P - Z of Recycling & Waste Reduction

Paper

Place in your red recycling bin/box.

Paint

Small amounts, from DIY work, can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre. Several charities also collect tins of usable surplus paint.

Pallets

Pallets, and any clean wood, can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre for recycling.

Plant Pots

Wash them out and keep them for reuse or give them to a gardener!

Plastic Bags

Try and avoid collecting them in the first place by re-using them or using a robust shopping bag. Many supermarkets run their own collection scheme in their stores. Please do not put them in your red recycling bin/box as they will not be recycled; will increase the cost of processing; and may cause good recyclable materials to be rejected.

Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles are the only kinds of household plastics that can currently be recycled. You can put any kind of plastic bottle into your red recycling bin/box including drinks bottles, cleaning bottles and toiletry bottles. Please rinse the bottles out and take the tops off (the tops can be put in your grey bin).

Plastics (other)

We know that many residents would like to recycle more types of plastic packaging as well as bottles, but there are a number of reasons why we haven’t introduced this yet.

While almost all plastics (other than bottles) used in the home are theoretically recyclable, there is no industrial processing available to us at present. The symbols moulded onto all plastic containers merely indicate what kind of plastic it is made from, not that it can actually be recycled, and plastics with the same symbol may in fact have different physical properties.

Markets do not exist for the recycling of all waste and as such there are some plastics for which an end market is not currently available to us in the UK.

So, try to avoid buying them and re-use wherever possible. Please do not put them in your red recycling bin/box as they will not be recycled; will increase the cost of processing; and may cause good recyclable materials to be rejected.

Printer/Ink/Toner Cartridges

Many charities accept these to raise funds. Also consider refilling your cartridges. Some retailers, such as Staples, offer a takeback service and even offer you a discount on new cartridges.

Records (vinyl)

Take to your local charity shop.

Shoes

Take to one of the textile or shoe banks found at local neighbourhood recycling sites or the Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Spectacles

Take to Smallmead Household Waste Recycling Centre. The spectacles are then passed on to the charity Vision Aid Overseas who use them to help people in developing countries with poor eyesight . Alternatively, your optician may collect spectacles for Vision Aid or you can mail your unwanted spectacles directly to Vision Aid, you will find their contact details under ’Spectacles’ in ’Contact This Service’ on the right hand side of this page.

Telephone Directories

Telephone directories and Yellow Pages can be placed in your red recycling bin/box.

Tetrapaks (Drink etc. cartons)

These can now be recycled through new banks at the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Smallmead (Island Road), Rivermead, Milestone Centre, Palmer Park and Tilehurst Triangle.

Tools

Tools for Self Reliance is a charity that refurbishes old hand tools and sewing machines, and sends them for re-use in the third world. For a local contact, visit their website, you will find a link at the bottom of this page. Powered tools can only be sold on by retailers if PAT (Portable Applicance Testing) tested, otherwise give them to someone who can use them, or take them to the Household Waste Recycling Centre for disposal.

Trees

Branches up to 100mm thick can be placed in your green garden waste bin. Anything larger than this should be cut up and taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre. Christmas Tree recycling takes place at a variety of locations around the Borough in January/February. Check the website or local press for details.

Tyres/inner tubes

Small numbers of tyres from cars, motorbikes and bicycles (non-trade) can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Water Filters (Brita only)

Take to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.

White Goods

Many shops and stores will take your old white goods in exchange. Otherwise, they can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (householders only). You can also arrange for white goods and other electrical and electronic items (anything with a plug or contains batteries) to be collected as part of a new collection service offered by Reading Borough Council and MIDEX Reverse Technologies Limited. All collections are free with the exception of fridges and freezers. To arrange a collection please telephone MIDEX on 0871 2000 962 or click on the link at the bottom of the page to visit their website.

Windows

Take to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Wood

Take to the Household Waste Recycling Centre. All types of wood are now accpeted for recycling including painted or treated wood, chipboard and MDF.

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