Asbestos

The HRC's can accept some forms of asbestos.  Please phone 0845 602 9344 for further details.

Aerosols

Currently these cannot be recycled through the kerbside box scheme.

Aluminium cans

These can be placed in your kerbside recycling box, in a bank at one of our local bring sites (see below) or taken to either Horsley or Hempstead household Waste Recycling Centres.

Ash (from fires)

A small amount of ash can be placed in your home composting bin, helping you to produce a valuable resource for your garden. For more information as to how to obtain a home compost bin please ring (0845) 0770757.

Batteries (non-rechargeable household)

These can be recycled through the kerbside box recycling scheme. Please place batteries in a small, clear bag for the operatives to remove.

Batteries (rechargable)

Local retailers are starting to provide battery banks.  Please check with your local supermarket/DIY store etc to check local facilities.

Binoculars

Binoculars and telescopes in good working order can by donated to the RSPB where they can be used for conservational or educational projects.

Bicycles

These can be donated to The Nelson Trust where they run workshops with their clients, showing them how to strip down, repair and rebuild bicycles.

• www.nelsontrust.com

Books

Books can be reused either by bringing them to your local charity shop or by placing them in one of our book banks which are located across the District. For further information as to where these are located, please visit the link below.

• www.recycleforgloucestershire.com

Bring sites

For further information about the bring sites Stroud District Council operate and where they are, please visit:

• www.recycleforgloucestershire.coml

Bulky items

Stroud District Council operate a bulky collection service for household items like beds, chairs etc and you can avail of this service by ringing (01453) 754424.

Cardboard

Currently this cannot be collected in the kerbside box, but there are recycling banks at our bring sites in Cainscross, Cam and Kings Stanley and the County Council recycling sites at Horsley and Hempstead.

Cars and Vehicles

On average 75% of a vehicle can currently be recycled. Scrap merchants are able to recycle old vehicles.

CDs

These can be recycled by placing them in one of our book banks which are located throughout the District. Please visit the link below for information as to where these are located:

• www.recycleforgloucestershire.com

Christmas Trees

Over the Christmas period Stroud District Council roll out a network of recycling banks specifically for trees, making it easy for them to be recycled. Further details as to the location of these banks and when they will be on site, will be displayed on our website.

Clothes

We have a number of textile banks located throughout the District and their locations can be found by clicking on the link below:

• www.recycleforgloucestershire.com

Cooking oil

As “Oil (vegetable or engine)”

DIY waste

DIY waste arising from works householders have carried out can be taken to either Horsley or Hempstead recycling sites.

DVDs

As “CDs”

Electrical and electronic equipment

Facilities exist at both Horsley and Hempstead recycling sites for all types and sizes of waste electrical and electronic items.

Envelopes

These can be recycled through the kerbside box recycling scheme as long as the plastic windows have been removed.

Engine Oil

As “Oil (vegetable or engine)”

Furniture

Although this can be disposed of through our bulky waste collection service (01453) 754424, these items cannot be recycled. Why not ask around to see if anyone needs the item so that it can be reused. Alternatively organisations like the Dursley Lions or Emmaus might accept it.

• www.dursleylions.com
• www.emmaus.org.uk

British Heart Foundation - 0844 248 9133

Fluorescent tubes

This can be recycled at either Hempstead or Horsley Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Garden waste

We encourage residents to home compost their garden waste which produces a valuable resource for their garden. Alternatively it can be composted by taking it to either Horsley or Hempstead recycling sites.

Gas cylinders

These can be taken back to your retailer and normally, a deposit will be returned to you.

Glass bottles and jars

These can be placed in your kerbside recycling box, in a bank at one of our local bring sites or taken to either Horsley or Hempstead household Waste Recycling Centres.

Home Composting

Home composting your garden waste and vegetable peelings will help to create a valuable resource for your garden. For further information as to how you can start home composting, please ring (0845) 0770757.

