Reducing  the plastic content of the items we buy and use is at the top of our priorities and the waste hierarchy. For more information on how you can reduce your plastic use at home or work download the Less plastic more fantastic toolkit (PDF, 6,474kB) ‌

You can recycle almost all types of plastic:

1. PETE: bottles (fizzy drink, juice, condiment, water), bottle tops, salad trays, oven meal trays
2. HDPE: milk bottles, washing up liquid bottles, bleach bottles, cleaning product bottles, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cleaned 25 litre containers, other cleaned ‘rigid plastics’ from laboratories, workshops etc.
3. PVC: pipes, fittings, furniture
4. LDPE: carrier bags, bin liners and packaging films
5. PP: cups, margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays
6. PS: yoghurt pots, plastic cutlery, plastic cups, CD cases, foam food boxes, foam cups, protective packaging

Mixed plastic recycling bins are usually in communal areas, such as cafeterias and staff kitchens. Please ensure that plastic is clean before you place it in the recycling bins, including rinsing food tubs, and fully emptying bottles and cups.

Plastics we can’t recycle

Popular bioplastics, such as Vegware, help to reduce the amount of plastic packaging in use; however, they are a relatively new invention and there isn’t yet a treatment plant near Bristol which can compost these. Please place them in landfill bins, or special Vegware bins: they go through a special pre-treatment process, rather than being sent straight to landfill. Further information can be found in this guide to Compostable and Bio Packaging (PDF, 280kB). 

Plastic pens and markers

Follow the pens and markers guidlines.

Plastics from labs

Follow the Lab Plastic Guidance (PDF, 827kB).

Polystyrene

Follow the packaging guidelines.