Can plastic banknotes be recycled and does the Royal Mint do it?

Following the Queen’s death, there’ll be plenty of changes to many of our daily lives – changes both big and small.

From the adoption of Charles’ insignia replacing the ER symbol many have become familiar with on things like post boxes, to the eventual introduction of new money and stamps.

This means that a new portrait of Charles will be commissioned, from which millions of pounds worth of new currency will be printed and distributed across the UK.

While it will still take some time, here’s what we can expect to happen to notes featuring Queen Elizabeth II during the reign of Charles III….

Will plastic banknotes with the Queen be recycled?

The old currency featuring the Queen’s image will eventually be phased out, and there’s precedent to assume they will be replaced.

First of all, anything to do with bank notes will be dealt with by the Bank of England.

While the Royal Mint are associated with anything branded with images of the monarch, it is only responsible for the issue of the United Kingdom coins.

No portraiture has been decided on for Charles’ coins yet, but there are early suggestions as to what the Royal Mint’s new coins could look like.

The Bank of England, on the other hand, have dealt with the introduction of new notes in recent years.

When new polymer notes were introduced in 2016 – starting with the £5 note – and then included a new £20 polymer in 2020 and a £50 in 2021, the Bank of England explained what happens to paper and polymer notes being phased out.

They explain: ‘The Bank of England will fully segregate paper and polymer banknote waste. Old polymer notes are recyclable, and will be shredded and melted into pellets before being recycled into plastic items such as plant pots.’

However, for the time being, The Bank of England said notes featuring Queen Elizabeth II will still be considered legal money that can be exchanged, and that an additional announcement about the country’s existing notes will be made once the period of mourning has been observed.

‘As the first monarch to feature on Bank of England banknotes, the Queen’s iconic portraits are synonymous with some of the most important work we do,’ it continued.

However, this is likely to be a gradual process, meaning that currency featuring her image may well still be in circulation years after her death.

MORE : Full timeline of Queen Elizabeth II’s extraordinary life as she dies aged 96

MORE : First picture of King Charles on official duties – with Queen’s photo in the background

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