Waste myths debunked - and how to avoid fines from next month’s new recycling laws

Eight myths about recycling that are untrue

Landfill is always the cheapest option

Many people incorrectly believe that sending waste to landfill will always be the cheapest option. In reality, recycling and other more sustainable methods are often cheaper ways to dispose of waste as they avoid landfill tax. In the UK, landfill tax is charged by weight and usually increases each year, with rates for 2025 seeing an increase of over 20%.

General waste will be sorted for recycling later

Many people incorrectly believe that general waste goes on to be sorted, but this isn’t the case. It’s incredibly rare that general waste is sent to an advanced recycling facility. The misconception is likely either due to a lack of awareness or wishful thinking to reduce personal guilt.

Similarly, another common myth is that any recycling gets mixed together in the lorry anyway, so it’s pointless to separate it. Again, this is not correct. Despite trucks looking similar in appearance, many are ‘split bodied vehicles’ which often have separate compartments inside for different waste streams.

Composting is only for food waste

As composting is a method of waste disposal that allows materials to break down organically, many people mistakenly believe that this is only reserved for food waste. However, in reality, you can also compost many other materials, everything from cardboard to corks.

Waste audits are only for large corporations

Small businesses can often underestimate the need for a waste audit, believing that they don’t generate enough rubbish. A waste audit can help any size business to reduce the costs of waste management, ensure compliance with regulations, and help work towards sustainability goals.

Shredded paper can be recycled

Given that paper is recyclable, many assume that shredded paper is also fine to dispose of with recycling. However, the size of shredded paper makes it harder to recycle as It can clog up equipment or be missed during sorting. Alongside this, it’s harder to turn shredded paper into new materials, meaning there’s a smaller market for the recycled product and thus it’s more likely to end up in landfill.

Recycling uses more energy than it saves

Recycling does require energy for transporting, sorting and processing, but it’s typically much lower than the amount saved. When considering how energy-intensive it is to produce new materials and manufacture products from raw materials, recycling will almost always be more energy-efficient.

Another related myth is that recycling gets sent abroad to be landfilled or incinerated. This can be partially true. In some cases, materials are exported to regions that have more advanced or specialised recycling facilities for specific materials, such as electronics or certain types of plastic. Aside from this, recycled materials are rarely sent to landfill or incinerated, unless they have been contaminated.

Plastic isn’t recyclable

Many plastics can in fact be recycled such as PET, HDPE, and PP, which are all commonly used. This myth stems from the fact that plastic recycling presents more challenges than recycling other materials. Plastics must be free of contaminants, and additives like flame retardants, dyes, and plasticisers that can make them unfeasible for recycling. Alongside this, the UK has limited infrastructure for plastic recycling, adding to the challenges.

All paper and cardboard is recyclable

Wrapping paper, laminated, shredded, paper towels and wet boxes among other products are not recyclable. In most cases, this is due to the formation of these paper and cardboard types making them hard to recycle as the fibres do not break down correctly.