Your A-Z of Waste and Recycling
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z
NB: Please note that Bracknell Forest Council is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Aerosol Cans
You can place them in your kerbside recycling collection container (Blue Bin or Green Box). For your own safety do not squash or burn aerosol cans. Approximately 600 million aerosol cans are used in the UK every year, this equates to 36 aerosols per household, weighing a total of 30,000 tonnes.
There are foil banks at several recycling sites, including Tesco Martins Heron, Tesco Jigs Lane, Sainsburys Bagshot Road, Somerfields Crowthorne, Rugby Club in Lily Hill Road, Marks & Spencer Sandhurst and Larks Hill car park and Longshot Lane Civic Amenity site. The foil is collected and then flattened and made into large bales. Aluminium foil has a different composition to cans, and can be recycled for use in other areas such as car parts. Cans are usually only recycled into more cans so please remember to separate foil and cans when recycling. For more information visit the Alupro website
Small amounts of household asbestos such as a shed roof or pipes that you have removed yourself should be taken in bags to the Civic Amenity site at Longshot Lane, where you should report to the Weighbridge so that it can be disposed of safely.
You are advised to call the Weighbridge on 0800 9883023 before visiting the site to dispose of your asbestos to ensure that there is space in the hazardous containers.
If a builder or other trader has carried out works at your property and removed asbestos then they are responsible for disposing of it in the proper manner. Please ensure that your contractor is registered as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency and is authorised to carry hazardous materials.
Asbestos removed by a builder or trader cannot be accepted at the Longshot Lane site. For advice on removal and disposal of asbestos from commercial premises, contact the Environment Agency on 08707 506506, or for more information on asbestos and a list of British asbestos licence holders visit the Health and Safety Executive website.
Assistance with waste collection
Batteries (Car)
They can be taken to the Civic Amenity site, or to a garage, as 98% of a lead-acid (car) battery can be recycled. Car batteries can be harmful if not disposed of properly. Please go to the recyle now website for more information.
Batteries (Household)
From September 2008 all councils will need to introduce schemes for collecting batteries to comply with the EU Battery directive. Household batteries can be taken to Longshot Lane site. It is better to buy rechargeable batteries for home use. Also, try to buy environmentally friendly batteries that do not contain mercury. To read more about recycling and disposing of household batteries visit letsrecycle.com. In the UK, domestic batteries make up just 0.1% of household waste but still create a serious problem as their contents are highly toxic. For information on forthcoming legislation concerning battery recycling, visit the DEFRA website.
Bicycles
These can be taken to Longshot Lane, where they will be refurbished for reuse or visit www.re-buy-cycle.co.uk. or give them away.
Bin Cleaning Companies
Several bin cleaning companies operate in the Bracknell area. Please refer to Yellow Pages.
Blankets
The charity Feed the Children appreciates donations such as blankets towards their aid programmes. Visit www.feedthechildren.org.uk.
Books
Local charity shops, many of which are located in Bracknell Town Centre, will accept donations. Books in good condition may also be accepted by local libraries, or deposited in British Heart Foundation recycling banks at numerous local sites.
Bottle Tops
Bottle tops should be removed from all plastic bottles as the Council is not currently able to process them for recycling. Visit Reduce, Reuse, Recyle for more information.
Business Waste
All businesses have a legal duty of care to dispose of their waste responsibly. Business should not be placed in your household recycling or deposited at public recycling sites. Bracknell Forest Borough Council is working with its re3 partners to help businesses recycle more and reduce waste. If you require more information about business waste and recycling, please contact the Waste and Recycling Team on 01344 352000 or visit www.envirowise.gov.uk or www.netregs.gov.uk.
Buy Recycled
Always try to purchase goods and products that can be recycled, or concentrates such as washing up liquid and fabric conditioner. Buying recycled products such as kitchen roll or writing paper stimulates the market for recycled items, and will reduce the cost of recycled materials.
Cans
These should be washed, flattened and recycled in your curbside collection container. Recycling aluminium saves 95 per cent of the energy used in primary production and is a valuable resource. In the UK over 6 billion aluminium cans are used every year. For more information visit the Alupro website. Twelve billion steel cans are also used in the UK each year and they are easily recycled. Visit www.scrib.org.
