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What we accept

Right now, we take one plastic: HDPE.

We'd rather do one plastic properly than five badly. HDPE (resin code 2) is safe to work with, melts cleanly and makes strong products. We plan to add LDPE once we can handle it just as well.

HDPE · code 2 · accepted LDPE · code 4 · coming later
2HDPE

How to spot it

Look for the 2 in the triangle

Flip the item over. Most plastics have a small number stamped on the bottom or inside the lid. If it says 2 or HDPE, it's in. If there's no number, leave it out. We can't safely guess.

Yes please

  • Milk bottle lids

    Our favourite. Small, clean and colourful

  • Milk and juice bottles

    The cloudy white ones marked 2

  • Shampoo and conditioner bottles

    Pump tops removed

  • Laundry and dish detergent bottles

    Rinsed well. No residue

  • Ice-cream and yoghurt tubs

    Only if marked 2

  • Bottle caps from soft drinks

    Most are HDPE. We'll check

Not yet, sorry

  • Anything not marked with a 2 inside the triangle
  • Soft plastics, bags and film (that's LDPE, coming later)
  • Bottles that held oil, motor fluids, pesticides or chemicals
  • Plastic with food, glue or paint still on it
  • Metal lid liners, foil seals and paper labels still attached
  • Black plastic (we can't sort it reliably yet)

Anything we can't use goes back into the right council bin, and we weigh it so it shows up in our reports.

How to clean it

Clean, dry, label-free

Contamination is the main reason recycling fails. Two minutes at the sink makes a big difference to what we can make.

  1. 1

    Empty it

    Tip out what's left and give it a quick shake.

  2. 2

    Rinse it

    Warm water and a splash of dish soap. Use the last of your washing-up water.

  3. 3

    Peel it

    Remove paper labels and any foil seals. Leave the lids separate from the bottles.

  4. 4

    Dry it

    Let it dry fully. Wet plastic grows mould in the bag and in the shredder.

Don't waste fresh water. Rinsing in leftover dishwater is fine.

Drop-off

Where to bring it

Collect in a paper bag or box, not a plastic bag. Have a big load from a school or workplace? Let us know first and we'll arrange a pickup.

Bring it to a workshop

  • At any ReCraft workshop

    Bring a bag to any session. We'll sort it together on the spot.

    During session times

  • Collection tub 1: location to be disclosed

    We'll share where to find it here once it's confirmed.

    Opening hours to be disclosed

  • Collection tub 2: location to be disclosed

    We'll share where to find it here once it's confirmed.

    Opening hours to be disclosed