Prapass PulsubGetty Images
According to the plant-based packaging company, , 38 per cent of us have tried — and failed — to recycle ‘compostable’ coffee cups and food packaging.
While we’ve tried our best to recycle, stop with single-use plastic and bring our reusable coffee cups with us wherever we go, we’re still struggling to recycle items we thought we could.
The study of 2,000 people found that 18 per cent of consumers admit to ‘eco-littering’, by dropping their compostable packing and leaving it outside to rot.
Although 29 per cent of people feel guilty for regularly putting compostable packing in their normal bins, 18 per cent still ‘don’t see much benefit’ in separating out their compostable packing, saying ‘it all goes to landfill anyway’.
A common misconception is that compostable packing will break down in a home compost bin, with 38 per cent of people having had to remove compostable packing from their bin. The study discovered that consumers are attempting to recycle compostable packing at home but are failing. Litter is then dropped outside with the assumption that it will quickly decompose.
Tim Wilson, owner of Rawpac, warns that confusion around ‘compostable’ packing could lead to an increase in ‘eco-littering’.
dmf87Getty Images
While Tim believes consumers do have good eco intentions and want plastic-free packaging, they are becoming frustrated with the lack of public composting facilities.
‘We’re at a crucial point in the journey toward reducing our carbon footprint and hitting a critical mass of consumers demanding sustainable products, but if they think that their own effort is wasted, we’ll lose that support and momentum very quickly indeed,’ Tim says.
Furthermore, confusion over the term ‘compostable’ could lead to an increase in eco littering by consumers who are actually buying this packing with good intentions to help the environment.
So, how can we recycle more effectively?
1. Home compost bins are not suitable for ‘compostable’ food and drink packing. Instead, this packing requires a commercial recycling facility to break it down. Separate out your compostable from non-recyclable rubbish and check your local recycling for collections.
2. Compostable coffee cups can also be returned for recycling to high-street coffee shops such as Pret a Manger, Costa Coffee and Cafe Nero. To find out where you can recycle your cups click .
3. Plastic bags slow down the recycling process, so make sure you keep your recycling lose. For advice on recycling plastic bags click here.
4. Always aim to reduce before you recycle. Buy lose fruit and veg, support local markets and always bring your own reusable bag to pop your veggies in.
Like this article? to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.