Aédén Rooney, a 21-year-old Cardiff University student, pops his empty BuzzBallz into the recycling bin without a second thought. “It’s plastic and metal, so I’d just assume it’s recyclable,” he said. But the bright, pre-mixed cocktail that has taken Gen Z by storm is far from eco-friendly — despite the company promising otherwise.
Global environmental body WRAP says BuzzBallz cannot be recycled in the UK because the PET plastic ball and aluminium lid are fused together. “No local authorities will accept these at the kerbside,” said Adam Herriott, WRAP’s head of packaging. “They’re a mix of two very recyclable materials that put together makes an unrecyclable format.” He warned that if the balls end up at a sorting facility, they “could contaminate the plastic stream” and damage recycling machinery.
“BuzzBallz cannot be recycled in the UK despite company claims, WRAP says, sparking greenwashing row.”
Rooney, who drinks two to three BuzzBallz a week during term time, called the company’s claims “greenwashing” and said he was “shocked”. The brand, named the fastest-growing alcohol brand in The Grocer’s Britain’s Biggest Alcohol Brands 2026 ranking, had marketed itself as recyclable. Its now-deleted UK FAQ stated: “Yes, our packaging is recyclable. Please recycle your empties where local facilities allow.” But no local facilities in the UK accept them, according to WRAP.
The company, founded by teacher Merrilee Kick and bought by Sazerac Company in 2024, also touted a partnership with TerraCycle — a scheme that only operates in the United States. Its UK mission statement, deleted after the BBC contacted the company, declared it “loves our planet as much as we love a good cocktail”. BuzzBallz blamed a website error for the TerraCycle claim and declined to comment on the deleted FAQ.
Rooney said the cocktails are popular because they are “strong, they’re cheap for the amount of alcohol and the price you’re paying — it’s a no brainer”. But Herriott underscored the environmental cost: “Plastic is a finite resource, and it’s traditionally from a fossil-derived product as well, it comes from oil.” With BuzzBallz sales soaring, the question remains how many of those plastic-and-metal balls will end up contaminating the recycling stream.