Easter is a season of celebration, indulgence and often, excess packaging. From foil wrapped chocolate eggs and hot cross buns to easter decorations and gifts wrapped in plastic. It can be all too easy to forget the environmental impact during the fun of Easter, but as sustainability becomes a growing concern, more people are asking ‘can you recycle Easter eggs? And ‘are Easter eggs recyclable?’. The good news is, yes, in many cases Easter egg packaging is recyclable but it’s not always that simple. Understanding what you can and can’t recycle, and how to do it properly, is essential if we want to reduce the seasonal spike in landfill-bound waste.
Research has found that over 80 million Easter eggs are sold in the UK each year, and with this comes an estimated 80,000 tonnes of packaging waste. Much of this can be avoided or diverted from landfill with better recycling habits and knowledge. Keep reading to find out seven ways to recycle smarter this Easter.
Know what’s recyclable, and what’s not.
The all important question is ‘are easter eggs recyclable’. The chocolate itself of course is edible but the packaging is usually made up of a mix of cardboard, plastic and foil which is where there can be some recycling confusion.
Cardboard boxes: Cardboard is widely recycled in curbside collections. Make sure to flatten boxes down to save space in your bin.
Plastic inserts: These are often used to hold the egg in place, and are usually recyclable if they’re clear PET (check for a recycling triangle with a 1 or 5). If they’re coloured or tinted, they may not be accepted.
Foil wrappers: These are technically recyclable, but only if clean and collected together into a larger ball. Tiny pieces of foil can cause problems and jam sorting machines.
Plastic windows: Windows on boxes or complex mixed material packaging like glitter covered boxes or metallic printed cards, are more problematic and often not recyclable.
Cards: Choose glitter free cards and recycle these in your curbside collection. Remove any additional decorations such as ribbons first.
Another popular easter food is hot cross buns which usually come in plastic packaging with a cardboard inner. You can recycle the plastic wrapping at your nearest participating supermarket but remember to remove any bits of hot cross bun stuck to it first as this can cause contamination.
Shop with sustainability in mind
One of the simplest ways to reduce Easter waste is to shop with sustainability in mind. Many major brands are now moving toward plastic free Easter egg packaging, including Nestle and Mars, who have made significant changes to eliminate unnecessary materials. If you can, be mindful and choose brands that use minimal or 100% recyclable materials as this small action can have a big impact. Also, consider gifting a chocolate bunny, bar, or homemade treats in reusable containers instead!
Don’t let foil go to landfill!
Foil is the biggest culprit for landfill waste, and while it looks harmless, small bits of foil are often missed by recycling machinery. However, if you gather it together into a large enough ball, roughly tennis ball sized, it can be picked up by standard recycling sorting systems.
Reuse before you recycle
Recycling is important, but reusing is even better for the environment. Before throwing things in the bin, ask yourself: can this be reused?
- Foil can be reused for crafts, decorations, or to line plant pots
- Boxes make great storage containers for stationary, seeds, or small tools
- Plastic inserts can become paint trays, organisers or craft moulds
Use a dedicated recycling point for hard to recycle items
Some parts of easter packaging might not go into your household recycling bin, but that doesn’t mean they’re destined for landfill. Specialist recycling schemes or local council collection points might accept:
- Soft plastics (some supermarkets collect these)
- Coloured plastics
- Composite or multilayer packaging
If you’re doing a big easter clear out or have a business producing seasonal waste, professional waste disposal services like skip hire or tailored waste collections come in handy.
How EJ Shanley can help
From expert recycling advice to reliable skip hire and tailored waste solutions, we support individuals and businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact. Contact us to find the right service for your needs.
