Episode Details

When it comes to recycling cardboard with tape attached, the adhesive itself is the main issue, particularly for flexible plastic recyclers, who generally don’t want it. The best practice, if you want to be extra conscientious, is to remove the tape and place it in general waste, which makes things easier for paper recyclers. That said, paper recycling facilities can usually handle tape during processing, where it’s washed off and ultimately incinerated. There’s also growing discussion around paper tape alternatives, some can be successfully recovered and recycled, while others cannot, highlighting the need for better standardisation across the industry. For now, the practical approach is often to leave both plastic and paper tape attached.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 52 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 24th July 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

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Music licence ID: 3GXXBILNPGLYRUZF