Why can't I recycle other plastics in the borough?

There are several reasons for this:

• Yoghurt pots and other plastic containers are often made from different types of plastic.Many are made from a blend of different polymer types which makes recycling difficult.
• Market demand for mixed plastics is currently limited and less secure. There is a strong market in the UK and Europe for plastic bottles.
• To ensure value for money, councils are able to recycle more plastic per pound spent on the recycling scheme, by collecting plastic bottles only.
• We only collect plastic bottles rather than by PET numbers because it avoids confusion for residents and the collection crews as to what can be recycled. It is not practical for the crews to check numbers on individual packaging when collecting from thousands of households a day.Collecting plastic bottles only, reduces contamination from different types of plastic and ensures high grade material that can be recycled.
• Not all plastics have a symbol and PET number on them.

Currently only 17% of UK councils collect mixed plastics for recycling. Richmond Upon Thames will continue to look into opportunities to collect more types of plastic.