In the UK all this packaging is thrown into the bin, although some plastic bottles (shampoo, etc. without the lids) can now be put in with the milk bottle banks at municipal recycling points. In Germany, for example, householders can simply check for the Green Dot on the packaging and then put it in their Yellow recycling wheelie bin to be collected and recycled. A simple and effective route that ensures the producers pays for the disposal and recovery of their packaging. The material is then sorted and where technically possible recycled.
These containers are so sturdy they are practically indestructable - no wonder some of them will take hundreds of years to decompose. Many containers would be suitable for reuse and refill (the Nivea cream pot, for example, or the cif spray bottle), other products are simply only needed once, like the blue dispensers that come with the washing powder box every time consumers buy more washing powder. They last forever, hence should be sold separately which would minimise waste and also unnecessary expense for manufacturers.
What's healthy for our bodies turns into a burden for our environment: A family of 3 drinking just one small bottle of a probiotic yoghurt drink per day produces an ARMY OF PLASTIC BOTTLES in just one week. If they can be recycled and put into bottle banks, good, but does anybody think about this or are the producers taking any steps to promote such recycling? Advertising concentrates solely on creating consumer desire!
BLISTER PACKS - just getting in there is a real feat at times and impossible without a sharp instrument, such as scissors or carpet knifes. A godsent for manufactuers as it wraps itself around any shape or size and solves a multitude of packaging headaches. However, their indestructability and the fact that it's all made from the precious resource of virgin oil, a rawmaterial that we're fast running out of, should surely be enough reason for these to be collected and recycled.
Why are UK companies - in this instance Tesco's - using the Green Dot symbol on their packaging, when this financial system meant to pay and organise recycling is not being operated in this country? The probable answer generally refers to some sort of "trade" requirement, but the actual benefit of using the symbol is much more simple: most people interpret the sign as a recycling symbol denoting either that the material is made from recycled material or can be recycled - neither is in fact true, but it gives the product/brand green credentials where there are none. In other EU member states where the Green Dot System is applied properly it means that the company has made a financial contribution for each bottle, wrapper, etc. to be collected and recycled (if possible) or disposed of sensibly.
In the UK all this packaging is thrown into the bin, although some plastic bottles (shampoo, etc. without the lids) can now be put in with the milk bottle banks at municipal recycling points. In Germany, for example, householders can simply check for the Green Dot on the packaging and then put it in their Yellow recycling wheelie bin to be collected and recycled. A simple and effective route that ensures the producers pays for the disposal and recovery of their packaging. The material is then sorted and where technically possible recycled. 
These containers are so sturdy they are practically indestructable - no wonder some of them will take hundreds of years to decompose. Many containers would be suitable for reuse and refill (the Nivea cream pot, for example, or the cif spray bottle), other products are simply only needed once, like the blue dispensers that come with the washing powder box every time consumers buy more washing powder. They last forever, hence should be sold separately which would minimise waste and also unnecessary expense for manufacturers. 
What's healthy for our bodies turns into a burden for our environment: A family of 3 drinking just one small bottle of a probiotic yoghurt drink per day produces an ARMY OF PLASTIC BOTTLES in just one week. If they can be recycled and put into bottle banks, good, but does anybody think about this or are the producers taking any steps to promote such recycling? Advertising concentrates solely on creating consumer desire! 
BLISTER PACKS - just getting in there is a real feat at times and impossible without a sharp instrument, such as scissors or carpet knifes. A godsent for manufactuers as it wraps itself around any shape or size and solves a multitude of packaging headaches. However, their indestructability and the fact that it's all made from the precious resource of virgin oil, a rawmaterial that we're fast running out of, should surely be enough reason for these to be collected and recycled. 
Why are UK companies - in this instance Tesco's - using the Green Dot symbol on their packaging, when this financial system meant to pay and organise recycling is not being operated in this country? The probable answer generally refers to some sort of "trade" requirement, but the actual benefit of using the symbol is much more simple: most people interpret the sign as a recycling symbol denoting either that the material is made from recycled material or can be recycled - neither is in fact true, but it gives the product/brand green credentials where there are none. In other EU member states where the Green Dot System is applied properly it means that the company has made a financial contribution for each bottle, wrapper, etc. to be collected and recycled (if possible) or disposed of sensibly.