Recycling

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Why should we recycle?

We don't recycle just for the sake of it! For recycling to be an effective way of dealing with waste, there has to be a suitable end market for the things being recycled, and the costs (in terms of money and environmental impact) of recycling need to outway the costs of usual waste treatment methods.

Recycling:

can save valuable raw materials and natural resources.
can mean less pollution
can help reduce the amount of rubbish being buried in landfill

Household Waste Recycling Act 2003

The Act requires all Local Authorities in England to provide a kerbside collection of at least two recyclable materials from all households by 31st December 2010 unless the cost of doing so would be unreasonably high or comparable alternative arrangements are available.

Where can I recycle in Worcestershire?

There are nine Household Waste Sites which incorporate recycling facilities
There are many local 'Bring Sites' throughout the county - contact your District Council for your nearest facility or use the Recycle More website to locate banks near you
Many households receive a kerbside collection of recyclables - contact your Disctict Council for more information
There are plenty of charity shops that will happily take good quality clothing, books, records, toys and furniture

What can I put in my kerbside recycling bags, bins or boxes?

It depends on where you live. See our Kerbside Pages for full details of what you can and cannot put in your recycling collections

Why can't I recycle yoghurt pots and other plastic food containers?

In gerneral, these kind of items are difficult to recycle cost effectively. There are no local recycling companies that can process the plastics these items are made from. Although some are made from the same plastic as the bottles we currently recycle, it is difficult to tell which ones these are and we do not have an automatic way of sorting them at present.

What can I recycle at Household Waste Sites and Bring Sites?

Please be aware that NONE of the waste thrown into the 'General Waste Skips' at our Household Waste Sites get recycled, and most of it ends up in landfill. Please put as much of your rubbish in the recycling skips as you can, even a handful of paper can make a difference.

Not all facilities are available at all sites - please call us on 01905 768257 to check if a specific facility is available at a site you wish to visit.

Paper Banks:

Newspapers
Magazines
Books
Brochures
Junk Mail
Birthday Cards
Envelopes (even ones with the plastic windows)
Thin Cardboard (such as cereal boxes)
Telephone Directories
Calendars
Shredded Paper
NOT books if they could be put in a book-bank or taken to a charity shop.
NOT heavy or corregated cardboard if there is a dedicated cardboard skip at the site, unless that skip is full.
DON'T put bank statements, credit card statements or other personal information in paper banks UNLESS they have been shredded.

Cardboard Skip:

Corrugated Cardboard Boxes
Heavy Duty Cardboard

Please note, boxes should be flattened and put into the skips marked for Cardboard, where available. If not available or full, you can put these things in a paper bank.

Glass Banks

Glass Bottles
Glass Jars
NOT Pyrex or other cooking type glass
NOT Window Glass
NOT Car Windscreens / window glass
NOT lightbulbs
NOT Car headlights

Can Banks

Aluminium and Steel cans
Drinks Cans
Food Cans
Aerosol Cans
Aluminium foil
NOT foil lined plastic pet food packets or crisp packets
NOT spray paint tins

Mixed Can and Plastic Bottle Banks

Plastic milk bottles
Plastic drinks bottles except black or brown
Plastic washing up liquid and household cleaner bottlesexcept black or brown
Metal cans as listed on the Can Bank List
NOT black or brown plastic bottles
NOT yoghurt pots
NOT ready meal, microwave and other food trays
NOT plastic toys
NOT plastic wrap, bags or film
NOT fruit punnets, flower pots or other plastic boxes

Shoe, Textile and Book Banks

ONLY clean, good quality items that can be re-used
Re-useable Clothing
Wearable Shoes in pairs
Blankets
Pillow cases, duvet covers and sheets
hard and softback books in good condition
NOT magazines (use the paper banks)
NOT handbags
NOT curtains
NOT underwear, tights etc.
NOT duvets, quilts or pillows

Oil Sumps

Used motor oil ONLY
NOT cooking or vegetable oils or animal fats
NOT petrol, diesel or other fuels

Gas Bottles

LPG gas bottles
Compressed gas bottles
Carbon Dioxide, Oxy-Acetelene, Oxygen bottles
Fire Extinguishers
Other Pressurised vessels

Chemical Cabinets

Small quantities of household chemicals
Paint and thinners
Petrol and other fuels
Creosote and similar preservatives

Battery Bins

Car Batteries
Household Batteries

Fluorescent Tubes

Household fluorescent light tubes

Green Waste Skips

Garden Waste
Lawn Cuttings
Hedge Trimmings
Small Branches (up to 4" in diameter)
NOT bags or containers you brought the waste in!
NOT soil, rocks, stones or other non living material
NOT garden furniture, fencing or garden implements
Even better... Compost your garden waste at home. You can buy a subsidised compost bin through our Compost Bin Scheme
In some areas we offer a home wood chipping service

Wood Skips (painted or treated wood IS acceptable)

Planks
Fence posts and panels
Large Branches
Boards
Furniture
Picture Frames
Tables
Wardrobes
Offcuts
MDF
Unglazed wooden window frames
Plywood
Unglazed wooden doors
NOT glazed or part glazed doors

Scrap Metal Skips

Household goods with a HIGH metal content
Washing Machines
Tumble Driers
Metal Lawn Mowers
Pipes
Microwaves
Climbing Frames
Old Bikes
NOT Fridges and Freezers
NOT Vacuum Cleaners
NOT Computer Monitors, TV's etc

General Waste

ONLY Items and rubbish that cannot be recycled
NOT things that can go into other skips on the site
NOT Fridges and Freezers
NOT Computer Monitors
NOT Fluorescent light tubes
NOT TV's
NOT Wheels and tyres

Asbestos

Small quantities of cement bonded asbestos pipe or sheet- BAGGED UP
NOT loose, unbagged asbestos
NOT unbonded asbestos, insulation or fibrous asbestos
NOTES: We can only accept cement bonded asbestos. All other types require specialist disposal. If in doubt, contact a specialist asbestos removal company. Asbestos must be double bagged in strong plastic bags. Ask our site staff for directions, but please be aware, site staff CANNOT physically help you with this waste.

Fridges and Freezers

Working or broken fridges, freezers and fridge freezers

Televisions and Computer Monitors

Working or broken TV's and Computer Monitors
NOT video recorders

Page Information:
Last modification: 09:05:31, 17th February, 2006 by
Review date: 17th May, 2006

Worcestershire County Council