One of our most time-consuming recycling habits may be a waste of time, according to one binman, but he warned there is another rule people must stick to if they want their bins collected. In a video shared on his TikTok account @Theno1.binman, the refuse worker answered a question about whether or not labels need to be removed from tins and jars before recycling.
He said: “No, you don’t need to. There’s a certain number of items you are allowed to leave labels on. We don’t expect you to scrape off the paper or whatever it is.”
Many people soak jars and tins in hot water to loosen stubborn glue and peel off labels, believing it helps the recycling process. However, the binman said this extra effort is not required in most cases.
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What does matter, he stressed, is making sure containers are clean. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t clean them still,” he added.
“If there is food inside that needs to come out, we don’t want it. It can spread across other things and can become a contaminated bin and nobody wants that.”
Official guidance backs up his advice. The Recycle Now website says labels ‘can be left on’ food and drink tins, but items must be emptied and rinsed. Zero Waste Scotland also confirms that people in Scotland can leave labels on unless their local council advises otherwise, while Wales Recycles gives the same guidance for households in Wales.
Replying to @justdave40
♬ original sound – The No1 Binman
Recycling rules can vary by local authority, with councils setting their own restrictions on certain materials, reports Andrew Nuttall from the Mirror. For example, some London boroughs do not accept shredded paper, while others require it to be placed inside a paper bag or envelope to prevent it clogging sorting machinery or blowing away.
General guidance for recycling glass bottles and jars includes:
Empty and rinse them to avoid contaminating other recyclables.Put lids and caps back on so they can be captured and recycled during sorting.
Previously, the well-known TikTok refuse collector, who boasts more than 155,000 followers, warned that households attempting to ‘sneak’ prohibited items into their bins risk having their rubbish left uncollected at the kerbside. In an earlier video, he cautioned that councils are particularly strict about polystyrene.
While polystyrene can technically be recycled, it is not widely accepted by local authorities. Recycle Now advises that it should usually be placed in the general waste bin because it is difficult and costly to process safely.
Residents are encouraged to check their local council’s website for the most accurate and up-to-date recycling rules in their area.
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