Recycling - Compostable packaging

Compostable packaging

Please place compostable packaging in your grey bin. It cannot be recycled in the food waste or garden waste collection services offered by Midlothian Council.

When you leave an apple core in a warm room, over time it starts to degrade. As food decomposes it releases methane and it is this gas, as well as the heat that is produced as food rots, that is captured by the food waste processing plant.

If you leave a compostable packaging product in a warm room it does not rot. As it does not break down it does not release methane or heat and is therefore not suitable for processing with your food waste.

As compostable packaging does not look any different to plastic packaging, at the garden waste processing facility it will be removed and sent to the Energy from Waste facility at Millerhill - the same place where waste in your grey bin is processed.