Plastic or metal? Or both?

[Will__]

What exactly is the shiny inside of crisp packets and other food protection packaging?

It's shiny, which would indicate metal, but it's wrinkle resistant, which would indicate plastic. It's called foil (crisp companies etc call it 'foil-wrapped') but I don't think it's foil.

If I had to guess I'd say it's plastic treated to look like aluminium foil, or possibly some special coating for the plastic but I don't think it's metallic. Or am I wrong?

And most importantly, which is mainly why I'm asking, should it go in the plastic recycle bins?

[Ethel]

Problem solved:

"crisp and snack packets - crisp packets contain a metal coated plastic film which looks like aluminium but cannot be recycled"

http://www.westminster.gov.uk/environment/rubb ishwasteandrecycling/recyclingfacilities/what. cfm.

[eltelioni]

It is an amazing material but, as Ethel says, not recyclable. My local council specifically exclude them from all the recycling bins.

[Panic Button]

No Doc. What do you mean?

[Panic Button]

Have you looked in a mirror lately?