Ink cartridges from computers

Many charities offer free post envelopes to recycle these cartridges, for example Winston's Wish. If you support a local charity contact them to see if they offer this service.

Junk mail

This can be recycled in your green kerbside box, although if there are any plastic windows in the envelopes please remove them.

Jig-saw puzzles toys

If they are in good condition these can be taken to your local charity shop to be recycled.

Kitchen waste

Try to shop with meals in mind and reduce the amount that you are purchasing. Uncooked kitchen waste like vegetable peelings can be home composted.  

Light bulbs (Traditional and energy efficient)

A recycling point is available at both Horsley and Hempstead recycling sites. It is particularly important to recycle your old energy efficient light bulbs as they contain small amounts of heavy metals.  There are also low energy light bulb recycling facilities at local retailers. 

• www.recolight.co.uk/FREE-Recycling

Missed collections

Put your refuse, recycling or food waste out for collection by 0600 on the day of collection and you come home to find it has been missed? Please call (01453) 754424 to arrange for a missed collection.

Milk bottles

These can be recycled through the kerbside box recycling service. To create more space in your box please squash the bottle down.

Mobile phones

Many local charities collect mobile phones for use in developing countries. Contact your local shop to see if they have the provision to accept them.

Nappies

Why send disposable nappies to landfill when you can use Real Nappies. Currently Gloucestershire County Council has an incentive scheme to encourage more families to use them. For further information please call (0845) 634 2559.

Needles

Across Gloucestershire there is a needles take back service in place with pharmacists. If you place used needles in a yellow sharps box and when full, take along to your local participating chemist. For further details as to where this is, please ring (01453) 754424.

Newspaper

These can be placed in your kerbside recycling box, in a bank at one of our local bring sites or taken to either Horsley or Hempstead household Waste Recycling Centres.

Oil (Vegetable or engine)

There are separate containers for engine and vegetable oil at the recycling sites in Horsley and Hempstead .

Paint

This can be recycled at either Hempstead or Horsley recycling site.

Paper

These can be placed in your kerbside recycling box, in a bank at one of our local bring sites or taken to either Horsley or Hempstead household Waste Recycling Centres.

Plastic bags

Although these cannot be recycled through the kerbside box scheme, local supermarkets do provide facilities for bags to be recycled. But why take a plastic bag? Use a bag for life and help reduce the amount of waste you produce.

Plastic recycling

Only plastic bottles can be recycled through the kerbside box recycling scheme and there are several banks across the District for bottles. By visiting the link below, further information as to where they are located can be found;

• www.recycleforgloucestershire.com

Currently we cannot recycle other types of plastic, but we are working with a UK based company with a view to potentially offering collections in the future.

Printer Cartridges

Many organisations accept used print cartridges, often making a donation to charity for each one recycled.  Enter ‘Printer Cartridge recycling' in to your search engine for the most up to date information.

Quilts

Clean quilts can either be donated to your local charity shop or homeless shelter.

Reuse

Where you can, please reuse your waste instead of recycling. This is better for the environment. For example reuse your bag for life helping to reduce the number of plastic bags we produce, or bring your clothes to a charity shop enabling someone else to re-wear them.

Rainwater

This can be reused in your garden by fitting a water butt to your down pipe. They are perfect for watering your plants during the summer months

Rubber Hot Water Bottles

Cut your hot water bottle into squares and use them as jar openers or non slip mats for your plant pots. Cut up hot water bottle into strips and use as drainage in bottom of plant pots. Fill hot water bottle with foam or polystyrene chips and create a kneeler for your gardening.

Shoes

We have a number of shoe banks located throughout the District and their locations can be found by clicking on the link below;

• www.recycleforgloucestershire.com

Stamps

Many organisations you can donate stamps to including RNIB, Oxfam (also collect coins), Help the Aged and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Don't forget to recycle your envelopes once you've cut the stamp and your address off.

