Recycling and Landfill Waste Collection Details

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• Recycling and Landfill Waste Collection Details

This information concerns the new Recycling and Landfill Waste Collection Service which is being rolled out over a ten week period from September 2008.

Green Box Recycling Service

The Green Box Recycling service will be a weekly collection of the following material:

• Rinse out your cans, tins, bottles and jars before putting them in your green box
• Remove lids from plastic bottles and squash bottles flat
• Flatten cardboard before putting it in the white bag

There is no need for you to sort or separate out the different materials going in to your green box – just pop them all in together and the collection crews will sort them for you as they put them into the collection vehicle.

Put your green box at the edge of your property, clearly visible near the pavement, on your collection day by 7.00am.

If you do not have a recycling box, or would like to order an additional one, please complete our request form.  Remember that Recycling collections will now be made weekly, so you may not need another box.

Cardboard Recycling

Cardboard will be stored in white reusable bags and will be collected weekly.  Please flatten the cardboard before placing it in the white bag.

Food Waste

Food waste will be stored in a 23 litre container and will be collected weekly.  You will also be provided with a 5 litre kitchen caddy for internal use.

• Keep your kitchen caddy inside your house and empty it into the larger food waste container outside as and when necessary
• Keep your kitchen caddy clean by washing it along with the dishes
• Line your food waste container with a biodegradable bag - we will deliver a year’s supply (52 bags) when your new containers are delivered (please do not use any other type of liner)
• Tie the liner at the top on collection day, but leave it in the food waste container ready for collection

Your food waste container is supplied with a lockable lid. Keeping the lid locked means your food waste is secure from pests. The lid is secure when then handle is positioned at the front of the container. To open the lid, simply push the handle to the rear of the container.

Most of the items you can recycle using your brown containers can also be composted in the garden (cooked food waste, raw fish, meat and bones are the only exceptions).

Landfill Waste

With increased weekly recycling collections, including food waste, the amount of refuse that cannot be recycled or composted will be dramatically reduced.

The vast majority of households in the borough will use a Large 180 litre wheelie bin for the remaining landfill waste (waste that cannot currently be recycled or composted).  This bin is equivalent in size to two regular dustbins or four back sacks.  The wheelie bin will be emptied fortnightly.

• Ensure you can close the lid on your wheelie bin. Our crews will only collect landfill waste that is securely contained within the wheelie bin provided. Bags left by the side or on top of the wheelie bin (or in bins not supplied by the council) will not be collected.
• Wrap disposable nappies tightly in sacks to prevent bad smells.
• Clean your wheelie bin every now and then - you can line your bin with a black sack if you like.
• Use the special stickers provided with your new wheelie bin to put your house number on it.
• Remember to keep your bin lid shut.

There are very few recycling plants that will accept mixed plastics such as film, bags, pots, tubs and trays. This is because they are made out of low quality plastic which is difficult and expensive to recycle.  We hope to be able to accept a wider range of plastics for recycling in the future. But for now, it's plastic bottles only please.

The standard 'Large' 180 Litre wheelie bin (roughly the same size as two dustbins or three or four dustbin bags) should be large enough to store the landfill waste created by most households (including those with small children in nappies). However if, despite your best recycling efforts, you find it is not large enough, you can request an 'Extra Large' 240 Litre wheelie bin (equivalent to three dustbins or six dustbin bags).

Special Circumstances

An Assisted Collection service is available to residents who, because of a disability or health condition, find it difficult to put their containers at the front of their property.

You do not need to contact us if you currently receive an Assisted Collection - you will continue to do so under the new service. If you have not needed an assisted collection in the past, but think you will require assistance with the new service, please fill in the simple online form or telephone 020 8547 5560.

Residents who experience great difficulty in using the new containers may be offered alternative options.

The Council will be surveying all properties in the borough to ensure that they are suitable for a wheelie bin.  A property will be considered unsuitable for the following reasons:

• There is a steep slope between your property and the kerb
• There are more than three steps between your property and the kerb
• Your property has no font garden

If your property fits into one of these categories, you will remain on a weekly collection of your landfill waste and will continue to use plastic rubbish bags.  You will receive a letter and leaflet explaining more about the services you will receive.

Under the new service, your collection crew will work on Public Holidays, so please place your containers out for collection on your usual collection day. The only exception to this will be the weeks after Christmas and New Year, when collections will be made one or two days later than usual for one week only. Check these pages and local press for details nearer the time.

White Goods and Reusable Furniture

Kingston Community Furniture and the Appliance Re-use Centre (ARC) collect, reuse where possible, or recycle any unwanted white goods (in any condition) and household furniture (020 8547 5560 for details).

Bulky Rubbish

The Council provides a collection service for old, unusable items of bulky household waste. This service does not cover large amounts of demolition or DIY waste (020 8547 5560 for details). Please note that there is a charge for these collections.

Collection day

When you receive delivery of your new containers, there will be be an information pack with important details inside - including notification of your collection day. Your collection day may change under the new service. Note that if your property has not yet been surveyed, you will not see any information about the new service.

• Your recycling and food waste will be collected on the same day every week - landfill waste will be collected on the same day, but fortnightly
• Place your recycling containers / wheelie bin at the front of your property (within a few steps of the pavement, but not on the pavement) by 6.30am on the day of collection, or after 8.00pm on the evening before collection day.
• The lid of your wheelie bin must be closed. Any landfill waste left by the side or on top of the wheelie bin will not be collected.
• Please help the collection crews by presenting your wheelie bin with the handle facing towards the pavement. They will return the wheelie bin to the spot where you left it with the handle facing towards your property and the lid closed.
• Your collection time may change under the new service. But please let us know if your recycling / landfill waste has not been collected by 4.00pm. We will make sure it is collected the next working day. You can report a missed collection online, by emailing environment@rbk.kingston.gov.uk, or by calling the Contact Centre on 020 8547 5560.

Contact Us

For further information about rubbish and recycling, please contact us

Environmental Services Contact Centre
Guildhall 2
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1EU
Email: environment@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8547 5560