Cardboard - see Paper/Card
Carpet
Please take to Longshot Lane or contact 01344 352000 for a bulky collection.
Carrier Bags
In Britain, shoppers use around 8 billion carrier bags a year, or 134 each, of which 52% are used again as small bin liners, although carrier bags that go to landfill can take hundreds of years to rot down. Some stores offer incentives such as discounts for re-using carrier bags, and charity shops may also find them useful. Most supermarkets offer 'bags for life' and incentives to reuse carrier bags. They also
Carton Recycling (juice, soups etc)
Tetrapack waxed cartons make up less than 1 per cent of waste and can be recycled. Carton recycling is relatively new in the UK. Bracknell Forest Borough Council is working with partners in Reading and Wokingham councils and Waste Recycling Group as part of the re3 waste disposal partnership to trial tetrapack banks in 2008.
Cartridges - see Toner Cartridges, Inkjet Cartridges
CDs
Please see our page on Recycling Sites for more information or donate to charity. Collectable CDs may also be sold via the web.
CD players - see Stereo Equipment
Charity Shops
You can take unwanted items that are in good condition to charity shops within the Borough. They will be happy to accept good quality clothing, shoes, furniture and bric-a-brac which they are able to sell on to raise money to support their charity. It is advisable to call the charity shop first to ensure that they are able to accept your items before you make the trip. Please do not dump goods outside the charity shops, as even items that are in very good condition can be ruined by vandals or bad weather and the charity shop then has to pay for the disposal of these items.
Small quantities of household chemicals, such as garden pesticides, can be disposed of at the Civic Amenity site at Longshot Lane where they should be handed to an operative. For more information about chemical disposal, look at the National Household Hazardous Waste Forum website.
Christmas Cards
These can be placed in your kerbside recycling container with paper and card however WH Smith, Marks & Spencers and Tesco will also accept old Christmas cards for recycling throughout January to raise money for the Woodland Trust to plant trees. Bracknell Forest residents have contributed to this by donating around 3-4 tonnes of cards each year.
Christmas trees
Christmas trees are collected from the kerbside, saving residents the trouble of taking them to Longhot Lane Civic Amenity site. There are no longer any Christmas tree recycling sites in the Borough.
Clothing - see Textiles
Commercial Waste - see Business Waste
Please check whether the item could be of use to someone else. Monitors are now regarded as hazardous waste and need to be disposed of at Longshot Lane where they will be sent for recycling of all components as far as possible. For a list of organisations and charities that may accept your second-hand computer equipment, visit the Envocare web page.
DIY
When working on their own homes, residents of the borough may take DIY waste to the Civic Amenity site free of charge. As far as possible this waste will be recycled.
Electrical Goods
Unwanted items can be taken to Longshot Lane Civic Amenity site for recycling. TVs and PCs can be recycled, but some parts are hazardous. Some electrical retailers will offer discounts or cash back in return for goods.
Engine oil from your own car can be taken to the Civic Amenity site for recycling. Please note it is illegal to pour motor oil down drains. This causes a serious pollution problem in rivers and seas; in fact it takes just 1 litre of oil to contaminate 700,000 litres of water. For advice on what to do with waste motor oil visit Oil Care.
Fire Extinguishers
Non-refillable extinguishers must be discharged before disposal. Unfortunately these cannot be accepted at the Civic Amenity site and should, if possible, be returned to a distributor for refilling or disposal. For advice on what to do with spent extinguishers contact the Fire Extinguishers Trade Association at their website.
Foil - see Aluminium Foil
Fridges/Freezers
Refrigerators and freezers can be taken to Longshot Lane Civic Amenity site, where they are bulked and sent to a modern fridge recycling plant where many of the components are recycled and CFCs are removed. You can contact the Council’s refuse contractor SITA on 01344 355283 who will make arrangements to collect as part of a bulk collection. The bulky household collection is a chargeable service with reduced rates for pensioners and people on income support.
Furniture
Some retailers will accept old items of furniture. Alternatively, the Council's contractor SITA operates a bulk collection service which incurs a charge. To find out more about the service contact SITA on 01344 355283. Furniture from this service will be reused if appropriate. Local charities may also collect furniture in reasonably good condition free of charge. Thames Hospicecare and Oxfam, both located on The Broadway in Bracknell Town Centre, will take furniture that is in a reasonable condition. There are also a number of organisations that can assist with disposal of furniture that is in a reasonable condition; Rag and Bone, Freecycle.
