The unrivaled benefits of foil don’t stop with it’s safe and hygienic properties. Aluminum foil is also one of the most recyclable materials in the world!
Unfortunately, many of us are unaware of the ways in which our disposal habits impact a products recycling potential. So, before you start tossing every lid, wrap and container into your yellow recycling bin, consider the following:
Scrunch It.
Not sure if the shine material is indeed foil? Scrunch it! If it stays scrunched, its foil. If however, it returns to its original shape, it’s likely a non-recyclable plastic film.
Clean It.
In order to be correctly processed, foil must be clean- and no, this doesn’t mean using excessive water! Simply, rinse by dunking foil in left over washing up water and dry, being sure to rid the foil of food remnants and grease. If this step is missed, it prohibits effective sorting & foil is diverted to landfill.
Collect It.
Did you know that small, loose pieces of foil often miss out on recycling? Due to the magnitude of materials, smaller objects often fall through the sorting equipment at the facilities. Rather than resigning these smaller units to general waste, simply scrunch them together until you have a ball roughly the size of a fist. Alternatively, you can collect these smaller pieces in a can and fold the can over to secure. Remember, the bigger the ball, the easier it is to recycle!
Bin It.
Dispose of foil in the correct curbside recycling bins. This part may seem obvious however it is often the most missed step! Disposing of foil in the correct bin is the best way to ensure it will be recycled. If you’re unsure, you can check with you council as to which bin is correct however generally speaking, the yellow bin is the correct one.
Together, by making small changes, we can help create a more ethically conscious world. Have you been recycling correctly? Have you found alternative uses for foil? As always, we’d love to hear form you. Join the conversation by sharing the blog to your socials or email us at customerservice@marinucci.com.au
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