There is a huge push to improve the recycling rate of aluminium. It is one of the most recyclable resources in the world, so ideally it should never go to landfill. However, it can be tricky to identify recyclable foils. It’s easy to get confused because some materials look like foil but are actually plastic or composites. We want to have a closer look here and offer some advice so you can recycle more.
Spotting aluminium
Why is aluminium foil so useful for cooking and storing food? It offers a number of great advantages, including good heat conductivity to provide even cooking. Crucially though, it is strong and you can form it into various shapes. For example, you can easily wrap it around foods or baking trays. It will hold its shape.
The fact aluminium foil doesn’t spring back gives you the easiest way to spot it. All you need to do is scrunch it up; if it stays, it’s foil. As a result, you can recycle it.
On the other hand, if you scrunch up what you think is a foil and it doesn’t remain, you likely have a plastic or composite. In this case you need to think carefully about whether it is safe to recycle. In some cases it won’t be because the metal and plastic are not easy to separate.
Some products to consider
Now you know the easy way to spot foil, let’s have a quick look at some of the products that are generally recyclable foils. You should be recycling as many of them as you can.
Firstly, food trays always tend to be aluminium. This includes takeaway containers and roasting trays, and platters. One thing to remember though is you should clean them before recycling; don’t throw them in your recycle bin if they are covered in food residue and grease.
Secondly, various lids and wrappers are foil. The scrunch test is important here though, especially with the latter, because they can also be plastic. If you do think they are foils, the best thing to do is scrunch them into a ball to make it easier to recycle.
Finally, and appropriately for the time of year, we have wrapping paper. Some of it will be recyclable foil and paper. Do the scrunch test again to make sure; if it has a plastic coating it won’t stay in a ball.
Ask us for more info about recyclable foils
There is a lot of demand for high quality foils today for all manner of applications. They are great for packaging, cooking, built-environment products, and much more. Businesses should definitely consider them, particularly with the huge wave of support for sustainability.
If you want to try recyclable foils, you can rely on us. We’ve got fantastic products and can recommend the right ones for any criteria. Crucially, we’ll ensure you get the perfect balance between aesthetics, performance, and recyclability. So, get in touch if you want some help. We’ll work with you to specify the ideal foil.