7 years ago
Hello,
Why can't oil or vinegar PET bottles be recycled?
Of course, it's not beverage PET, but the few residues should degrade when washed or heated; and in beverage PET bottles, there must be some unsavory residues, right?
Thanks for the explanation.
Good evening/good day
7 years ago
Dear alloms
I can't remember the exact reason why oil and vinegar bottles can't be recycled, but it seems to me that the PET in these bottles is no longer of the quality needed for recycling. This decision was not made by Migros, but is also stated on the website of the Swiss Recycling organization:http://www.swissrecycling.ch/fr/substances-valorisables/bouteilles-de-boissons-en-pet/
Perhaps they can tell you more?
Have a nice day!
Kathrin
7 years ago
Hello,
Thank you for your attempt at an answer, which isn't very satisfactory though.
I looked on some of the recyclers' websites, but it wasn't clear either, and I didn't want to spend hours exploring the whole site to find this answer. Who can tell me more?
Maybe it's because of the coloring of PET (some bottles aren't colorless and transparent, but others are!), and some PET beverage bottles are colored too.
In short! Mystery and questions.
And at Migros, these PET bottles can be recycled in the plastic container (mixed). And then, what happens to these plastics: incinerated as unsorted waste? or recycled as low-grade plastic?
Thank you for your inquiry, and see you soon.
7 years ago
Hello again alloms
Thanks for your feedback! Recycling is sometimes more complex than it first appears. There are very local specificities and other national regulations.
We've forwarded your new questions, and as soon as we have an answer, I'll be delighted to hear from you.
With kindest regards
Kathrin
7 years ago
Hello alloms
First of all, thank you for your patience. Our recycling managers have written the following message to you:
"Many thanks for your message. Your interest in recycling makes us very happy. We too attach great importance to sustainable development.
In Switzerland, the recycling of PET beverage bottles represents a valuable material cycle. Used PET beverage bottles are used to make new PET beverage bottles (bottle-to-bottle concept, see www.petrecycling.ch). Migros PET beverage bottles contain a high proportion of recycled PET. This direct reuse of material has a highly beneficial impact on the ecological balance sheet and on value creation in Switzerland.
This is a very sensitive cycle, which must not be disturbed by the presence of foreign bodies. This is why bottles of detergent, cleaning products, oil, vinegar and cosmetics, as well as meat and sausage trays, etc. should not be placed in the PET collection point, even if they are made of PET. Impurities from oil, detergent and milk residues, etc., as well as heavy mixing with other materials in the collection process, result in lower quality.
Another reason why PET collection is limited to beverage bottles is that sorting techniques are limited. After collection, PET bottles are sorted and foreign substances and waste materials are rejected. During this process, PET approved for food contact cannot be distinguished from PET that does not meet these quality requirements. Although these are two types of PET packaging, both of which are used for food, they are different types of PET which are not recognized during sorting. As they cannot be sorted, they interfere with the recycling of PET beverage bottles.
PET collection has therefore been limited to beverage bottles in order to guarantee a high-quality and particularly environmentally-friendly material cycle."
Have a nice day
Kathrin
7 years ago
Bravo, good answer, I'm satisfied with this report.
And now, all those plastics you mention in your answer, which are the non-recyclable garbage can, can we put them in the Migros non-PET plastics-beverages, PS, PE, etc.-separate sorting container?
these are white bottles, oil/vinegar bottles, fruit and vegetable trays, meat trays, household cleaning product packaging, and all the various plastic packaging/over-wrapping bags of all kinds, which are the last survivors to fill our unsorted household garbage can!
After that, everything will be sorted.
And what does Migros do with this non-PET plastic packaging-beverage, PS, PE, etc.? Is it recycled, or simply burned with the unsorted garbage?
Thank you and have a nice day!
7 years ago
Hello alloms
For the time being, recycling in Switzerland means incinerating materials for which there are no specific recycling channels.
Generally speaking, you can check this on each package: there's a graphic emblem of a garbage can bag, meaning that this product goes in the household waste.
There are products made of several materials where the different possibilities are specified: yoghurts, for example, where the cardboard can be recycled while the cup is to be put in the household garbage.
We hope this answer helps you,
Kathrin
7 years ago
Well said, thank you.
It's a shame, though! I was hoping there'd be a specific recycling system for undifferentiated plastics (excluding incineration) ... will it come?
Clearly, at a time when the "taxe au sac" (bag tax) is coming soon to Geneva too - isn't it? - this method of disposal will soon be appreciated all the same!
And I'd like to follow up on another question I've asked: is there a separate sorting and recycling system for all the berlingots, milk cartons, fruit juices and other TetraPaks and multi-layers? Maybe not yet at Migros, but coming soon?
Good evening, and thank you for your attention.
Best regards.
7 years ago
Dear alloms
Thank you for your new message. For the time being, the recycling systems in place at Migros are as you see them.
The subject is topical and is of concern to our managers. If there are any changes, our customers will be informed...
As for the rest, I invite you to inform yourself locally, as there are specific differences across Switzerland, depending on the canton and commune.
Kind regards
Kathrin