What can be recycled in Newcastle through the blue bins?

In response to a reader's question, it has been confirmed to us that staples in documents are not a problem and can be left in; these will be captured as part of the re-processing.

Envelopes with windows are also acceptable, the windows do not have to be removed.

Bags, film and pots can be made from different plastic polymers from plastic bottles. The process to recycle different plastics are complex meaning that now and in this area, it is not environmentally or economically practical to target all types for collection.

The dry mixed recycling collected from the kerbside is sent to a Material Recycling Facility (MRF). The MRF contract requires the contractor to follow the waste hierarchy and to aim to recycle even non-target materials. So, most items with triangles and numbers are sent for recycling even if not a target material. The Council says it continually work with the contractor to increase the range of materials processed as and when this is feasible within fixed resources.

The target materials, which for plastics is all bottles, are those agreed as part of the contract the City Council has but it constantly review these and available separation technology and markets. This link explains more about the mix of plastics quite well
http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/how-is-it-recycled-/plastic-recyclinghttp://www.recycle-more.co.uk/how-is-it-recycled-/plastic-recycling.

There are some plastic materials, such as black trays, plastic bags and film, for which there is no ready recycling, and these are included in the small percentage of collected material that is used to generate energy. None of this material, however, is sent to landfill.

Further information should be in the next edition of City Life, and the Council is in the process of reviewing the information on the website about what goes in the blue bin. Stickers on bins will also be changed in due course.