Simply look up the material you wish to recycle or dispose of and you should find all the information you need.

Visit Resources and Information for further information.

See What Can I Put In My Bins? for general information on what you can put in your bins.

If you can't find what you're looking for then get in touch at recycling@rother.gov.uk

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Aerosols
Recycle empty aerosols in your Black Box (or pink bag) or at the Recycling Points.
Please ensure they're empty; do not pierce, crush or flatten before recycling.

Aluminium cans
See cans.

Aluminium foil
Aluminium foil, metal food trays and milk bottle tops cannot currently be recycled by our reprocessor - sorry!

Asbestos
Asbestos is a hazardous material, whose fibres pose a real danger to health.
Asbestos materials in good condition are safe unless asbestos fibres become airborne, which happens when materials are damaged.
It is vital that care should be taken when handling, removing or disposing of asbestos.
There are facilities at Hastings and Eastbourne HWRS ('tips') for the disposal of limited quantities of asbestos.
Visit the HWRS web site for details, and call them before you make the journey.

Appliances
See electrical goods.

Autumn leaves
Don't burn leaves, as they produce highly carcinogenic smoke.
You can put wet leaves in a plastic bag, stab a fork in to make some holes, and a year later you'll have great leaf mulch to spread around your garden.
Alternatively you can put leaves in the Garden Waste Bin and we'll compost them for you.

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B

Baby goods
Baby clothes and equipment that are in good condition can be given to friends and family members or donated to charity shops.
See also children's toys.

Bags
See plastic bags.

Batteries
Household batteries may be taken to the recycling bins at your local electrical wholesaler; most shops selling large quantities of batteries must provide a recycling facility.
We also have recycling bins in the reception of our help points - see bottom of our departments page.
Rechargeable batteries last longer than single use batteries, and are better for the environment. See also car batteries.

Bicycles
Second hand bicycle shops may be interested in purchasing the bicycle, or you could donate them for reuse. If your bike is beyond repair, you can recycle the metal parts. Take your bicycle to one of the HWRS 

Bin liners
You can now buy biodegradable or recycled bin liners in most supermarkets, which is better than using other plastic bags that take up to 1,000 years to decompose.
But it's better to reuse any plastic bags as bin liners, instead of throwing them away or buying new ones.
See also plastic bags.

Biscuit tins
They can be reused for storing homemade cakes and treats.
Recycle metal biscuit tins in your Black Box (or pink bag) or at the Recycling Points.

Books
Books in good condition can be sold to second hand book shops or donated to libraries, charity shops, local surgery waiting rooms, or retirement homes.
We also have book recycling bins at many of our Recycling Points.
If your books are not in a good enough condition to be reused you can put them (no hard covers please) in your Green box (or blue bag).

Bottles
See glass bottles or plastic bottles.

Bric-a-brac
Take unwanted items or bric-a-brac to local charity shops or sell them at car boot sales.
Local scout or guide groups may also like to receive such items for their fund raising jumble sales.

Bubble wrap
Bubble wrap cannot be recycled, but it can be easily reused to wrap up valuables which are going in storage or being posted. If you can't reuse it, put it in your normal rubbish bin.

Building waste
See rubble.

Business waste
Find out how to manage your Business Waste here

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C

Cans
You can recycle cans in your Black Box (or pink bag) or take them to the local Recycling Points.
Find out what happens to your recycling once it is collected from your kerbside.

Car batteries
You can take car batteries to a HWRS .

Cardboard
You can put cardboard in your Garden Waste Bin (or pink bag).
The card must be flat (break at the seams to flatten).
There must be no traces of food waste.

Cards (birthday, greeting etc)
You can recycle most cards in your Green box (or blue bag). Avoid cards with plastic or glitter.
Many charity shops accept cards for recycling.
You can reuse cards by turning them into gift tags for presents.
See also Christmas cards.

Carpets
Carpets are difficult to recycle because they are made from a mixture of fibres.
You can donate your carpets to charity shops, community groups, friends or family.
If you have new carpets fitted, the carpet company must take away the old carpet; we will not accept that waste.
If unfitted carpets or rugs can't be reused, you can arrange a Special (Bulky) Collection, or take it to the the Recycling Points.

