Recycling as many products and items in our blue top bins isn’t the only solution to waste management. Keeping the amount we throw in our black top bins to a minimum can go a long way too.
Rather than wipes, you can use small, washable face cloths
When shopping, pay attention to use by dates - keeping food waste to a minimum
Replace cling film and invest in a pack of reusable plastic covers
Face masks are now a part of our lives, so washable masks are a great investment
Acrylic is a form of plastic, so we do need to be aware of how we dispose of it. To reduce anything getting into the water system I have been advised that before you wash out your brushes, you wipe them off first with paper - old newspaper will do - to remove as much paint as possible and put the paper into your black top rubbish bin. This is better than using an old cloth as the cloth cannot be put in your black top bin.
This way, the absolute minimum amount of plastic will enter the water system from your sink when you do wash your brushes! The way our water is processed means that it can cope with these small amounts.
Can you also make sure that any paint left on your palette is also disposed of into your black top bin. When your palette is dry do peel off as much as you can and this can also be wrapped in paper and disposed of into your black top bin.
Regarding the acrylic plastic you put into your black bin, do not despair. In West Sussex, we do recycle your black top bin contents and we extract all the plastic and paper, including your acrylic paint, and we turn it into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). These are fuel pellets that are then are sold to industry as industrial fuel.
Bubble wrap is made of the same type of plastic as plastic carrier bags and so can be taken to the carrier bag bin in Co-op, Marks and Spencers, or Waitrose, and you will no longer need to put then into your black bin. A simple routine of a bag to pop it into and drop off before you start shopping.
Note: As of November 2023, Sainsburys, Haywards Heath will no longer be accepting soft plastics for recycling. They will still offer the recycling of plastic hangers, batteries, cosmetics, and water filters.
I don’t think everyone is aware of this. Carrier bag bins (at supermarkets) can recycle so many more plastic items, such as:
• Plastic carrier bags
• Plastic bread bags (shake out)
• Plastic cereal bags (like porridge oats bags, not inners from boxes of cereals, although some are recyclable - check the label)
• Plastic wrappers and ring joiners from multipacks of cans
• Toilet roll and kitchen roll plastic wrappers
• Plastic freezer bags
• Plastic magazine and newspaper wrappers (from your letterbox post)
• Fruit and veg supermarket bags
• Bubble wrap
All of the following can be recycled in your blue topped kerbside recycling bin.
Aerosol cans – Deodorants, hair spray and air fresheners
Biscuit tins – Metal and plastic biscuit tins and lids
Blister packs – Plastic blister packs. Remember to check all the tablets are removed
Cartons (including Tetra Pak cartons) – Fruit juice, long life milk, soup and smoothie cartons
Envelopes – We can recycle window envelopes
Plastic cups – If you do buy a takeaway coffee, remember that your plastic cup and the lid can be recycled in your blue top recycling bin
Plastic bottles – Remove tops first, then recycle
The exception to this list is the Jiffy bag. Please place any Jiffy bags in the rubbish bin please, or reuse.
Large items such as furniture and white goods can be tricky to dispose of, especially if you don’t have access to a van.
Did you know that Mid Sussex District Council provides a collection and disposal service? It is a chargeable service. For details see: MSDC Waste Removal.
Everything with a plug, battery or cable has the potential to be recycled. If you have an individual kerbside rubbish collection, you can recycle old or broken small electrical items at the kerbside.
Currently this service is not available if your bins are located in a communal bin store. You can find alternative electrical recycling options using the following link: https://bit.ly/2LcKBO3
How does the kerbside collection work? Most unwanted or broken small electrical appliances, those items powered by batteries or with a plug, cable or lead can be recycled at the kerbside. Small electrical appliance recycling is collected every two weeks with your normal scheduled rubbish collection.
• Little and Often - Please recycle “little and often” as space is limited on our collection vehicles for the storage of electrical items
• Bag It - Simply place the item(s) into a standard carrier size plastic bag (no larger than 35 x 40cm and not in black bin bags)
• Tie It – Securely tie the bag so the items do not fall out
• Recycle It - Place next to your black lidded rubbish bin on your scheduled collection day
For any items not on our kerbside collections checklist, please visit www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk to find your nearest reuse or recycling point.