TRASH
TALK
Plastic recycling isn’t just a process.
It’s a movement.
Our blog dives into the latest breakthroughs in the world of recycling and inspiring stories about sustainability.
We unapologetically examine the downfalls and mistakes we still make when it comes to recycling plastic, while sharing practical ways to recycle effectively from home.
A platform for thinkers, creators, and disruptors redefining what luxury means.
Join us as we rethink waste and work toward a more circular, sustainable future
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PLASTIC IS NONSENSE!
!!
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
– Robert Swan
Adedolapo Boluwatife
Lagos-based photographer Adedolapo Boluwatife turns plastic waste into powerful art. After witnessing frequent flooding in his Ojodu community, he linked the issue to poor waste management. His series Invitation to Invade uses collected plastic to raise environmental awareness through striking, fine art imagery that challenges traditional climate photography.
PARAFFIN!
This is the most commonly used wax when it comes to making candles because it’s cheap. Theres nothing more complicated about it.
Companies all over the world have been prioritizing profit over consumers health for years now.
Paraffin Wax is made from petroleum, which is the same stuff as car fuel. You are literally burning a bi product of Crude oil from the core of the earth
When burned, paraffin can release toxic compounds like toluene and benzene....aka things you don’t want floating around your home EVER.
WHATS IN THE BAG!
Clear plastic bags are now standard for recycling bins, and for good reason apparently.
They allow for quick visual inspection, making it easier to identify contamination.
A single contaminated item can compromise an entire bag, forcing it into incineration.
That jar of sauce that you didn't rinse out properly could mean this whole bag is sent to be burned instead of just fishing it out.
with the need for work across the UK have you ever wondered why there isn't the space for people to sort through this waste and at least save some of it from fuelling the destruction of the planet.
The government claims to care about the environment, yet they continues to pay for incinerators to burn our waste.
Instead of investing in recycling
public money currently fuels a system designed to profit from destruction.
The “Big Plastic Count” conducted by Greenpeace & Everyday Plastic estimates that last year, 58% of UK household plastic alone was incinerated instead of recycled.
The sad truth is that less than 10% of everyday plastic actually gets recycled in the UK.
RECYCLING vs BURNING
66% of London waste is burned.
Recycling rates across the UK have flatlined for years now, meanwhile more and more incinerators keep being built, locking us into a future of waste dependency.
These plants run on contracts that demand trash to stay profitable. So even if people recycle more, the system is rigged to burn.
We're torching resources, choking the air, and calling it "green energy." It's not sustainable it’s a slow-motion dumpster fire.
In 2025, the UK approved the construction of
41
new incinerators.
Despite a temporary ban on new incinerators expiring in just May of 2024!
There is no waiting around when there is money to be made.
WISHCYCLING
Wishcycling:
Toss it in. Hope for the best.
Spoiler: it’s not actually getting recycled.
Wishcycling, by definition is the act of putting a non-recyclable item into the recycling bin, simply hoping it can be recycled.
For decades, big brands sold us the lie that we, the consumer, are the problem.
They tell you to rinse and sort while they drown the planet in plastic.
Their 'sustainability' is just greenwashing in a prettier font.
Meanwhile, these companies actively lobby against regulations that could redefine the industry, they outsource waste to poorer countries, and profit from a system built on disposability.
GREENWASHING
DON'T FALL
FOR IT!
By definition, Greenwashing is when a company pretends to be environmentally responsible, slapping on a green label, planting a tree here and there, or shouting about sustainability, all whilst doing little to nothing to back any of it up.
Companies all over the world do this to make you feel good about buying their products , while the real impact on the planet stays hidden.
From oil giants boasting about renewable energy investments (while still drilling like there's no tomorrow) to fast fashion brands launching “sustainable” lines made in the same sweatshops as all their other products, greenwashing is rampant, and needs to be made obvious.
Greenwashing tricks you into feeling good about your purchase while that very same company quietly continues the same unsustainable practices.At Nonsense Candles, we believe that everyone has the right to demand honesty. Not just aesthetics.
But why does it matter? In todays society It’s all about optics over impact.A recycled paper label doesn’t make a candle eco-friendly. A bamboo lid doesn’t cancel out a paraffin wax base. and an eco friendly message printed on non recyclable sticky labels literally cancels itself out from the get go.
At Nonsense Candles, we believe that transparency is everything.
Our commitment to transparency not only strengthens our relationships with you, the customer, but also fosters a more ethical business environment for everyone.
By shining a light on our journey, we hope to inspire others to prioritize integrity when buying into a small business like us.
Meet the Team
BUSINESS OF SUSTAINABILITY
PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN
One of our main business objectives is dedicated to keeping plastic out of the ocean!
We are committed to raising awareness and taking action to protect our marine ecosystems. Together, we can make a difference by adopting sustainable practices and supporting innovative solutions that prevent plastic pollution.
single use plastic in our oceans has become one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.
Each year, millions of tons of plastic waste find their way into the sea, harming marine life and ecosystems worldwide.
The UK exports approximately 50–60% of its plastic packaging waste each year for recycling abroad. Countries receive our waste year in and year out and we have to trust them to dispose of it correctly.
Join us on this journey to understand the importance of protecting our oceans and the steps we can take to make a difference.
RECYCLING NO'S
Coffee cups
Pizza Boxes
Pizza boxes are all made of recyclable cardboard, but when they're soaked with grease or covered in food residue, they actually become a big problem.
The oils seep into the fibers, making the material unrecyclable with the potential to contaminate entire loads of clean recycling.
While paper coffee cups might look very recyclable, most are actually lined with a thin layer of plastic that makes them waterproof. This plastic-paper combo is incredibly hard to separate during standard recycling processes, meaning many facilities wont even process them as they do not have the equipment to separate them for the actual recycling process to begin.