Cartons
See Tetra Pak.

Catalogues
Recycle catalogues in your Green box (or blue bag).
Tear off any hardback covers and put them with your card in the Garden Waste Bin (or pink bag).

CDs
Old CDs can be donated to charity shops.
If this is not an option they can go in the black rubbish bin.

Cereal boxes
See cardboard.

Children's toys
You can't recycle toys but you can donate them to a local charity shop.
Alternatively, use Freecycle or Freegle.
See also baby goods.

China plates & ornaments
Most charity shops welcome unbroken items for reuse.
Ceramics are not recyclable, and if you can't find a re-use for them, please place them in the black rubbish bin.

Christmas cards and paper
Old cards and paper can be reused for making present tags or paper chains.
Donate your cards to The Woodland Trust or other charity card recycling schemes.
Alternatively, if they are free of glitter or plastic they can be recycled in the Green box (or blue bag).

Christmas trees
You can put your tree - chopped up - in your Garden Waste Bin for composting.
Alternatively you can take your tree to the Recycling Points (limited time - see News page) or to the  HWRS. 
Trees left beside your containers will not be collected.

Cling film
Cling film cannot be recycled and must therefore go in the black rubbish bin.
You can reduce the amount of cling film you use by storing sandwiches and food in resealable containers.

Clinical waste
For details, click here for Clinical Waste Collections.

Clothes
Charity shops welcome clean, dry, good quality items.
Worn clothes could be used as cleaning cloths.
Alternatively there are a number of textile banks at one of the Recycling Points across the district.
If have a lot of clothes and textiles for recycling (e.g. clearing out a house), some house clearance companies may come and collect them for free.

Coins
Most charities have a scheme where you can donate with unwanted foreign currency.

Commercial Waste
Find out how to manage your commercial and Business Waste here.

Composting
Home composting can be easy and very satisfying and productive; for more information please click Composting

Computers
You may be able to recycle your computers - put 'Computer Recycling' in your computer's search engine (Google etc) to find a host of charities who may be able to use your old machine.
Try this site as well - Computer Recycling
Alternatively, we can make a Special (Bulky) Collectionor you can take it to the  HWRS .
In both of these cases, the computer parts will be salvaged for reprocessing at a specialist WEEE depot

Confidential waste
The best way to deal with confidential documents is to shred them and put them in your home compost bin.
You can also scrunch shredded paper into a ball and wrap a sheet of newspaper around it, or put it in a paper bag to keep it all together, and place it in your Green box (or blue bag).

Cooked meat
Cooked meat can be put in a food composter or a wormery. ClickCompostingfor details of how to buy one

Cooking oil
Please do not pour waste oil down the drain, even with washing up liquid, because the oil will solidify in the sewers and cause huge problems with rats, odour and blockages.
Try to use only the correct amount you need, and mop up any excess oil/fat with a piece of bread and put it out for the birds.
If you have large quantities, take it to the HWRS for recycling; failing that, allow the oil to solidify and then transfer to an old tin and put it in your general rubbish.

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D

Disposable nappies
See nappies.

Duvets and pillows
If these are clean and in good condition, charity shops will take them.
Homeless units, pet rescue centres, local thrift stores will also be interested in re-using them.
Freecycle and Freegle can be used.
The items themselves, or the filling, can be very useful for insulation.

DVDs and videos
If you have unwanted films at home, you can donate them to a charity shop, or sell them at a jumble sale or online. Alternatively, because they are not recyclable, they can go in your black wheelie bin (rubbish).

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E

Egg cartons
Cardboard egg boxes can be torn up and added to your garden composter or they can be recycled in your Garden Waste Bin (or pink bag).
Plastic egg boxes can't be recycled - please put them in your rubbish bin.

Egg shells
You can add these to your home composter. To read more about composting at home, and for links on where to buy a composter, clickComposting.
Please do not put egg shells in your garden waste bin; anything associated with animal products is strictly forbidden in this bin.

