Can you name these nine everyday recycling logos?

Three in five shoppers were baffled by these nine common recycling symbols on supermarket items.

In a recent poll of 2,300 British people conducted by SaveOnEnergy.com 61 per cent of them said they did not know what these green logos found on everyday store packages meant.

“It is staggering that only in two of five knew the answers,” said Midlands energy Ron Fox.

So, for fun Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science and Innovation Park, asked his readers to see how many they knew before looking at the answers below.

1. The ‘Tidy man” – Reminder to throw away your waste properly by putting it in a bin. Even though this symbol first appeared in the 1960s as part of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign more than a quarter of the people quizzed didn’t recognise it.
2. Mobius loop – Products can be recycled, but it doesn’t mean they have been recycled before.
3. Check locally – This is recycled by 20-75 per cent of local authorities in the UK, so 51 per cent of people did not understand that they should check that their council did recycle this item.
4. Compostable – This must be put in a garden waste bin and not in a normal recycling bin, but 63 per cent of those asked didn’t know that.
5. Widely recycled – This is recycled by more than 75 per cent of local authorities, but 68 per cent didn’t understand that there may be conditions for it to be reused, such as rinsing the packaging out, or removing the sleeve or lid.
6. Plastics – 79 per cent of those polled didn’t know that this triangular logo tells customers what kind of plastic a product is made from, to help them understand how to recycle it. PET is short for Polyethylene Terephthalate, which is widely recycled.
7. FSC – Also 79 per cent did not realise that FSC means the Forest Stewardship Council and that the product has been made from wood which has been sourced from a responsibly-managed forest.
8. The Green – 83 per cent didn’t recognise that this wavy green arrow symbol meant that manufacturers had made a financial contribution towards the recovery and recycling of packaging in Europe.
9. Aluminium – This is the one that confused the public most with 88 per cent of people not knowing that this logo on products, such as soft drinks, beer cans and deodorants or foil, shows it is made from recyclable aluminium.

“It is good news how far we are now helping our environment by cutting back the amount of our plastic and our waste,” concluded Ron, “but maybe this poll shows we are adding to the confusion for consumers.

“Perhaps a lot more education is needed by the government and the retail sector to get this important message and maybe we should start the teaching in schools so we can live in a better and sustainable planet.”

For more details about green energy and recycling call Ron on 01782 756995.