Shredded Paper
Paper as a whole is very recyclable, but in practice, shredded paper is often not accepted through curbside recycling funny enough.
Once shredded, the paper fibers are too short to be useful in making new paper products. The tiny pieces easily slip through sorting machinery at recycling facilities, making them hard to capture and often leading to contamination.
For better recycling, it’s best to keep paper whole or if this isn't possible, check if your local center accepts shredded paper as sometimes they accept it in sealed paper bags or at certain drop-off points.
Receipts
Most receipts aren’t actually recyclable because they’re printed on something called thermal paper, which is coated with chemicals like BPA or BPS.
These coatings can’t be removed at all during recycling and may contaminate other paper products.
So even though they look like regular paper... they actually belong in the trash.
(Try opting for digital receipts whenever possible.)
Broken Glass and Mixed Glass Types
As broken glass can be extremely dangerous to sort through in recycling facilities. This can make it very difficult to separate from the glass that actually can be recycled.
Glass used for bottles and jars are made with the intent to be melted down and recycled into new products, whereas broken glass from other sources like windows, mirrors, or glassware often have different chemical compositions or coatings, so it melts at different temperatures.
If mixed in, this can weaken or ruin a batch of recyclable glass.
Bottle Caps
Bottle caps CAN be recycled, but they do come with a few challenges as they are often made from different plastics than the bottles themselves, therefore melt at different temperatures.
Some are even so small they can slip through the sorting machines.
If recycled loosely, they’re actually a lot more likely to end up in the trash and not even end up being recycled.
Check with your local council and see what they recommend doing with loose bottle caps, and just to be safe. screw them back onto the bottle on which they once came.
Juice Boxes
Juice boxes are tricky to recycle because they’re made of multiple layers. Paper, plastic, and aluminum all fused together.
This combo keeps the juice fresh, but it's harder to separate during the recycling process.
Most general recycling programs can’t handle them unless they have special equipment to separate all of the layers . So, while not totally unrecyclable, juice boxes often end up in the general waste bin and not actually recycled.
Plastic Containers
(With food Residue)
Food containers that are left with grease, sauces, or leftover food often can’t be recycled. Not because of the material they're made out of, but because of the mess they can end up creating.
When containers like pizza boxes, paper takeout cartons, or plastic trays are dirty, they contaminate the recycling stream.
For paper and cardboard, grease weakens the fibers, making them unusable.
For plastic or aluminum, leftover food can disrupt sorting machines and attract pests, leading entire batches to be thrown away in general waste facilities.
Plastic bags and wrappers
Often the biggest debate when it comes to recycling. Plastic bags. They may seem recyclable... They’re plastic after all. But they’re actually a really big problem for most recycling systems. The issue isn’t the material itself, but how it behaves in the recycling process.
Most plastic bags are made from polyethylene, which is recyclable in theory. But in practice, these thin, flexible plastics wreak havoc at recycling facilities. They tangle in the machinery, causing frequent breakdowns, delays, and safety hazards for workers. This kind of disruption is so common, they even have their own nickname in the industry. “Tanglers.”
However, many grocery stores and retailers offer designated collection/ drop off bins for plastic bags and similar soft plastics.
Art OF SUSTAINABILITY
Plastikophobia
Plastikophobia is an immersive art installation made from 18,000 plastic cups collected from local food centers across Singapore to raise awareness for single-use plastic pollution. Artists Von Wong and Joshua Goh teamed up with Social impact strategist Laura Francois and almost a hundred volunteers over the course of ten days to bring this project to life.
Time Noble and Sue Webster are a British artist duo known for their provocative and innovative sculptural works that blend punk aesthetics with pop culture references. Their art often explores themes of identity, fame, mortality, and the grotesque, using unconventional materials like rubbish, neon lights, and taxidermy. They are particularly recognized for their "shadow sculptures," where piles of discarded objects are strategically arranged to cast sharply defined shadow portraits when lit. This fusion of chaos and precision exemplifies their ability to transform the ordinary into something psychologically and visually striking.
Tim Noble and Sue Webster
PLASTICS
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PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Found in: Water bottles, fizzy drink bottles, salad containers.
Recyclable in London: ✅ Yes – widely accepted
Tip: Rinse before recycling!
LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
Found in: Bread bags, frozen food bags, some squeeze bottles
Recyclable in London: ♻️ Sometimes – check your local borough
Tip: Can often be recycled at supermarket soft plastic collection points
HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
Found in: Milk bottles, shampoo bottles, cleaning products
Recyclable in London: Yes – easily recycled
Tip: Keep the lids on (if same material)
PP (Polypropylene)
Found in: Yogurt pots, takeaway containers, bottle caps
Recyclable in London: ♻️ Often accepted – but varies by borough
Tip: If in doubt, check your council website
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Found in: Plumbing pipes, window frames, cling film
Recyclable in London: ❌ Not accepted
Tip: Try to avoid if possible
PS (Polystyrene / Styrofoam)
Found in: Disposable coffee cups, meat trays, takeaway boxes
Recyclable in London: 🚫 Rarely accepted
Tip: Avoid – hard to recycle and environmentally harmful
Other (Mixed Plastics)
Found in: BPA plastics, polycarbonate (e.g. reusable water bottles)
Recyclable in London: ❌ Not accepted
Tip: Try to reuse or choose alternatives
Not quite sure what your borough accepts?
No problem at all.
Just pop your postcode into the official GOV.UK council finder to find out more about your local recycling rules, collection info, and tips.
It takes two seconds and could even prevent a whole bag of plastic from ending up in the landfill.
Get involved:
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