Elastic bands
Rubber elastic bands can't be recycled.
Please reuse them but if they're broken you can put them in your refuse bin.

Electrical goods
Electronic and electrical equipment must be disposed of separately to general waste.
You can dispose of your electrical goods at a  HWRS , or you can arrange for a Special (Bulky) Collection.
Find out more about the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive - click WEEE

Envelopes
If you can't reuse old envelopes, recycle the white ones in your Green box (or blue bag).
Brown envelopes can be put in the Garden Waste Bin.
Please try to remove plastic windows, but stamps are OK.

Engine oil
Don't put oil down drains because it can cause considerable environmental damage if it leaks into watercourses and/or groundwater.
If oil is released into the water it will kill most animal and plant life by removing the oxygen.
Oil can be taken to a HWRS where it is sent for refining and re-use

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F

Fabrics
Old fabric can be recycled at one of the many textile banks at our Recycling Points across the district.

Fat
Animal fat should not be poured down the drain as it causes blockages.
A good idea is to mix it with bird seed and leave it to solidify. You can then put it out on your windowsill or hang it from a tree and feed the birds in the winter.
Alternatively you can seal it in a container and put it out with your normal rubbish.

Faxes
To reduce unwanted marketing faxes, register with the Fax Preference Service. Click FPS online.
Recycle any you do get in your Green box (or blue bag).

Fluorescent tube lights
Fluorescent strip lights are more efficient than ordinary bulbs because they use electricity to produce light instead of heat. They last 810 times longer and use 7580% less energy. However, fluorescent lighting contains potentially harmful substances like mercury, cadmium and lead that can cause damage to the brain, liver and kidneys if they enter the body.
The best place for their disposal is the HWRS; we'll take them and ensure they're disposed of in the safest possible way.
For householders, however, it's not illegal to put 1 or 2 in your rubbish bin, but please ensure that they're wrapped and present no risk to the dustman.
We would much prefer, however, that you try to dispose of them at the HWRS. 

See also light bulbs.

Foil
See aluminium foil.

Food
We'd like you not to have any food waste at all - click 'Love Food Hate Waste' for lots of ideas and advice
You can recycle some food at home, in a food compost bin or wormery; for information, and how to order one, click Composting.

Freezers and fridges
Fridges and freezers are classified as hazardous waste and must be disposed of carefully and responsibly.
You can take them to a HWRS or arrange a Special (Bulky) Collection.

Fruit & vegetables
If you grow your own, waste fruit and veg from the garden can be put in the garden waste bin.
However, once they've been in the kitchen, the law prevents us from accepting waste fruit, veg and peelings in the garden bin; you can, however, compost them in your own home compost bin or wormery - click Composting for information

Furniture
There are lots of companies who will take old furniture for reusing and recycling.
See our page on re-use - Don't bin it - Re-use and avoiding Waste.
You can also donate furniture to charity shops and second-hand shops.
Alternatively, you could arrange a Special (Bulky) Collection or dispose of your furniture at a HWRS. 

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G

Garden chemicals
Garden chemicals are hazardous household waste and must be disposed of carefully.
If you have unwanted garden chemicals, please take them to a HWRS and ensure they are identified to the staff there as hazardous waste.
Never be tempted to pour either diluted or undiluted chemicals down the drain. This can seriously affect the treatment of water at the sewage plant.

Garden waste
You can either compost your garden waste at home - click here for Composting........
...........or put it in your Garden Waste Bin, or take it to a HWRS. 

Gas cylinders
You can recycle gas cylinders at one of the HWRS. 
We would remind you that most larger gas cylinders carry the stamp 'Property of xxxxxx' and should be returned to the shop where you bought them.

Gift wrap
See wrapping paper.

Glass bottles and jars
You can recycle glass bottles and jars at Recycling Points.
You don't need to remove the labels as they do not affect the recycling process. It doesn't matter if the glass items are broken, but please don't wrap or bag them.
Other glass items - pyrex/glasses/ sheet glass contain high levels of additives, and are not suitable for recycling; please put them in the rubbish bin, or take them to the HWRS. 

