Find out which plastics can be recycled, which bins to use for kerbside collections, where you can take other plastic items and some useful tips and tests for plastic recycling at home.

Tests for soft plastic recycling

It can be difficult working out whether you can recycle a soft plastic, usually from packaging so these are simple tests you can do at home.

Soft plastic stretch test

Take hold of your soft plastic and try to stretch it:

  • if it stretches (like cling film), it's recyclable
  • if it tears (as some fruit packaging does), it's not recyclable

Close up photographs of hands holding plastics to demonstrate the plastic stretch recycling test. Words in the image read: The stretch test tells you whether a type of plastic film is recyclable in Oxford's blue bins. Simply stretch a piece of plastic film and if it stretches (and doesn't tear) it can be recycled.

Soft plastic scrunch test

Take your piece of soft plastic film, scrunch it in your fist and then release your grip: 

  • if it stays scrunched (like cling film), it can be recycled
  • if it bounces back to its original shape (as some fruit packaging does), it's not recyclable

Close up photographs of hands holding plastics to demonstrate the plastic scrunch recycling test. Words in the image read: The scrunch test tells you whether a type of plastic film is recyclable in Oxford's blue bins. Simply scrunch a piece of plastic film and if it stays scrunched it can be recycled.

Waste Wizard

Use the waste wizard to discover what you can do with your unwanted household items

Go to the Waste Wizard at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

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