How to Reduce Plastic Waste
What the recycling numbers actually mean, which swaps reduce plastic and which just move it around, and where the real household volume comes from.
Questions people ask
Do I need to wash containers before recycling?
A rinse is enough. Food residue can contaminate a whole batch, but washing thoroughly in hot water uses energy that offsets the benefit.
Are bioplastics better?
Only if your area has industrial composting. In landfill they behave much like ordinary plastic, and in a normal recycling stream they are a contaminant.
Does this page work offline?
Yes, after the first visit. The service worker caches it, so the guide stays available with no connection.
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Last updated 22 August 2026