Glasses
See spectacles

Grass trimmings
These can be composted at home - see composting - or in your garden waste bin. If you have an excess, you may take them to the HWRS. 

Greeting cards
See cards.

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H

Hangers
Coat hangers can be reused over and over again. Take metal hangers back to the dry cleaners to be reused rather than throwing them away.
Ask local charity shops if they need spare hangers for displaying clothes.

Houseplants
If houseplants outgrow your home, give them to a local retirement home or community centre, or you may know a local business that would like them.
Plants are often welcome donations for local village fairs, school fairs, or jumble sales.
If you can't find a new home for it, you can chop it up and home compost it, or have it collected in the Garden Waste Bin.

Household chemicals
Some disinfectants are corrosive and a skin irritant; others are flammable. Always follow the manufacturers' instructions.
Plastic bottles such as bleach bottles can be recycled in your Black Box (or pink bag).
Only throw away EMPTY containers.

Household rubbish
Over 50% of your household rubbish can be recycled. Please make sure you only put items into your refuse bin that cannot be recycled.
For details of the recycling services in Rother, please look at our Overview of the Service.

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I

Inkjet cartridges
Many charities and organisations will take your used printer cartridges and refill them. They are then resold.
Find out more details about inkjet cartridge recycling here - Printer Cartridge Recycling.

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J

Jars
See glass bottles and jars.

Jar lids
Jar lids can be recycled in your Black Box (or pink bag).
Please make sure that they are separated from the glass jar first so that both parts can be recycled separately.

Juice cartons
See Tetra Pak.

Junk mail
See mail.

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K

Kitchen towels
You can now buy recycled kitchen towel from supermarkets.
Better still; use cotton dish cloths, which can be reused.

Paper kitchen towels cannot be recycled; if you do use paper kitchen towels, small quantities of these can be placed into your home compost bin. (Do not put them in the garden waste bin). However, do not place greasy kitchen towels in your compost bin, nor any that have been used with cleaning products.

Kitchen waste
See food
See fruit & vegetable peelings.
A lot of kitchen waste can be avoided with just a little forethought - please visit 'Love Food Hate Waste' for lots of help, ideas and guidance

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L

Labels
You don't have to remove the labels from tin, cans, bottles or jars.

Laser toner cartridges
Many charities and organisations will take your used printer cartridges. They are then refurbished and resold.
Find out more details about printer cartridge recycling - Printer Cartridge Recycling

Leaves
Don't burn leaves, as they produce highly carcinogenic smoke.
You can put wet leaves in a plastic bag, stab a fork in to make some holes, and a year later you'll have great leaf mulch to spread around your garden.
Alternatively you can put leaves in the Garden Waste Bin and we'll compost them for you.

Letters
You can recycle any paper letters in your Green box (or blue bag).

Light bulbs
'Old style' traditional light bulbs are not considered dangerous to the environment and can be placed in your rubbish bin. Light bulbs cannot be recycled because the type of glass they are made from is different and will contaminate the other glass recyclables.
Instead, try replacing your light bulbs with energy saving ones they last eight times longer, use a quarter of the energy and give the same brightness.

Low energy light bulbs and fluorescent tubes cannot be recycled.
The best place for their disposal is the HWRS; we'll take them and ensure they're disposed of in the safest possible way.
For householders, however, it's not illegal to put 1 or 2 in your rubbish bin, but please ensure that they're wrapped and present no risk to the dustman.
We would much prefer, however, that you try to dispose of them at the HWRS 

Loo rolls
See toilet paper.

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M

Magazines
Recycle any magazines in your Green box (or blue bag).

Mail
To reduce unwanted mail, register with the Mailing Preference Service.
You can also opt out of the Royal Mail door to door service.
Information on how to do this is here - Junk Mail

Margarine tubs
Margarine tubs can't be recycled but are great for storing food, instead of using cling film. If you can't reuse them please place them in your rubbish bin.

Mattresses
Mattresses can be taken to a HWRS or you can organise a Special (Bulky) Collection.