Garden Waste (see also - Compost, Green Waste)
The garden can be excellent for reducing waste. For instance, yoghurt pots and plastic cups make good pots for seedlings. Green waste can also be decomposed into fertile compost (see Compost) at home or at the Civic Amenity site. If your garden suffers from slugs, try not to use conventional slug pellets, as these can poison birds and pets. Polystyrene bedding plant trays can be reused, when broken up into chunks they provide excellent insulation and drainage for pots and window boxes.
Gas cylinders should be returned to the original supplier/manufacturer. If returned to the place of purchase, you may be able to exchange an empty bottle for a full one or money back. Remember that gas is highly flammable and potentially dangerous, and must always be handled with care. Unidentifiable gas canisters can be handed over by householders to an operative at Longshot Lane.
Glass
Take your glass bottles and jars (excluding Pyrex, vision ware, or window panes) to the nearest recycling site, and please take care not to mix colours, (although blue bottles can go in the green bank and if in doubt about the colour put in the green bank). Milk bottles can be returned to the dairy. Bracknell Forest Borough Council collects 1600 tonnes of glass for recycling. More information on recycling glass is available on the British Glass website. Recycling glass saves energy and resources. 315Kg of CO2 is saved for every tonne of recycled glass used. More information on recycling glass is available on the British Glass website.
This is for paper and card and a second box can be used by people that can not accommodate a blue bin for cans and plastic bottles. For more information see kerbside recycling.
Greetings Cards
These can be placed in mixed paper and card banks at most recycling sites. WH Smith and Tesco will also accept old Christmas cards for recycling throughout January to raise money for the Woodland Trust to plant trees. Bracknell Forest residents have contributed to this by donating over 2 tonnes of cards.
Hearing Aids
Unwanted and working hearing aids can be sent to Help The Aged to be cleaned and tested before being sent to India. Send your hearing aids to Hearing Aid Appeal, Help The Aged, FREEPOST CON13616.
Ice Cream Containers
These cannot be collected for recycling because they are made of an unsuitable type of plastic, but can be used in the garden as seed trays, or for general storage.
Inkjet Cartridges – also see Computers
The Red Cross runs an appeal to recycle used inkjet cartridges. These can either be donated at your local Tesco or send your Lexmark and Hewlett Packard inkjet cartridges to: Used Inkjet Appeal, Freepost NATE 223, Newmarket, CB8 7BR. Alternatively email freepost@redcross.org.uk to receive a supply of freepost envelopes. The Red Cross receives £1 for every recycled inkjet cartridge; other charities offer similar schemes, ie Oxfam. For further information go to www.redcross.org.uk/34968.
Junk Mail
Junk mail can be placed in your green box along with magazines and newspapers but no window envelopes please. You can stop junk by registering with the Mail Preference Service at this address:
Mail Preference Service
FREEPOST 22
London
W1E IE2
Or you can log on and register online at the Mail Preference Service website. Placing a notice on your door stating you do not wish to receive free items of mail may also help.
Kerbside Recycling Collection Scheme
Residents have a choice of a blue bin for cans and plastic bottles with a box for paper and card, or two boxes, one for each type of material.
Knitting
Why not reuse your old carrier bags and knit them into a handbag? For knitting patterns try: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/knitting/bag/shtml or you can buy them online at www.allthingsgreen.net.
Lighting/Lamps
98% of the materials in a fluorescent lamp can be recycled. Around 80 million fluorescent lamps are used in UK, which means 5 tonnes of mercury end up in landfill each year. Mercury is a dangerous substance, and in an attempt to reduce landfill, there are several companies that will recover and recycle potentially dangerous lamps and lighting, including Mercury Recycling Ltd and J and G Environmental Lampcare.
Litter
Please take your litter home with you and recycle as much of it as possible using your kerbside collection or recycling site.
Magazines and Newspapers
These can be placed, along with junk mail and paper, in your kerbside green box. If you have a number of magazines organisations with waiting rooms such as hospitals or dentists would welcome suitable reading material.
