A lunchbox staple, the humble crisp packet suffered some unwanted headlines when people started posting their empties back to the manufacturer in protest that they weren’t easy to recycle and could take up to 80 years to decompose in landfill.
Crisp packets can’t be recycled at home because although the inside of the packet is shiny and looks like foil, it is, in fact, a metallised plastic film.
An easy way to discover if your snack packet is foil or metallised plastic film, is to do the scrunch test. Simply scrunch the item in your hand – if it remains ‘scrunched’ it is foil and can be recycled easily, but if it springs back (like crisp packets) it is probably metallised plastic film.
Did you know crisp packets are an ideal material for creating survival blankets? They are waterproof and the silver foil lining reflects heat, keeping the body warmer for longer.
Several schools and colleges across Greater Manchester have supported the idea having taken inspiration from the ‘Crisp Packet Project’ based in East Sussex. The blankets are commonly given to the homeless.
If there isn’t a recycling point near you, put your empty crisp packets in your general waste bin.
