Do aluminium and steel cans really need washing before they are recycled?
I remember recycling bins that were littered around a previous workplace that everyone put their waste cans into, nobody seemed to worry about washing them beforehand. But the bin at my local recycling point says that I should ensure all cans are thoroughly washed.
Does washing that is sufficient for my cans to be recycled occur at the recycling depot?
Answer:
It is suggested that you wash your cans because it eases handling and for no other reason. They will be melted down at temperatures that will kill anything that has grown there (they don't "wash them with harsh chemicals").
If you're willing to put the effort in, clean them... if not then they'll be happy(ish) to get the cans even if they're dirty. The number of cans that go into landfill (or are otherwise wasted) each second is astounding.
yes
Th only reason to wash *anything* before recycling is to stop it going mouldy/smelly/disgusting while you are waiting for the recycling collection.
Swilling empty cans with used soapy washing-up water won't have any detrimental effect on the environment.
It's the smell. If people won't wash their recyclables such as glass and beer cans, a 3-week accumulation can smell really, really bad.
You should wash them out as soon as you finish them, then you won't even need soap, because the residue hasn't dried yet.
The reason why people do this is that at the recycling center, cans have to be washed before they can be recycled.
This is done with very harsh chemicals, because this is the only way to get rid of any mold and smell that will have developed inside the cans.
Of course those chemicals are horrible for the environment, but the more people wash out their cans, the less chemicals they will need.
I always wash my recyclables! Simply because they only get put out once a week and I don't want them to attract bugs! After washing my dishes I place them in the soap water and let them soak while I clean counters, sweep & mop. After the floor is dry, I dip them in the rinse water & set them to dry, then of course to the bin. Bring your cans home once a week or daily! Hope this helps!
Yes they do, but they will be chemically washed before they are actually recycled at the facility.
Easier to handle and sort things when they aren't, sticky, moldy and smelly.
Also helps cut down on germy stuff like bacteria, flies, worms, magots etc.
Hmm..I wonder if the last guy who used that bottle I just drank out of rinsed it out before recyling it.
Yes i always do.
its not needed but empty them and keep them in a closed container to avoid attracting bees and rodents.
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