Where recyclables go
Where do my recyclables go?
The following list incorporates materials that are collected at the Civic Amenity and Recycling Centre and on the Recycle from Home scheme.
Go to the black box material destination page for more detailed information about what happens to the recycling collected in your black box through the Recycle from Home scheme.
Aerosols
Are made into new cans – saving energy and resources
Batteries – car and household
Batteries are shredded and recycled into separate materials- metal and plastic. The water and acid are treated and gypsum salt is extracted to be reused.
Bicycles
Bicycles are collected by businesses and the ‘Recycle’ Charity, where they are sent to Africa and re-used .
Books
‘Oxfam’ collects the books for sale in their shops
Building materials
Hardcore is put through a screening process and recycled e.g. for road surfaces and foundations
Cans
Cans are recycled into new cans - saving energy and resources
Cardboard
Cardboard is recycled to make new cardboard
Clothes
Re-used in developing countries or recycled as mops/ dusters/ industrial wiping cloths
Computer and home office equipment
Are collected by organisations for reuse and recycling
Curtains
Re-used in developing countries or recycled as mops/ dusters/ industrial wiping cloths
Domestic appliances
Are collected by businesses for reuse and recycling
Electrical goods
Are collected by businesses for re-use and recycling
Engine oil and filters
The containers are sent for shredding and the oil is reclaimed, cleaned and recycled. The filter metal is recycled
Foil
Foil collected is used to make recycled foil - saving energy and resources
Fridges and freezers
Ozone depleting substances are extracted from the fridge components and the metal is sent for recycling
Furniture
Furniture is collected by the charity, Restore Community Projects, where the furniture is re-used by people on low incomes
Glass
Sent to British Glass for recycling
Gas bottles
Collected by specialist gas bottle collectors and re-used or recycled as scrap metal
Green garden waste
Sent for composting
Hardcore
Materials are put through a screening process and recycled e.g. for road surfaces and foundations. Some materials are sold back to construction companies
Junk mail
Recycled into newsprint
Light bulbs
The tube lightings are separated down into glass / metal / mercury for recycling (only energy efficient light bulbs and fluorescent tubes can be recycled)
Magazines
Recycled into newsprint
Metal
Recycled into new metal products
Mobile phones
Collected by businesses and sent to developing countries
Newspapers
Recycled into newsprint
Paint
Paints are collected and re-used by community groups in and outside the Borough. Waste paint is disposed of by specialist contractors
Paper
Recycled into newsprint
Plastics
Recycled into various plastic products
Printer and toner cartridges
Recycled/ refilled/ sold as recycled cartridges
Shoes
Re-used in the developing world
Sports equipment
Re-used via Sport England – community groups can ask for sports equipment, or equipment is recycled as scrap metal
Textiles
Re-used in developing countries or recycled as mops/ dusters/ industrial wiping cloths
Timber offcuts
Chipped and recycled as composite wood products
Tools
Collected by ‘Work Aid’ a charity that sends the tools to East African farms and rural projects
Wood
Chipped and recycled as composite wood products
Yellow Pages
Recycled via the Directory Recycling Project and turned into things like animal bedding.
