sling out what they think fit and leave it all over your drive.!

[geo0939]

Hi shaneystar2. Sounds very much like my council, going through bins and such. I always (used to) give them a bottle of whisky every Boxing Day, but that was when we all allowed a bit of give and take, changed days. I guess they have bosses too.