Our Future First: soft plastic recycling

One team’s afternoon snack break is now a little bit more sustainable, thanks to one simple change suggested by a colleague.

Carolann Grandison, a Press Officer in the University’s Corporate Communications team, set up a soft plastics recycling bin in order to save crisp packets, chocolate wrappers and other soft plastics from the general rubbish.

When full, colleagues take it in turns to bring the packets to the Whiteknights Co-op, which has a dedicated soft plastics recycling bin.

The rule of thumb is: if you can scrunch the packaging and it springs back into shape, it can probably be recycled. The Co-op website has some useful advice to follow.

Pitching in for the planet

Carolann was already collecting soft plastics at home, taking them to her local supermarket when doing the weekly shop.

When she found out from the Sustainability Matters newsletter that the campus Co-op offered the same service, she was inspired to set up a bin at work, and asked her colleagues to pitch in.

The team has also set up a food waste bin, with volunteers taking orange peels and tea bags to be composted at home.

If you have a space at work, why not set up your own recycling bin? You can also ask your local Our Future First Champion for help in spreading the word.

Why isn’t soft plastic waste collected by the University?

While many of the goods that we buy come in soft plastic packaging, it is difficult to process wrappings sustainably once we're done with them.

Soft plastics are very light and contain a lot of air, which means that they are expensive for their volume to transport, treat and recycle. With the amount we’re collectively producing, it simply isn’t possible to process soft plastic waste affordably, and without adding polluting vehicles to the road.

This isn’t unique to Reading: many institutions, businesses and councils do not collect soft plastics for processing.

Large retailers such as supermarkets are an exception, as they regularly send deliveries out to stores. Once the delivery is done, lorries can be loaded back up with soft plastics for recycling in large volumes.

Sustainability Services is currently exploring the idea of a collaboration with the Whiteknights Co-op store to expand their soft plastics collection scheme in future. 

For a round-up of how and where to recycle and safely dispose of waste at work, see our Staff Portal story.