Medicine
You can take your unwanted medicines back to the chemist where you bought it.
Visit our Clinical Waste Collections pages for more information about our collection service for items of this kind.

Metal
Metal tins and cans can be recycled in your Black Box (or pink bag).
Scrap metal can be taken to one a HWRS. 

Microwaves
Microwaves can be taken to HWRS or you can organise a Special (Bulky) Collection.

Milk bottles
Plastic milk bottles can be recycled in your Black Box (or pink bag).
Please return any glass milk bottles to your milkman or to the shop you bought them from. They should not be put in the recycling banks - it's essential that they are reused by the dairies.

Mirrors
If they are intact and reusable try a local second hand furniture store or a charity shop. Alternatively use a site such as Freecycle or Freegle  to sell, swap or donate them online.
Mirror glass is not recyclable; if you need to dispose of it, take it to the HWRS or place in your rubbish bin (making sure that it's safe for the dustmen when they empty it)

Mobile phones
You can exchange your old phone for cash, gifts, or donate to a charity.
Try this site for more information - Mobile Phone Recycling.

Motor oil
See engine oil.

Music
See CDs.

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N

Nappies
Nappies can't be recycled and should be put in your refuse bin.
Eight million disposable nappies are thrown away every day.
They take a couple of hundred years to decompose.
Find out how to use cloth nappies and help the environment by visiting the 'GoReal' Nappy Web Site

Newspapers
These can be recycled in your Green box (or blue bag).

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O

Oil
See cooking oil.
See engine oil.

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P

Packaging
Most plastic packaging cannot be recycled and is sent to landfill. When you next go out shopping, make an active choice not to buy goods which have a lot of packaging (e.g. buy fruit and vegetables loose, don't put them in a plastic bag).
Delivery companies should take packaging away when they deliver; try to ensure they do.

Paint
Paint is hazardous waste and unfortunately we cannot recycle it. You can dispose of it correctly by sealing it tightly and taking it to the HWRS  (tip) for careful disposal in the hazardous waste containers.

Paper
All forms of white fibre paper can be recycled in your Green box (or blue bag).
This includes junk mail, letters, envelopes, birthday cards and office paper.
Try to avoid windows in envelopes and any other plastics.

Pet food
If your pet's food comes in a can, the container can be recycled.
Rinse it out and add it to your Black Box (or pink bag).

Pet litter
Pet litter cannot be recycled and should be put in your refuse bin.

Litter from herbivorous animals, such as rabbits, can be put in your home compost heap.
We cannot accept pet litter in the garden waste bin; since the resulting compost goes into agriculture, animal by-products legislation specifically forbids us to accept any item which may have been in contact with animals or meat.

Phone Books
All phones books can be recycled in your Green box (or blue bag).

Photographs
Please try to avoid placing photo paper in the recycling; it does contain a thin plastic layer.

Plastic
You can put all plastic bottles in your Black Box (or pink bag).
No other plastic can currently be recycled at the moment.
See also packaging.

Plastic bags
When you next go shopping, take some plastic bags with you or purchase a canvas bag to carry your shopping in. These are stronger and can be reused many times.
You can recycle your plastic bags at many supermarkets, and most offer reusable shopping bags to buy.
See also bin liners

Polystyrene packaging
This can't be recycled and should be put in your rubbish bin.
Try to buy new things with as little packaging as possible.
See packaging.

Polythene wrappers
Try to avoid buying polythene wrapped products; polythene wrapping can only go in your rubbish bin.

Postage stamps
See stamps

Printer cartridges
Many charities and organisations will take your used printer cartridges. They are then refurbished and resold.
Find out more details about inkjet cartridge recycling here - Printer Cartridge Recycling.

Pyrex glass
This can not be recycled as it can explode when heated up in the glass recycling furnace.
Dispose of Pyrex glass in your normal rubbish bin.

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Q

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R

Razor blades
Razor blades should be well wrapped up in a tissue or rag and placed in your rubbish bin.

Rubble
You can take up to 6 bags of your rubble and building waste to the HWRS. 

