Can you recycle... Foil tape backing? Unused latex free gloves?

Tunstallstoven

Hi

Apologies, this isn't so much a moneysaving thread, just a green / recycling one.  But thought perhaps there might be someone who can help...

I'm a bit of a recycling addict.  I've got a couple of things and I'm not sure if they can be recycled, so wondered if anyone might be able to advise before they go to the dreaded landfill

1. Foil tape backing. As part of an insulation project, I got through a lot of silver foil tape. The backing it papery-like, but shiny. Got lots of it!

2. Latex free / powder free gloves. Our dog has an eye condition and we get through a lot of these gloves when giving her eye meds. As we only need the fingers, we cut them off, leaving the remainder of the gloves unused and unwanted. Specifically, the gloves are called Stretch2Fit, in case that helps:

https://www.handallergygloves.co.uk/

The medical ones.

Any ideas on whether they can be recycled and if so how/where? Or how else I might find out? I have written to the companies but with no joy...

Many thanks

Baldytyke88

I know stretchy plastic is recyclable, so the gloves are probably ok.

In your recycle bin?

Brie

likely depends on your local council as it tends to vary.  I couldn't even find out on mine if they would recycle plate glass.  Locals say "of course they do" but there's nothing on the website which does make it a bit of a nightmare.  

Reed_Richards

Glass recycling?  Ruddy luxury!  Where I live (Northumberland) you have to go off in search of a special receptacle that you cam post your bottles and jars into.  You couldn't recycle plate glass unless you broke it up into bottle-sized widths.  What your local council will collect in a recycling bin is hugely dependent on where you live and how much of that actually gets recycled is a moot point.   

molerat

TerraCycle  https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/spontex

Baldytyke88

Brie said:

likely depends on your local council as it tends to vary.  I couldn't even find out on mine if they would recycle plate glass.  Locals say "of course they do" but there's nothing on the website which does make it a bit of a nightmare.  

I don't think Pyrex-type glass is recyclable. In my local area, glass now just goes in our green bins.

EricMears

Baldytyke88 said:

Brie said:

likely depends on your local council as it tends to vary.  I couldn't even find out on mine if they would recycle plate glass.  Locals say "of course they do" but there's nothing on the website which does make it a bit of a nightmare.  

I don't think Pyrex-type glass is recyclable. In my local area, glass now just goes in our green bins.

Presumably Baldytyke88's 'green bin' is for 'general recycling ?

Referring to bin colours can be confusing !   Our  'green bin' is for garden waste, 'general recycling' is burgundy coloured.  A few miles along the road they also use 'green bin' for garden waste but blue bins for 'general recycling'.  In my son's district they use nearly all brown bins but with different coloured lids for each class of waste.

Even what goes into 'general recycling'  bins varies between districts.  We can put glass bottles but not broken glass;  some types of plastic are accepted here but not in neighbouring district etc. . .

thevilla

Our council doesn't accept soft plastic but the local Sainsbury's now has a place for it.

molerat

Brie said:

likely depends on your local council as it tends to vary.  I couldn't even find out on mine if they would recycle plate glass.  Locals say "of course they do" but there's nothing on the website which does make it a bit of a nightmare.  

The only glass that should be put in domestic recycling is bottles and jars.  Anything else, including plate glass, drinking glasses and pyrex, can disrupt the recycling process due to its higher melting point so needs specialist recycling.

Tunstallstoven

Many thanks for the responses.  

I'll check out Terracycle, thanks for the link.  

Good info RE glass, I wasn't aware of that and have made a mental note for future reference.  

Back to the OP, I got a reply from the glove manufacturer.  They said: "[the gloves] are recyclable as they are TPE, which is a type of plastic."  Does TPE mean anything to anyone?  

I take all my soft plastics to the supermarket, so hopefully they can go with that.  Does anyone know anything about what the supermarkets take?  I note that on some packets - for example, tortilla wraps and pittas - it says "Do Not Recycle".  What is it about the plastic those are made from which makes it different from the soft plastics that can be taken?  

No news on the aluminium foil tape backing, so still not sure whether that's destined to be buried.  Fingers crossed Terracycle can tell me.  

Thanks again

DullGreyGuy

TPE = Thermoplastic elastomers

The problem with recycling is there is a wide range of ways to "recycle", different firms have different capabilities and different councils contract with different firms. 

Most councils appear to collect food waste, anaerobically digest it and use the resultant gas for energy production. Some councils however compost it instead. The former will take all foods and some garden waste whereas the later may ask you not to include meat, bones or larger tree waste  etc

You can then sometimes layer on other factors like health and safety. Most would say to be the most green then materials should be broken down so they take up the least volume, collection trucks can carry the highest volume etc etc however many councils won't collect crushed glass because of the fear of injuries. 

Ultimately, read your councils website about what they can and cannot collect. You can then explore your options are on those other items they can't deal with or look for methods to reduce using such items. 

Some "recycling" isn't about reusing the materials but consuming them in energy production. Depending on your priorities again you may decide that biogas is no better than other gas burning given it ultimately destroys the materials and produces CO2 and so may decide to not give food waste to the council but compost it yourself and either use it or give it away.