Sandwich packaging - are they recyclable?

HardCoreProgrammer

Does anybody happen to know whether sandwich packaging can actually be recycled?

I am talking about packaging for sandwiches bought in supermarkets with cardboard on the surface and a layer of plastic underneath.

The packaging has the following information about disposal:
Carton - Card, widely recycled (no mention about the plastic)

Our local council asks us to separate our waste as follows:
1. Black box - for paper and envelopes (with windows torn out)
2. Brown bin - cardboard, metal, plastic
3. Green bin - garden and food waste
4. Black bin - anything that cannot be recycled

Would it be OK to put it in the brown bin? Will they be able to separate the cardboard from the layer of plastic underneath?

I suppose the same question goes for juice cartons with a plastic ring on it for pouring.

Thank you.

Ben84

You should check the local council website, they often have a recycling guide.

However, to say the brown bin takes plastic is I'm sure a huge simplification. Plastics are a massive group of materials, from Bakelite radio cases and vinyl records to car bumpers - and I doubt they accept any of those items! Most take plastic bottles made from commonly used plastics, so HDPE (usually milk bottles and detergent bottles) and PET (typically drinks bottles). A few councils also take plastic tubs and pots, the margarine and yoghurt type ones. I doubt any take the plastic film from sandwich boxes. I usually rip out plastic windows from boxes, recycle the card and throw out the plastic.

However, better still for the environment and your budget, you can make sandwiches. If you want to be convinced, work out how much ready made ones cost each year compared to making them... I've bought three or four since I did that calculation a couple of years ago. For someone who buys one nearly every day at work, it's easily £300-500 a year saving.

JimmyTheWig

Our cardboard and plastic recycling containers are separate so I would remove the plastic film from a sandwich packet (and the plastic cap from a juice carton) before putting it into cardboard recycling.
Personally I would then throw those two bits of plastic away as I agree with Ben84 that they are probably not recyclable plastic.

If I was being lazy (not often when it comes to recycling!) I would put the whole thing into cardboard. I can't imagine it causing them too much of a problem and I think that would be better than landfilling the whole thing.