Waste collection frequently asked questions
- When are my rubbish and recycling collection days?
- Why don't you collect glass bottles or jars?
- What do I do with broken windows and other glass?
- Why don't you collect polystyrene?
- Can I put shredded paper in my recycling bin or bag?
- Why don't you collect Tetra Pak® for recycling?
- What do I do with used animal bedding?
- Where can I dispose of car batteries?
- Where can I recycle ordinary household batteries?
- Where can I recycle low energy lamps and fluorescent tubes?
- How do I order a new or another bin or bag?
When are my rubbish and recycling collection days?
Visit our find my collection day page to find out.
Why don't you collect glass bottles or jars?
Our materials recycling facility which separates out all the recycling materials at Chelson Meadow can't process glass. There can be problems with glass shards contaminating the paper. There are also health and safety problems with sorting glass at the materials recycling facility. We will continue reviewing this and may collect from the kerbside in the future. Please take your glass for recycling to one of our recycling centres or recycling banks.
What do I do with broken windows and other glass?
Flat glass should not go into a bottle bank, but you can take it to one of our recycling centres in a clearly labelled, sealed cardboard box. Staff on site will advise you where to dispose of it.
Why don't you collect polystyrene?
Polystyrene is not easy to sort through a materials recycling facility as it breaks down into small pieces and sticks to paper.
Can I put shredded paper in my recycling bin or bag?
Yes, but please contain the shredded paper within an envelope, as it can be difficult to handle at the reprocessing mill and depending on the equipment there, it can cause maintenance problems and fire hazards.
Also, please remember, you only need to shred the part of the document displaying confidential information. The rest of the paper can go in your green recycling bin.
You could also reuse shredded paper for small animal bedding, packing material, or put it in your home compost bin.
Why don't you collect Tetra Pak® for recycling?
There are no recycling plants for Tetra Pak in the UK and the transport costs to take the materials abroad would be too expensive.
What do I do with used animal bedding?
If it's from a vegetarian pet such as a rabbit or guinea pig, it can go in your home compost bin. If it's from a meat eater such as a dog or cat it should go double wrapped into your brown bin.
If you run a business or create a large quantity you will need a commercial collection. Please see our trade waste pages for details of the collection service we offer.
Where can I dispose of car batteries?
You can take car batteries to one of our recycling centres.
Where can I recycle ordinary household batteries?
Visit our recycling household batteries page for more information. Use rechargeable batteries wherever possible. You can take mobile phone batteries back to the mobile phone shop.
Where can I recycle low energy lamps and fluorescent tubes?
Both low energy lamps and fluorescent tubes can be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) at Weston Mill and Chelson Meadow. Low energy lamps can be recycled at some of our libraries and at Sainsbury’s Supermarket, Marsh Mills, Plymouth. Collection points can be found on the Recolight website.
Please note that both low energy lamps and fluorescent tubes contain small quantities of mercury. Please seek specialist advice if you break one in the home. Advice can be obtained from the manufacturer or from the internet.
How do I order a new or another bin or bag?
Please contact us and we will deliver a replacement.