Pet food pouches are difficult to recycle because they are usually made from several layers of different materials, such as plastic films and foil, sealed together to keep food fresh and prevent leaks. These mixed materials cannot normally be separated by standard household recycling systems, so most pouches end up in general waste unless collected through specialist schemes. In dedicated recycling programs, the pouches are cleaned, shredded, and processed so the plastic components can be turned into new products such as outdoor furniture, bins, or construction materials. To recycle them properly, owners should empty the pouch, give it a quick rinse if required, and check whether their supermarket take back scheme will accept them.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Process' from episode 37 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 10th April 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has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time.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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