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones can be recycled as many components can be re-used, but they also contain hazardous materials that should be disposed of safely. Several charities collect mobile phones to generate income. Tesco collects phones on behalf of the British Red Cross and donates £5 for each working phone received. Oxfam also runs a similar scheme.
Nappies
The Council offers an incentive of £30 to parents willing to spend it on non-disposable nappies. To find out more see the real nappies section of our website.
Office Equipment (see also - Computers)
Computers and other electrical office items can be disposed of at the Civic Amenity site. If it is in reasonably good condition charities or local schools will also often accept second-hand office equipment. Computers can be donated to many charities that recycle and refurbish second-hand computers to help developing countries. For a list of organisations visit Envocare.
Oil (Motor) - see Engine Oil
Oil (Cooking)
Unfortunately, household cooking oil can no longer be recycled at the Civic Amenity site due to food scares in the past, but you can hand it over to staff in a sealed container.
Paint
In the UK over 300 millions litres of decorative paint is discarded every year. Try not to buy more paint than you need – the amount required for the room size is usually indicated on the tin. Try to save surplus paint for later use or retouching, or give it to someone you know who could use it. Organisations such as local charities, youth clubs or schools may also find spare paint useful.
Step Forward (tel: 01344 860660) is a local charity who run a social enterprise scheme, who will accept donations of new unused paint to decorate properties in need.
Paint taken to Longshot Lane Civic Amenity site will be separated for reuse if suitable. Please do not pour paint down the drain or into your green wheelie bin.
Most paint on sale now has a VOC rating on the label. This indicates the level of Volative Organic Compounds in the product, on rating of 'minimal' to 'very high'. Try to avoid paint with a high rating, and purchase more environmentally friendly products. For more information on natural paint products call Homebase on 0870 900 8098.
Mixed paper and card can be placed into your kerbside box or put in the mixed paper and card banks at most recycling sites in the borough. Around 12.7 million tonnes of paper waste is processed in the UK each year, of which only 40% was recycled. For a comprehensive guide to recycling paper and card visit the Environmental Information Exchange website.
Plastic Bottles
You can put cans and plastic bottles in your kerbside green box or blue bin, alternatively they can be put in your nearest mixed cans and plastics recycling bank. On average every household uses 373 plastic bottles each year, of which just 29 are recycled. A wide range of products including fleeces, garden furniture, window frames and fibre filling for duvets can be made from recycled plastic. For further information visit RECOUP, Recycle Now and WRAP. Plastic bottles are made into very useful products such as backpacks and fleeces.
Plastic Trays
Plastic trays and other moulded plastic packaging cannot be recycled at this time. However, they can be used for seed trays. The Council would very much like to be able to collect all different types of plastics but the UK industry for plastics reprocessing is relatively new and scarce. Currently processors in the UK will only accept plastic bottles for recycling. Until there is an industrial demand for reprocessing of trays, yoghurt pots and margarine tubs etc, residents only have the option of avoiding the purchase of food in trays or to re-use some of them. In the short term such material will have to be placed in the refuse bin.
Queues
Avoid the queues at Longshot Lane by using your green box collection service and kerbside garden waste collection.
Recycling Sites
The Council manages 36 recycling sites around the borough, mainly located at supermarkets, and local shops. A variety of items can be recycled at these sites including glass, textiles, card and papers, foil, cans and plastics, books and cards. Find your nearest recycling site.
Reduce - Reuse - Repair
Reduce your waste by re-using and repairing as much as possible.
Refill
Where available, try to use as many refills as possible. For instance, detergents, herbs and spices and cigarette lighters are all refillable.
Shoes
Place shoes in your nearest shoe bank, and please remember to tie pairs together. Odd shoes are not used and will go to landfill. 260 million pairs of shoes are purchased in the UK every year, the majority ending up in landfill. Charity shops in the Town Centre will also accept shoes in pairs and in relatively good condition. For more information visit the website for the European Recycling Company Ltd.
Spectacles
Old specs can be donated to charity via opticians to help people with eyesight difficulties in developing countries. You can donate these at most opticians including Vision Express. Contact Vision Aid Overseas on 01293 535016 or visit www.vao.org.uk to find out more.
