Most butter wrappers feel like paper, so it’s surprising when they say “don’t recycle”, but the reality is more complicated. Many are actually made from a mix of paper, plastic, and sometimes aluminium, with added coatings to stop grease leaking through, which makes them hard to recycle. Some simpler versions, like plain greaseproof paper, might go in food waste depending on your local council, so it’s always worth checking. There are signs of progress, in 2024, Aldi introduced a paper-based, recyclable butter wrap aimed at cutting tonnes of non-recyclable packaging.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 43 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 22nd May 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

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