Does your council recycle plastics?

Question

If "yes", which council and what sorts of plastic?
Does it go with the normal recycle bin collection?

Answer 1

London Borough of Bromley gives us a bin with two sections, one side for plastic drinks and detergent bottles and the other side for tins and glass jars. When the dustmen empty these recycling bins, they tip the whole lot back in together.

Bromley was given a very large government award last year for good waste recycling percentage results (30%) which they ploughed back into the site and they're testing sorting machines with a view to buying one for £100K.

They send us news letters telling us where all the recycled waste is sent for processing. Our plastics are sent to a local plant and used for household products.

If we fail to recycle in this way, they will charge us for our collections. They collect once a fortnight on the same day as the general waste which is taken weekly but there's now less of that of course.

I get the impression they're working towards a fortnightly collection in the future.

Answer 2

all councils differ but quite a few do offer the service now.

Mostly, councils only collect plastic bottles that are rinsed out and have the lid removed. There are few other plastics that are recyclable due to the different polymers that make the plastic. The commonly recuyclable plastics are number 1, 2 or 3 which can be found genrally in a triangle on the bottom of the package.

If you are unsure about your area, phone your council or visit their website for more information of what services are available to you.

Answer 3

Mine does (Trowbridge) - or sort of.

We take plastic to the recycling depot where it is put in a container that rips it up and compresses it.

However, the other week, the machine was jammed, so the answer to "where should I put the plastic?" was - " Just put it all in with the normal refuse".

Now I've got them by the short and curlies if the council ever tries to fine me for putting the wrong type of plastic in the wrong bin etc.

It's all just lip service. When the metal bins are full, the answer is the same " Just put it all in with the normal refuse".

Answer 4

Yes. We have a black box for tins, bottles and plastic bottles, all of which require rinsing before being placed in the box. We have water restrictions here and I must waste at least a litre of water for each milk bottle.

Plastic lids cannot be recycled and the plastic that supermarket meats come in are not deemed recyclable. Neither are used supermarket bags.

Yes, we recycle but I understand that our waste gets shipped to china or some other country to recycle - all in the name of being green.

I don't object to recycling, but when we have to ship it to another country using carbon emitting ships, and then not get the benefit of our recycling efforts I think that is a bit harsh. Why are we being forced into this?

Answer 5

Yes. It recycles plastic water bottles. They go in the recycling bin

Answer 6

no, I live in Bristol, UK, and although the recycling system here is better than anywhere else I've lived before, they don't want plastic at all.
To recycle it, we need to take it ourselves to the recycling point, miles away from my house, and I don't drive, so unfortunately, all the milk bottles, cleaning products, drinks, etc.. it all goes in the bin

Answer 7

In N E Derbyshire we don't have a kerbside collection but there are recycling centres to dump plastic bottles.

Answer 8

Nope. Ayrshire council. We have a black box for glass and tins, a blue wheelie bin for paper and cardboard, a brown wheelie bin for garden waste and a green wheelie bin for normal rubbish but none for plastics.

Answer 9

Yes and it goes in a plastics only bin.

Answer 10

Hackney council.
My friend also lives in Hackney and they take plastic bottles in her green box, but I have to take them to a recycling bin