Tyres

These are now classified as hazardous waste and cannot be accepted either for landfill or recycling. When using a garage to change your tyres, please ensure they keep your old tyre for safe disposal.

Textiles

Old clothes, bedding, curtains, blankets and shoes can be taken to a local charity shop or placed in Textile Recycling Bank at your local recycling site. If you deposit shoes, tie them together so they don't get separated.

Tools

Unwanted tools and equipment can be donated to organisations who refurbish the items and send them to vocational training projects in developing countries.

• www.workaid.org
• www.tfsr.org.

Timber

This can be recycled at either Hempstead or Horsley Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Ummm

We couldn't think of an entry for this!

Vehicles (Abandoned)

If you are aware of an abandoned vehicle, please call (01453)766321 or report it online

White goods (fridges freezers etc.)

These can either be recycled by availing of our bulky waste collection service, please ring (01453) 754424, or by taking the items to either Hempstead or Horsley recycling sites. Alternatively the British Heart Foundation may be able to accept your goods. nbsp; They operate a free collection service.  Call 0844 248 9133 for more details.

Wood

As “Timber”

Water Filters

All Brita Water Filters can be returned to them for recycling via a freepost address, for more details go to www.brita.net If you use a different brand, contact the company direct to find out where to recycle their water filters.

Xylophone

As “Toys”

Yellow Pages

Yellow Pages can be recycled via your kerbside box.

Yoghurt Pots

Currently we have no provision to recycle this material, however, there is the potential in the future that we will be able to offer mixed plastic recycling.

Zero Waste

My mother always told me if you aim for nothing, nothing is what you will get. Although Zero Waste is something to aspire to, we should all be looking at the waste we produce to see what can be reduced and reused so that we gradually reduce what goes to landfill, maximising what we can recycle, reuse and reduce.

ZZZZZZ

After all that recycling, you deserve a rest...

In July your improved recycling and waste service begins, allowing you to recycle more at home.

In addition to the items you can currently recycle, the improved scheme will allow you to recycle cardboard, plastic packaging and food and drink cartons. Weekly rubbish collections will continue as normal.

Between May 21 st and June 29 th you will receive a new recycling wheelie-bin to go with your recycling box and your rubbish bag.

Some residents will receive a durable recycling bag because the council has identified that their property cannot accommodate a bin, either due to storage issues or because their road is too narrow for collection lorries. By now every household should know whether they will receive a bin or bag.

Here's what will go in each:

• Wheelie-bin (or bag) - glass bottles & jars, steel & aluminium cans, batteries, plastic packaging, aerosols and non-rechargeable batteries (collected fortnightly)
• Recycling box – cardboard, paper, food/drink cartons (collected fortnightly)
• Black bag – rubbish that goes to landfill (collected weekly)

The improved recycling service is being delivered at no additional cost. This has been achieved because we have split paper, cardboard and cartons from the other items. These are classed as high value items and the income received for these offsets the cost of the service.

Deliveries of the new recycling wheelie-bins and bags will begin on May 21 st. We have nearly 50,000 properties to get to so it will take around six weeks to complete. All properties should have received a bin or bag by June 29 th. If you haven't received your bin or bag by then please get in touch by emailing recycling@stroud.gov.uk or calling 01453 754424.

There are three key reasons why the council is introducing these changes:

• Resident demand – We know from surveys carried out in the district that residents want to be able to recycle plastic packaging, cardboard and food and drink cartons. This new service will allow them to do that.
• Recycling more of our waste reduces greenhouse gases and is better for the environment.
• Cost – year on year the cost of sending our waste to landfill is increasing. This scheme aims to encourage residents to recycle more and is cost neutral for the council, and you the council tax payer.

No. Wheelie-bins and recycling bags are being delivered over a period of six weeks, so if you start collecting the new items straight away they might be hanging around for a long time before they get collected. Don't start collecting the new items in your box yet either.

Please continue with the current service until two weeks before your first new collection date (this will be supplied on your new recycling calendar arriving with your bin or bag). You can then start collecting the new items in your bin and box.

