FROM SOCIAL DISTANCING to working from home, the pandemic has brought many changes to Irish life. 

A positive change, according to research by environmental organisation Repak, is that 64% of people say they are more eco conscious now than before the pandemic – with 89% saying they’re confident that their recycling habits are good. 

While we all know that paper, cardboard and rigid plastics can go in the recycling bin (once they’re clean, dry and loose, of course), it was announced earlier this month that now all plastics - including soft plastics – can be placed in the recycling bin.

Soft plastics are those which can be squashed or compressed in your hand, and include pasta bags, salad bags, bubblewrap, biscuit trays and cereal bags. 

This move aims to help Ireland reach the target for 50% of all plastics to be recycled by 2025, and 55% by 2030. Currently, we are exceeding the EU plastic recycling target for this year of 22.5%. 

“If something can be recycled and it doesn’t go into a recycling bin, we can’t capture it, and we can’t send it for recycling,” says Clare Donnellan, Recovery and Recycling Executive at Repak.

“So we hope with the inclusion of all plastics that people will be much more confident in placing plastic items in the recycling bin.”

So, how much of a recycling expert are you? Scroll up to take our quiz, or click here to access it on YouTube. 

All plastics, including soft plastics, can now be placed in the recycling bin once they are clean, dry and loose. Find the list of what can go in your recycling bin here. Learn to recycle more and better by joining Repak Team Green today.