Nearly HALF of Britons are baffled by common recycling symbols used on product packaging

Up to half of Britons are baffled by the common recycling symbols used on product packaging, fuelling calls for labelling to be overhauled.

A survey carried out by consumer champion Which? found 48 per cent of people thought the so-called green dot logo, a green circle with two intertwined arrows inside, meant that a product can be recycled. But the symbol simply means the manufacturer has complied with packaging waste legislation – it has nothing to do with recyclability.

A further 32 per cent of people thought the seedling logo, a small plant tied in a loop, also meant packaging was recyclable, but it instead means the packet can be broken down only by industrial composters.

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Survey found people make common mistakes when recycling, despite 94 per cent of respondents being ‘confident’ they disposed of waste correctly.

The survey of 1,097 Which? members found they made common mistakes when recycling, despite 94 per cent of respondents being ‘confident’ they disposed of waste correctly.

Frequent errors included putting compostable items in mixed recycling (65 per cent), recycling plastic cutlery instead of placing it in general waste (51 per cent) and putting a toothpaste tube in the recycling bin (28 per cent). Councils will not recycle plastic cutlery, usually made of polystyrene, or most toothpaste tubes, made of layers of plastic and aluminium, because the materials are difficult and expensive to process.

Emily Seymour, Which? sustainability editor, said: ‘Consumers are being let down by confusing labelling that makes recycling tough to get right. The Government should ensure plans to make recycling labels mandatory on grocery packaging continue to roll out as scheduled, and that these labels are made simple and clear.’

The Government is planning to introduce mandatory recycling labelling with a consistent logo. But critics say it is not clear what will be implemented and when.

Craig Stephens, Recycle Now campaign manager, said updating labels would provide ‘a welcome source of clarity’.