Hard to recycle items

Why it’s tricky: Bubble wrap is a soft plastic film that tangles easily in the machinery used at recycling facilities. It’s not rigid enough to be sorted by standard plastic processing systems

What to do: Reuse wherever you can, for packaging or storage. Some supermarkets and courier drop-off points accept it as part of their soft plastics recycling schemes. Always check locally first

Why it’s tricky: These items are considered electrical waste (WEEE) and include metals, plastic insulation, and sometimes batteries. They can’t go in normal recycling bins because they pose a hazard and require specialist handling

What to do: Take them to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or use electrical take-back points in many larger retailers. They often have bins for old cables and small electronics

Why it’s tricky: Cling film is made of thin, low-grade plastic (often PVC or LDPE), which stretches and sticks to itself, making it hard to clean and sort. It also gets caught in recycling equipment, causing faults and mechanical breakdowns

What to do: Most councils recommend disposing of it in general waste. A few supermarket chains collect soft plastics, including cling film, so we recommend to check at the entrance or recycling zone

Why it’s tricky: Clothes made with blended materials (like cotton-polyester) are difficult to recycle because separating the fibres is complex and not widely available in the UK

What to do: Donate wearable clothing to charity shops or clothing banks. For unwearable clothes, use textile banks that accept damaged items for shredding or insulation, to avoid putting them in your recycling bin

Why it’s tricky: These small pods combine multiple materials, plastic or aluminium casing, plus used coffee grounds. This makes them hard to separate using standard recycling systems

What to do: Look for brand-led recycling schemes like Podback

Why it’s tricky: These packets often have a shiny metallic inner layer and plastic outer layer. They’re lightweight and flexible, which makes them unsuitable for kerbside recycling

What to do: Many UK supermarkets now accept these through soft plastics bins. You can also check for brand partnerships with schemes like TerraCycle

Why it’s tricky: These bulky items are made with mixed fabrics and fillings (like foam, feathers, polyester), making them difficult to recycle or sanitise. Textile banks typically won’t take them

What to do: Repurpose at home as pet bedding or donate clean items to animal shelters. If they’re beyond reuse, they’ll need to go into general waste or be taken to a recycling centre that accepts bulky waste

Why it’s tricky: This lightweight material (often used in packaging) is mostly air, making it inefficient to transport and recycle. It also breaks easily into small particles that contaminate recycling streams

What to do: Reuse if possible for posting or insulation. Otherwise, dispose of it in your general waste unless your local recycling centre explicitly accepts it (some do under specialist schemes)

Why it’s tricky: These cartons are made from layers of cardboard, plastic, and aluminium fused together. Separating them requires specialist equipment, which not all councils have access to

What to do: Increasingly, UK councils do collect cartons but not all. Use the Recycling Locator (link) to check local rules. You can also take them to bring banks if you are unable to recycle them through your household collections

Why it’s tricky: These items are made with hard plastics, rubber, and sometimes metal, all tightly bonded. Toothpaste tubes are often lined with foil and hard to clean, which makes processing difficult

What to do: Some retailers partner with TerraCycle to offer drop-off points for oral care waste. Consider switching to recyclable alternatives like bamboo toothbrushes or aluminium toothpaste tubes where possible