As the wheelie-bins make the service more efficient and cost-effective we would ask that all residents try to accommodate the new wheelie-bins. We have already identified households across the district that will not be able to accommodate a wheelie bin, either due to space and storage issues or because their road is too narrow for a collection lorry to get down. These people have been contacted directly and will be given a durable recycling bag instead of a wheelie-bin.

No – definitely not! None of the waste containers (boxes or wheelie- bins) will be fitted with microchips.

There will be no charge for the replacement of stolen or broken bins if it is damaged by the vehicle when emptying or wear and tear.

The new service will be available for all flats throughout the district. Communal bins will be replaced to match the new service, so residents in flats will be able to recycle the same items as everyone else in the district.

This improved scheme has the same financial cost as the previous collection system. It will not cost you, or the council, any more than the existing scheme.

Yes. If you currently receive an assisted collection for your waste and recycling box, this service will automatically be extended to include your wheelie- bin. All we ask is that residents keep all three containers in the same place. If you are unable to do this, please contact us no 01453 754424.

Possibly. Please contact our customer service team on 01453 754424 who will consider your request.

The improvements to recycling are being undertaken at no additional cost, including the purchase of the wheelie- bins for recycling. Introducing wheelie- bins for your waste would have cost more money to buy the bins and adapt the vehicles to collect them. At a time when local authorities are facing reductions in their budgets, this was not a viable option, and we did not want to increase your council tax.

Yes. In conjunction with the start of the new service, the number of recycling banks will be reduced. These sites will be bigger and conveniently located throughout the district to ensure they remain close to residents; however, it is likely that some residents may have to travel further to use them. But as you will be able to recycle cardboard, cartons and plastic packaging at home this should make it easier for you.

These new recycling banks will allow you to recycle the same materials that you recycle at home and possibly textiles, books, DVDs, shoes and lightbulbs, as well.

Yes. When you receive your wheelie- bin, an information pack will be provided. It will contain a calendar. This calendar will show your collection dates.

You normally receive a recycling calendar from us in March, but as these changes are only a few months away we will be delivering them to you when the improved service starts.

In the meantime, please be aware that your waste and recycling collections continue as normal, with rubbish collected weekly and recycling fortnightly. Put your waste and recycling out as normal over Easter.

If you wish to check your collection dates please visit www.stroud.gov.uk and enter your postcode or call 01453 754424.

It is possible that a small number of households may need to change their collection day. If this is the case, we will write to you to let you know.

When the bins are transported the lids become slightly warped. As a result when they are delivered to your property the lid may not close correctly. After a few days the lid will settle down. If after leaving it for a week you still feel your lid is broken, please get in touch.

There are currently three ways you can find out more:

• This page will be updated in the run up to the start of the scheme.
• Reading information leaflets on the scheme that will be delivered to all properties. Residents should receive an introductory leaflet in April/May and then an information pack when their wheelie- bin is delivered.
• Ring the council on (01453) 754424.

No. There is no need to sort or bag up your items separately. Please just put all recyclable items into your bin or box loose. We cannot recycle carrier bags, so ask that you do not put any into your recycling bin or box.

Yes, you can leave the lids on your plastic or glass bottles and jars. You can also leave labels on your bottles, jars and cans. It's best to give them a rinse before putting them into your bin or bag though to prevent them from smelling.

You can recycle: Shampoo and cosmetic bottles, clear and coloured plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and food trays (including washed raw meat trays).

You can't recycle: Carrier bags, cling film, polystyrene, large plastic items (such as buckets), plastic toys, crisp packets and plastic wrapping (eg pasta or rice bags and cereal packaging)

The general rule is; if you can squash it and it doesn't spring back it is recyclable foil. Foil isn't just the stuff that comes on a roll, it also includes things like takeaway trays and pie and cake cases.

Email it to us at recycling@stroud.gov.uk