E172 - Why might a council say to squash plastic?

Ever noticed "Wash, Squash, Separate" on a recycling truck? It might sound like it contradicts our usual advice, but it depends on how your recycling is collected. If your recycling is source-separated at the kerb, squash away, it saves space and won't affect sorting. If it all goes into mixed recycling, it's usually better to leave bottles and cans intact because recycling centres often rely on their shape to sort them. As always, follow your local council's guidance.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish Question' from episode 88 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 2nd...