Kirsty Warren
Recycle this…

recycling guide sussex

Home coffee pods

Do you enjoy a cup of coffee at home, maybe you have a coffee machine that takes coffee pods? Let me introduce you to a new free recycling scheme ‘Podback’.

Podback is a coffee pod recycling service. Created in partnership with the biggest names in coffee pod systems, Nespresso, Nescafe, Dolce Gusto and Tassimo, to give people who enjoy the quality and taste of coffee pods a simple and easy way to recycle them. Just look up: www.podback.org and order some bags.

The bags are free. I order five at a time. Unfortunately, Mid Sussex District Council do not offer the kerbside option. You simple drop your used pods into the bag, which self-seals and return it freepost.

Another alternative to reduce plastic why not consider using stainless steel coffee capsules available for many machines? This way you can use you own favourite coffee. They are food grade stainless steel and easy to clean.

Light bulbs and florescent lamps

What we call a light bulb, is referred to as a lamp by the lighting industry. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are low energy light bulbs. Compact LED bulbs can look very similar to CFLs, this means you can change to LEDs without having to change your light fittings. CFL’s use up to 80% less energy than old fashioned incandescent bulbs, but to do this, they need a small amount of mercury which is why they can’t be thrown away in your Kerbside bins.

The typical amount of mercury in a lamp is between 1.2 to 4mg, and in a domestic compact florescent lamp (CFL) this equates to the tip of a ballpoint pen. The mercury in one CFL is not enough to pose a health risk but they do need to be disposed of responsibly to reduce the risk of large quantities of mercury ending up in landfill.

In the UK, the collection and recycling of fluorescent lamps is compulsory under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. If we all recycle, we can protect our environment, and the mercury, glass and metal can be reused. If you want to know how, have a look at: www.recolight.co.uk How can we recycle? Save up your light bulbs and tubes and take them with you next time you are making a journey to your council recycling centre (AKA The Tip!).

Some electrical retailers offer a recycling service. Robert Dyas is one, but I am sure there are others. When you buy your next light bulb do ask if they offer a recycling scheme.

Old computers and IT

Have a clear out of all those old IT items and cables sitting in a drawer or box. MSDC will collect small electrical items and recycle them. Kerbside collections of small electrical appliances and household batteries are every two weeks.

Items should be left out with your scheduled black lid rubbish bin. Collection space on the bin lorry is very limited. If your collection is missed, please hold on to your items and place them out with your next scheduled black top rubbish bin.

Keep the cable with the item. Little and often, in a plastic carrier bag helps. Recycling – take data cables, phones, tablets and desktop PCs to Vodafone stores.

Items accepted are: small electrical appliances such as IT and smart devices like desktop PCs; laptops; tablets; fax machines; printers; phones; smartphones; smart speakers and fitness wearables.


Repair – does your local Repair Café repair electrical items?

Recycling – take to your local recycling centre – the tip. Did you know that all electricals taken to the tip are recycled? To find your nearest local electrical recycling site, I would recommend this website: www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk Do use the filter option: by item/ distance, for lots more options; donate; repair; recycle.

Wrapping paper, glitter and seasonal

Wrapping paper – do the scrunch test – if it stays scrunched it can be recycled in your kerbside bin.

If it springs open it contains plastic and can be recycled at major supermarkets in their plastic bag recycling bins.
Always remove large bows and as much Sellotape as possible.

Had a real Christmas tree? www.midsussex.gov.uk/tree-recycling

Artificial trees – Take to the tip. Normal ones in the waste container bay please, fibre optic ones in the electricals container bay. Broken toys – if they cannot be fixed by yourself – or at a Repair Café – take to the tip.

In your blue top recycling bin:

  • Celebratory sweet and chocolate tins and tubes – metal, cardboard or paper can all be recycled in your recycling bin

  • Glass bottles, beer, wine and champagne. Without the tops please. Metal tops can go in the recycle bin separately. (Plastic tops and corks in the black top rubbish bin)

  • Mince pie plastic trays and the foil trays

  • Black plastic food trays can be recycled in West Sussex

Disposable plastic plates and cutlery – try to avoid as they will have to go in your black top rubbish bin.

Things to take to the tip:

  • Broken crockery or cups – it happens at parties!

  • Tinsel and baubles

  • Christmas fairy lights – these are classed as WEEE (Waste Electrical items)

Remember you will need to show you are a resident of West Sussex to use the Tip. Don’t forget your ID.

Please do not place batteries in your general rubbish bin or your recycling bin. Please recycle them at shops that sell batteries. All shops that sell batteries have to provide, by law, battery recycling points, and these are generally found near the checkout.

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