A message from Angie Paterson your District Councillor

Recycling is a hot topic. We need to recycle more not only to protect the environment but also to avoid large landfill taxes that will soon be imposed by the European Union. Questions about what can be recycled and how are frequently asked. It can be confusing especially as new regulations and new opportunities come along. Many items now carry the recycle mark so that we know that they can be recycled but many items don’t. Recent queries included whether the following items could be put into the green recycle boxes – a tick or cross indicates the answer:

Here to help you is a summary of what can be recycled through kerbside, at recycle banks, and at waste recycling centres.

The weekly kerbside collection using either the green recycle boxes (provided free of charge) or the special clear sacks which you can buy for the purpose enables us to recycle everyday household items. Many people are good at recycling things in the kitchen but often forget the rest of the house, especially things from the bathroom! With the weekly collection you can recycle all paper and cardboard - including glossy magazines, catalogues, envelopes with windows, phone directories and the Yellow Pages; plastic drinks bottles, detergent bottles, plastic tubs and pots that food and cosmetics come in, carrier bags, shampoo bottles, plant pots, drinks cans, food tins.

Common household items that can’t go out with the weekly collection include glass, foil, cling film, textiles and footwear. Drinks cartons and crisp packets can’t be put out either due to their foil or plastic lining. However many of these items can be recycled at Recycling Banks. There are a number of different recycling banks located at various places such as car parks. You will find glass banks, books banks, textiles banks (clothes and household linens), shoe banks, audio banks (for CD’s, cassettes).

You can get rid of household rubbish at one of the waste recycling centres (rubbish tips).

The recycling centres accept a wide range of household recyclables and waste for landfill for no charge, except tyres and DIY waste. In addition to all the things collected in the kerbside collection – which can also be taken to these centres – you can recycle household batteries, car batteries, televisions, fridges and freezers, computer monitors, soil, rubble, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, foil, engine oil, timber and textiles. At some you can also now recycle tetrapaks. Tetrapaks (such as juice cartons) are made up of different materials including cardboard, plastic and foil and have been a problem to recycle in the past.

Some items are classed as ‘dangerous waste’ and need special handling for recycling. These include garden chemicals, solvent based paint, paint strippers and thinners, varnishes, wood stains and preservatives, sealants and glue, car care products. The County Council offers free advice and doorstep collection of these items.

The District Council offers a fortnightly collection of garden waste such as grass cuttings, leaves, branches, weeds and hedge clippings. A special brown wheeled bin can be bought for this purpose. Alternatively you can buy a home composter. South Oxfordshire residents can buy reduced price composters from WRAP – details on SODC website.

We hope this helps you increase your household recycling rate. If you are not sure whether something can be recycled or not do ask. You can contact the District Council on
01491 823416 or email recycling@southoxon.gov.uk or ask you local Councillors to find out. The District Council and the County Council have responsibility for different aspects of waste collection and disposal and detailed information can be found on their websites.

Another common question is ‘what happens to things once they are sent for recycling?’ A future article will answer this.

Angie Paterson
District Councillor
Watlington Ward