Contamination
The presence of non-target materials in a recycling stream that reduces the quality of recycled output. Food residue, incorrect materials, and non-recyclable items are common contaminants.
Contamination in the context of packaging recycling refers to any material in a recycling stream that shouldn't be there. It degrades the quality of recycled materials and can render entire batches unrecyclable.
Types of contamination:
- Food residue — grease, food remnants that haven't been rinsed off
- Wrong materials — non-recyclable items placed in recycling bins
- Cross-contamination — different materials mixed together (e.g., PVC in a PET bale)
- Non-packaging items — textiles, nappies, batteries placed in recycling
Contamination affects the packaging recyclability assessment. Packaging that leads to higher contamination rates (e.g., composite materials misidentified as mono-material) may score worse in the RAM assessment. OPRL labelling helps reduce contamination by providing clear instructions. Producers can also reduce contamination by designing packaging that is easy to empty and clean. Contamination levels are monitored at MRFs and affect the costs of managing packaging waste.
Related Terms
Packaging Material
The physical material from which packaging is made. Under EPR, packaging must be...
Recyclability Assessment Methodology
The standardised methodology used to assess the recyclability of packaging forma...
Recyclability
The practical ability of a packaging item to be collected, sorted, and reprocess...
Materials Recovery Facility
A plant where mixed recyclable materials from household and commercial collectio...
OPRL
On-Pack Recycling Label — a UK labelling scheme that provides standardised recyc...
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