Check your packaging

Many leading retailers and household brands use a labeling system so you can see which packaging can be recycled by looking at the symbols printed on some product ranges.

For example, you have just heated up a ready meal in the oven and had your dinner. The product packaging could have these symbols (on the right) on the packaging. It shows that: 

• The sleeve is made from card and can be recycled
• The food container is foil and can be recycled (after a quick rinse to remove food)
• The film that covered the meal is plastic and can't be recycled.

What can you recycle in Southwark?

Items labelled as 'widely recycled'

We collect all the items in this category and from the begining of October 2011 this now includes all food and drink cartons, like Tetra Paks.

Items labelled as 'check local recycling'

You can recycle all items marked 'check local recycling'.

Items labelled as 'not currently recycled'

Any item marked 'not currently recycled' can't be recycled in Southwark. However, you could check your local large supermarket to see if they take any old bags back for recycling.

Want to find out more?

You can visit the scheme's website to find out more about the on pack recycling label scheme.

Other recycling symbols

You may notice other symbols on product packaging that are to do with what it's made of and how you should dispose of it. Find out more about other recycling symbols and what they mean.