How well do you know the most common recycling symbols?

Are you fantastic at recycling plastic? (Picture: London Recycles/Getty)

Metro.co.uk‘s #Just1Change campaign is showing readers how making one small change can help the ongoing climate crisis.

The world’s leaders are currently at COP26 discussing what they can do on a large scale to save the planet, and many have been inspired to reflect on what they can do at home to help the cause.

Recycling is a simple and effective way of ensuring that there’s less waste – so long as you do it right.

Easy mistakes can be made when you don’t understand the plethora of symbols on your packaging.

So, do you think you know your Green Dot from your Mobius Loop?

Then give Metro.co.uk‘s recycling quiz a go to find out if you’re fantastic at recycling plastic, or bottom of the class with paper and glass.

How well do you know your recycling symbols?

1.

This is one of the most commonly seen symbols (Picture: London Recycles)

2.

We’re starting them off easy… (Picture: London Recycles)

3.

This one describes itself (Picture: London Recycles)

4.

This has a special name (Picture: London Recycles)

5.

It’s a common one alright, but what does it mean? (Picture: London Recycles)

6.

Have you seen this symbol before? (Picture: London Recycles)

7.

What is this little guy recycling? (Picture: London Recycles)

8.

Alu- what now? (Picture: London Recycles)

9.

What do you think this means? (Picture: London Recycles)

10.

This little guy has a special name (Picture: London Recycles)

11.

What does this mean? (Picture: London Recycles)

12.

Can you guess what this symbolises? (Picture: London Recycles)

13.

What does this mean? (Picture: London Recycles)

14.

This one is very common (Picture: London Recycles)

Answers

1. Recycle – This label is applied to packaging that is collected by 75% or more of local authorities across the UK. It should be fine to put in any recyling bin – be it at home, work, or public.
2. Rinse – This label means that the packaging is recyclable, but only if it is rinsed. This is to ensure that any food residue doesn’t contaminate other materials.
3. Not currently recycled – This symbol shows that less than 20% of local councils currently collect this packaging for recycling, and so it should be put in general waste. Check with your council to find out if the item can be recycled.
4. The Green Dot – The Green Dot does not necessarily mean that the packaging is recyclable. It is a symbol used on packaging in some European countries and signifies that a financial contribution has been paid to a national packaging recovery organisation. The Green Dot can be used alongside the recycling logo, but can also appear on its own. It is recognised by the UK, but doesn’t really mean anything to British consumers.
5. Mobius Loop – This symbol indicates that a product can be recycled, but is has not itself been made from recycled materials. Sometimes it has a percentage figure in the middle, indicating how much of the product comes from recycled materials.
6. Plastic resin codes – This tells you what kind of plastic an item is made of. The code is often stamped with a number from one to seven. One and two are typically fine to go in your recyclingbin, but you should check with your local council to find out if they recycle any of the other numbers. If your council does not recycle the type of plastic, then it should be put in the general waste bin.
7. Glass recycling – This symbol means that the glass should be put in your home recycling bin, such as wine bottles. Some glass items will not include this logo as they cannot go in your home recycling, such as windows and light bulbs. These should be taken to your local recycling centre.
8. Recyclable aluminium – This symbol indicates that an item is made from recyclable aluminium, including drinks cans and takeaway trays, which can go in your home recycling bin. Some items will be made of aluminium but will not include the logo as they are not widely recyclable, such as crisp packets – these should be put in your general waste bin.
9. Recyclable steel – This symbol means that the product is made of recyclable steel. Although steel is recyclable, you should take it to a recycling centre, rather than popping in your home recycling bin.
10. Tidyman – This symbol from Keep Britain Tidy asks you not to litter.
11. Waste electricals – This symbol explains that you should not place the electrical item in the general waste.
12. Compostable – Products certified to be industrially compostable might have this logo. These items should not go in your home composting or food waste bin. Contact your local council to find how to recycle the product.
13. Home composting – This symbol means that you can compost that item at home, incluing your food waste bin.
14. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – The FSC logo means that in item has been made using wood from well managed forests.

MORE : 23 things you didn’t know you could recycle

MORE : Can you recycle black plastic?

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Metro.co.uk's #Just1Change campaign

In the run up to COP26 and beyond, we will be sharing stories, ideas, and advice about one common theme: The climate crisis.

At a time when the weight of environmental issues feels very heavy and overwhelming, our aim is to deliver content that will not only inform and educate but also offer hope and inspiration.

Here are some of our #Just1Change highlights so far:

• Introducing Metro.co.uk’s brand new climate series: #Just1Change
• Meet the people who are having fewer children to 'help save the planet'
• Electric boilers: A green alternative to heap pumps no-one is talking about
• Four ways you can recycle your pumpkins now Halloween is over
• Good COP or bad COP? Here are the outcomes we are most likely to see at COP26

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