Recyclable materials: where and how to give items a second life?

Recycling means giving a second life to materials in order to reduce the consumption of the planet's resources. Even though there is still a long way to go, in Spain we are recycling more and more. According to data in the 2021 Annual Recycling Report by Ecoembes, four out of five people confirm that they separate packaging and put it in the yellow container. This shows that they have a strong commitment to sustainability and recycling.

However, Ecoembes also confirms in its report that 29.8% of the waste that appears in the yellow containers should not have been deposited there. Recycling is important, but only if we do it properly. This is why we need to continue promoting environmental education so we are able to recognise which materials are recyclable and what we should do with them.

What are recyclable materials?

Recyclable materials are materials that can be used again after their main use. Depending on the material, these can be transformed into new objects to give them a new use or, they can simply be re-used for the same purpose.

In Spain, we generally have five types of container: Yellow, blue, green, brown and grey. But only the first three are suitable for recycling.

Even so, there are many people who are still not sure where to deposit certain objects. Here we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

Which plastics are recycled?

According to the Plastic Identification Code, there are different types of plastics for recycling:

• PET or PETE (polythene terephthalate): Contained in water bottles, soft-drink and juice bottles, and in food packaging.
• HDPE (high-density polythene): It is usually used in cosmetics, cleaning products and Tetra Pak cartons.
• PVC (polyvinyl chloride): It can be found in cables, pipes, gutters, and bottles of cleaning products.
• LDPE (low-density polythene): This is used in plastic wrapping, bags, soft plastic bottles, etc.
• PP (polypropylene): This is used in the automotive industry, in construction and even in the caps and lids for different types of packaging.
• PS (polystyrene): This is used in foam packaging, such as that used for domestic appliances.
• Others: There are plastics that are different from those mentioned above as well as blends of a number of resins.

Plastics that can be recycled are generally labelled with the RIC code, a series of symbols that appear on plastic products that identify the resin with which the product was manufactured. All of them can be deposited in the yellow container. But PET plastic is one of the most recycled.

Where should used oil be deposited?

Used oil which is left over after cooking can be recycled. But it is important not to mix vegetable oil with motor oil or industrial greases. In order for this to be used as new materials, it should be placed (separately) in a glass container and taken to a Recycling Centre.

The plastic bottle in which the oil usually comes should be deposited in the yellow container, as we have seen above.

Where should light bulbs be deposited?

Even though light bulbs contain glass, they should not be deposited in the green container. To know where to deposit them, you first need to differentiate between the types of lighting. In many homes in Spain, especially those with old electrical installations, filament light bulbs are still used. When they are thrown away they should be deposited in the grey container.

Low-consumption and fluorescent bulbs should be taken to a recycling centre because they need to undergo a specific process in order to be recycled properly.

Where is aluminium foil recycled?

Aluminium foil is not a kind of paper. But contrary to what many people may think, it is recyclable. In fact, it can be used again to manufacture packaging or machinery parts. But for this to happen, it needs to be deposited in the yellow container, together with aluminium soft-drink cans and disposable trays, as well as other types of containers as mentioned above.

Where should batteries and electronic devices be deposited?

Both small and large batteries can be recycled. In fact, it is very important for them to be deposited in the right place as they contain heavy materials and chemical compounds that are really harmful to the environment. Once they have been used, they become what we call toxic waste and they should be taken to an authorised recycling centre.

The best thing to do with electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers and appliances is also to take them to a recycling centre.

Industrial recycling: Not very well known but really necessary

Industrial recycling is a very useful process for companies and it involves transforming used materials into new raw material to promote the circular economy. This is something that Endesa does through a number of projects. In partnership with PreZero and GE Renewable Energy, we are building the first wind turbine blade recycling plant in the Iberian Peninsula. This project is part of our future plan for the area surrounding the Compostilla thermal power plant. With this plant we aim to meet the challenge of recycling more than 6,000 tons per year of fibreglass and carbon from wind turbines.

We are also supporting and launching other initiatives such as Novolitio, the company that will develop the first electric vehicle battery recycling plant in the Iberian Peninsula. This installation will be built in Cubillos del Sil (León), and this is where the components of batteries that cannot be re-used will be separated. This will enable the recycling of aluminium, copper, plastics and also the small fraction rich in strategic metals such as cobalt and nickel. The use of recycled metals significantly reduces the environmental footprint left by new batteries, making their production process more sustainable.