E146 - Are effervescent tablet tubes recyclable?

Are effervescent tablet tubes recyclable? To our surprise there were beads hidden in the lid. Those little silica beads are there to keep moisture out. The good news is that, according to recycling experts, the silica desiccant is compatible with polypropylene (PP) recycling and separates during processing. That means the tubes can be recycled as normal — definitely not rubbish.

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 72 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 11th December 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance ch...