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S

Shop Smart
Try to avoid buying things which will only end up as rubbish: take a look here - Shop Smart

Shopping bags
See plastic bags.

Scrap metal
Scrap metals can be recycled.
Steel and aluminium are the world's most recyclable and recycled materials.
Metals such as copper and cast iron can be sold to scrap metal dealers & other metals can be taken to one of the HWRS. 

Shredded paper
See confidential waste.

Shoes
You can take pairs and single shoes to one of the textile banks at ourRecycling Points.

Spectacles & sunglasses
Old glasses in good condition can be donated for developing countries around the world. Ask your local optician if they collect them.
See also Glasses re-use

Stamps
You can, of course, put stamps with your letters in the Green box (or blue bag).
However, you probably have a local charity collecting stamps - ask around!
Or take a look at Stamps Re-use

Staples
It is fine for staples to be present in magazines, newspapers or any paper you put in your Green box (or blue bag) for recycling.
They are removed in the recycling sorting and cleaning processes.

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T

Takeaway food containers
These cannot be recycled but they can be reused. If you cannot use them again, put them in your rubbish bin.

Telephones
For mobile phones, seeMobiles
For cordless phones or other land line phones, there is no recycling. If your phone is being replaced by a contractor, he should take your old phone away.
If you are replacing the phone yourself, you should take the old one to the HWRS for safe disposal.

Telephone directories
See phonebooks.

Tetra Pak
You can take Tetra Pak cartons to a selection of ourRecycling Points.
We can't recycle cartons in the house collections; this is because they are made up of three different materials and need to be specially split and treated before recycling.

Timber and wood
These can be taken to a HWRS 

Toilet paper
Try to buy recycled paper.
When the roll is finished, you can put the cardboard roll in your Garden Waste Bin

Toys & games
Local doctors or dental surgeries may be grateful for unwanted toys in their waiting rooms. You could also speak to your local hospital, playgroups or charity shops. Toys and games could also be donated to a jumble sale.

Tyres
Waste tyres are not allowed to go to landfill. Most tyre repair centres dispose of used tyres.

Tools
Old tools may only need minor repairs for them to function again.
Try repairing them yourself, or if you no longer have a use for them there are a number of companies who will refurbish tools for resale.
Consult Yellow Pages for details.

TV monitors
See Electrical goods.
Your local hospitals, schools or playgroups may be grateful for working TV's.

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U

Umbrellas
Reuse unbroken umbrellas by donating them to your local charity shop or selling them at a jumble sale. If the umbrella is broken please place it in your rubbish bin.

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V

Vegetable peelings
Vegetable and fruit peel can be disposed of in your home compost bin. To order a home composter please visit.

Videos and DVDs
Old videos and DVDs can be donated to your local charity shop. If they are not in good enough condition they can go in your rubbish bin.

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W

Water filters
You can recycle your water filters at a local Robert Dyas store.

WEEE
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment; there are relatively new regulations which dictate that electrical equipment requires special disposal.
You can dispose of your electrical goods at a HWRS, or you can arrange for aSpecial (Bulky) Collection.

Find out more about the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive - WEEE

White goods
White goods are large domestic electrical appliances like cookers, washing machines, fridges and freezers. These can all be taken to a HWRS or removed as part of our Special (Bulky) CollectionService.

Wormeries
Worm composting is the process of using earthworms to break down kitchen and garden waste. A wormery not only produces top quality, fine compost, but it also generates concentrated liquid fertiliser. This can be used as a liquid feed (usually diluted with water) for outdoor and indoor plants.
You can buy wormeries; see our pages Composting

Wrapping paper
You can put your wrapping paper in your Green box (or blue bag).
Plasticised papers (those you can't tear) must be put in the rubbish bin.

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Y

Yellow Pages
You can put your yellow pages in your Green box (or blue bag).

Yogurt pots
Yogurt pots can't currently be recycled. Please put them in your refuse bin.

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Z

Zinc batteries
Batteries have zinc in them. See batteries for how you can recycle them.

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If the thing you want to recycle - or dispose of - isn't listed, drop us a line at

recycling@rother.gov.uk

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