'Empty, scrape, rinse' - Council urges South Tynesiders to think about their recycling

South Tyneside Council has issued a reminder about making sure household recycling, urging residents to clean their tubs, jars and tins before putting them in the correct bin.

The council wants everyone to remember that “your recycling bin isn’t a leftovers bin”.

A bit of pasta in a plastic tub? Half a jar of sauce? The last spoonful of jam? Food left inside containers can contaminate recycling and make it harder to process.

Before recycling, containers should be given a quick scrape and, if you've just done the washing up, use your old dishwater to give jars and glass bottles a quick rinse before they go in the recycling bin.

Empty it. Scrape it. Quick rinse if needed. Recycle it.

The council says: “Small habits make a big difference and help keep South Tyneside’s recycling clean and ready for processing.

“Recycling also helps save valuable resources and often uses less energy than making products from raw materials.”

Find out what can be recycled at www.southtyneside.gov.uk.