Are plastic air fresheners recyclable?

A few weeks ago we talked about glass plug-in air fresheners, which raised another question: what about the plastic bathroom air fresheners? At first glance, you'd think they'd be recyclable, but they're actually a tricky one. The outer shell is hard plastic with a sealed pouch of liquid inside, and the manufacturer says the unit isn't recyclable because it would need to be taken apart. It's a great example of a product that could easily be redesigned as a reusable container with refill pouches instead of being treated as single use.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 89 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 9th April 2026.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

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