Recycle at home = Yes
Tin foil and aluminium trays can be recycled by putting them in your ‘container mix’ (plastics, glass, cans and cartons) recycling bin. This includes:
- Aluminium food trays and takeaway containers
- Kitchen foil, aluminium pot lids and wrappers
Recycle out of home = Yes
Tin foil and foil trays can be recycled at local collection points and at your council-run Household Reuse and Recycling Centre.
Be a great recycler…
- Empty and rinse foil trays (left over food or liquids can contaminate other recyclables)
- Scrunch kitchen foil, aluminium pot lids and wrappers together to form a ball – at least the size of a tennis ball, otherwise it may clog up the recycling machines or not get sorted properly (when your mixed recycling arrives at the sorting facility, it is first tipped into a rotating cylinder, which breaks down glass so that it can fall through small gaps; items that are smaller than 5cm can also fall through these gaps)
- Leave aluminium screw top lids on jars and wine bottles – no need to separate them
- If in doubt, leave it out. Don’t let your enthusiasm to recycle contaminate a whole truck load of recycling – see What is ‘contamination’ and why is it important?
Waste less…
- Try to reduce your reliance on single-use tin foil and foil trays. Swap them for reusable options such as glass containers and reusable food wraps and covers made of materials like silicone.