Stamps
Stamps can be valuable to charities as they are sometimes able to sell them to dealers. Oxfam and RSPC collect stamps:
Steel Cans (see also - Aluminium Cans)
Steel food and drink cans can be placed in kerbside containers for collection every 2 weeks, or deposited at your nearest recycling site. Around 20,000 tonnes of steel cans are recycled in the UK every year. For more information and statistics visit the Corus web site.
Stereo Equipment
GreenHome Electronics is a local specialist company who refurbish stereo and hi-fi equipment for resale (turntables, amplifiers, CD and DVD players, cassette decks and other hi-fi).
Telephone Directories
These can be placed in your kerbside green box.
There are a large number of textile banks in the area. This helps people in need of clothing at home and abroad, as well as supplying the British textile industry. Clothing that is still suitable for use can be donated to charity shops in the Town Centre. Around 7.5 billion items of clothing are placed in UK bins every year, many of which still have 60% of their usage left. For more information on recycling textiles and clothing try the Salvation Army, Oxfam and Clothing Warehouse.
Toner cartridges from printers are both valuable and recyclable, yet 70% of all used cartridges currently end up in landfill. Many are collected by charities such as Scope and Actionaid Recycling. Reconditioned cartridges save up to 50% of the original cost, and can be recycled around 6 times.
Tools
There are non-profit organisations that will take your used hand tools (not garden tools). Tools For Self Reliance operates with governments in six African countries and provide refurbished tools and light machinery to aid poverty relief. Visit them on the web at www.tfsr.org for more information.
Toys
In good working order donate them to charity shops or your local toy library, church, playgroup or hospital. Please check what organisations need first. Or give toys to family, friends or neighbours.
Tyres
Over 38 million tyres are discarded in the UK each year. Discarded tyres can occur as fly tipping on garage forecourts, industrial estates or supermarket car parks. Please dispose of unwanted tyres in the proper manner. Most tyres are incinerated or end up in landfill, but they can be a useful source of energy. For more information visit the Dunlop website.
Underwear
If in good condition, charity shops will accept old underwear, don't be embarrassed - there is a shortage in some Third World countries. For further information see Reduce Reuse Recycle website
Vegetable Peelings
These can be used in home composting (see also - Compost).
Vinyl Records
Try taking them to your local specialist shop or charity shop.
Waste Minimisation
UK householders produce approximately 31 millions tonnes of waste each year. Bracknell Forest Borough produces 55,000 tonnes of waste every year. 60% of household waste could in fact be recycled or re-used, so start with your own home. Currently 35% of waste in Bracknell Forest is recycled. For more information see Recycle Now.
Wheeled Bins
The Council empties green wheelie bins for landfill waste for residents of the borough one week and blue wheelie bins for plastic bottles, food tins and drink cans and brown wheelie bins for garden waste the following week. These should be left with the lid closed at the nearest kerb or collection point by 6.30am on the morning of collection day. Excess landfill will not be collected for health and safety reasons, so try and reduce your waste by recycling and re-using as much as possible. The Council only issues one bin per property unless additional bins are authorised in special circumstances. Find out when your bin is collected. Assisted collection is provided by the Council for elderly or disabled residents. Remember that collection days alter in weeks with bank holidays, so remember to check your calendar. Further information on refuse collection is available.
Wood
Try to store and re-use wood. Unwanted wood can be taken to the Civic Amenity site at Longshot Lane. For more details on recycling wood and to find your nearest wood recycling site visit www.recyclewood.org.uk
eXcess Waste!
Please do not leave excess waste on the kerb next to the wheeled bin. The Council operates a closed lid policy to minimise litter. Placing waste on the kerb could in some cases be described as dumping - an illegal offence. A note will be left with a wheeled bin in cases of repeated cases, advising that in the future excess waste is left on the kerb, the wheeled bin may no longer be collected. Keep excess waste for the next week's collection or take it to the Civic Amenity site.
Yellow Pages
These can be placed in your green kerbside box.
Zinc
Zinc is a natural element that is used in more products than you might think. As zinc is 100% recoverable and therefore recyclable, be sure to dispose of your appliances, tyres, rubber goods, galvanised steel and die-cast parts in the correct manner.
Further Information
This guide introduces the main aspects of waste management and recycling, and it should be noted that the companies included are simply examples of specialist companies and are not guaranteed by the Council.
 |
Listen |  |
Feedback |  |
