Recycle It

If you cannot re-use any items of waste then the next stage is to recycle them.

The following materials can all be very easily recycled:

1. Metal

2. Glass

3. Paper

4. Textiles

5. Oil

6. Garden Waste

How To Recycle

It is very easy to recycle our waste with minimum effort:

1. Use kerbside collection services:

The easiest and most efficient way to recycle up to 60% of the rubbish you produce is to use your local kerbside collection scheme. In Colchester you can recycle the following items in this way:

• food and drink cans

• glass jars and bottles

• paper and cardboard

• textiles

• garden waste

• plastic bottles (HDPE and PET(E) only)

2. Use recycling centres such as Bottle banks etc.

If you do not have a seperate collection or you wish to get rid of your waste more frequently, then the borough has several recycling centres throughout the town, at local villages, superstores and at 2 Household Waste and Recycling Centres.

However don't make a special journey as this negates many environmental benefits. Try to fit it in with your normal visit to the shops for example.

Recycling centres typically consist of banks for:

• food and drink cans

• glass jars and bottles

• paper

• textiles (including clothing) and shoes

• plastic bottles (HDPE and PET(E) only)

• books

• beverage cartons (tetrapaks)

In addition to the above, the Household Waste and Recycling Centres also recycle garden waste, electrical goods and engine oil.

To check on Your local recycling site

3. Use Scrap metal merchants

If you have other forms of metal you can normally recycle these at scrap metal merchants.

Don't forget to recycle metal waste from DIY projects such as copper pipes, old sinks etc at scrap metal merchants.

You will normally get paid. The scrap metal market is volatile.

For a list of scrap metal merchants in Colchester.

4. Recycle your garden and food waste by composting or using a Bokashi Bin.