Mixed packaging
Environmental benefits: Packaging, such as crisp packets, are often made up of a mixture of materials including paper, plastic and metal, and this makes recycling difficult. There is a lack of facilities and technology for recycling mixed packaging.
Packaging makes up around one-third of the average household dustbin. It is often necessary to protect the product to prolong its lifespan. However, over-packaging does occur, especially for marketing purposes. Basic foods such as bread and rice are rarely over-packaged, while convenience foods often have two or three layers of packaging.
How to recycle: Try to avoid buying over-packaged goods where possible and when choosing a product pick the packaging material that is easiest for you to recycle locally. Note that there is a difference between materials which it is technically possible to recycle and materials for which your local authority provides a recycling facility.
Team Green Britain and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG) do not endorse any of the products, companies, organisations, opinions or websites that have been mentioned in this article. The content of this article has merely been provided as background to, or discussion on, various topical issues relating to the environment and it is not necessarily representative of the views of Team Green Britain and LOCOG. Further, any figures and calculations noted in this article are estimates (unless otherwise specified), and may vary in light of numerous factors and readers are advised to undertake their own research in relation to the facts and figures applicable to their particular circumstance.