In this section you will find:
Aerosol cans
Recycle
Place in your household recycling. Aerosols can also be taken to one of our many recycling points throughout the city and our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Please make sure the cans are completely empty. Do not pierce or try to flatten.
Aluminium foil and containers
Reduce
You can use silicone or beeswax reusable wraps as an alternative when wrapping food.
Reuse
Try as much as possible to clean, flatten and put it back in the drawer for next time. Containers can be used for seed trays.
Recycle
Can only be recycled at one of the city's Household Waste Recycling Sites and placed in the metal container.
Dispose
In your household rubbish.
Metal coated plastic like crisp packets cannot be recycled either and should be placed in your normal waste at home.
Asbestos
Dispose
Asbestos cannot be recycled.
Hove Household Waste Recycling Site can take bonded asbestos.
We can accept up to 4 sheets or 6 small builder’s bags of plasterboard asbestos per household per month. Asbestos must be wrapped in at least 2 layers of plastic and sealed.
If you are planning on visiting the Hove Household Waste Recycling Site with asbestos make sure you bring two forms of identification to prove you live in the city including one form of photo ID.
Bonded asbestos is often grey in colour and looks similar to cement - if you are in any doubt please have the material checked.
When handling bonded asbestos you should wear goggles, a face mask and gloves.
Do not break the asbestos into smaller pieces. Do not cut or saw it.
If you have any smaller pieces please make sure you dampen them down with water.
For more information go to the Health and Safety Executive asbestos page.
Ash
Reuse
You can reuse for garden paths or make a narrow path across your lawn for the winter.
Recycle
Wood ash can be sprinkled lightly into your compost heap or around your garden.
Dispose
Coal ash should be disposed of in your household rubbish.
Baby wipes
Dispose
Baby wipes cannot be recycled. You should place them in your household rubbish.
Bathroom fittings and furniture
Dispose
A limited amount - six small builder’s bags for each household each month - from home improvements or DIY can be disposed of at our Household Waste Recycling Sites. Please ask a member of staff at the site for advice.
The recycling sites are for household waste from city residents only.
Business waste will not be accepted. Business waste is any waste from commercial, trade or business activities. This includes any waste from domestic properties used for profit (for example landlords taking waste from a rented property) and waste that is being removed for payment.
Our staff have the right to inspect any waste entering the recycling sites.
If they suspect the waste is business waste, the person will be turned away. Find out more about business waste.
Batteries: cars
Recycle
Car batteries can be recycled at our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Please do not put car batteries in your household rubbish or recycling - they contain hazardous materials and can cause fires.
Batteries: household
Reduce
Consider rechargeable batteries - they're environmentally friendly and better value over time.
Recycle
Household batteries can be recycled at our Household Waste Recycling Sites and some larger supermarkets.
You can check if your local shop or supermarket have a battery recycling point on the Take Charge website.
Recycling points accept alkaline batteries, used in remotes, and lithium batteries, found in electrical items.
Please do not throw batteries in your household rubbish or recycling as they contain hazardous materials and cause fires.
Lithium batteries
Many household electrical items, including vapes, hearing aids and laptops, contain a hidden lithium battery that can be extremely dangerous when thrown away. Before recycling electrical items, always check to see if the battery can be removed to recycle separately.
Find out what to do with electrical items in section D to F, by looking under ‘electrical appliances and electronic equipment’.
BBQs: disposable
Reduce
Consider using a portable BBQ instead.
Dispose
Disposable BBQs cannot be recycled in your household recycling.
Dispose in your household rubbish. You need to make sure your BBQ is fully extinguished first.
BBQs: metal
Reuse
You could reuse as a planter in the garden or on the balcony.
Sell or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms.
Recycle
Old, unwanted or damaged metal BBQs can be recycled at one of the city’s Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Beds
Reuse
If they are still in a decent condition, beds can be sold, donated or passed on for reuse by someone else.
Advertise locally for sale or donate using Freegle and other online platforms.
Dispose
Beds can be taken to either of our Household Waste Recycling Sites and put in the landfill bin.
Beverage cartons
You can find out what to do with beverage cartons in section C, by looking under 'cartons'.
Bikes
Reuse
Repair
A broken bike can normally be repaired.
Emmaus rebuilds and refurbishes bicycles in its workshop. Drove Road, Portslade, BN41 2PA, or call on 01273 426480.
Cranks is a not-for-profit organisation that teaches you how to fix your bike for free. It accepts old bikes and parts for donations.
Donate
You can donate using Freegle and other online platforms.
The Re-Cycle project gathers second-hand bicycles and ships them to various African countries. It teaches local people to repair and maintain bikes as a trade.
Mike the bike is now also selling bicycles at Shabitat. All bikes are recycled and serviced. Saunders Road Depot, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4AY, or call on 01273 677577.
Recycle
Broken or damaged bicycles can be recycled at our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Biscuit tins and sweet tubs
Reuse
Refill tins and tubs as food containers or to keep things organised in the bedroom, living room or bathroom.
You can also sell or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms.
Recycle
Metal ones can be taken to either of the Household Waste Recycling Sites. Plastic ones cannot be recycled in your household recycling.
Dispose
Plastic tubs should be placed in your household rubbish.
Sweet wrappers cannot be recycled and should be placed in your household rubbish.
Blankets and bedding
Reuse
The fabric for making clothes and accessories, or as rags and dust sheets. If clean and unstained, you can sell or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms. You can also donate clean and unstained blankets to homeless shelters.
Recycle
Pure wool, cotton, linen and other natural fibres can be composted but not if mixed with any unnatural fibres such as polyester.
You can also recycle at the Household Waste Recycling Sites or placed in the appropriate textiles bin at one of the many recycling points throughout the city.
Blister packs for tablets
Dispose
Blister packs cannot be recycled in your household recycling. You need to put them in your household rubbish.
Books
Reduce
Join one of our libraries and borrow books, both hard copy or download onto a mobile phone or tablet.
Reuse
Sell or donate to a local charity shop, or online using Freegle and other online platforms.
Recycle
You can take books to our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Bottles and jars
You can find out what to do with bottles and jars in section G to J, by looking under 'glass bottles and jars'.
Bras
Bravissimo has a bra recycling scheme, where you can easily donate unwanted or old bras at their Brighton shop. For every kg of bras they receive, they donate to Coppafeel, a breast cancer awareness charity, to support their work.
Bric-a-brac
Reuse
Sell or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms.
You can also take to the Hove recycling site and donate to the YMCA shop where it will be sold on to raise money for charity.
Recycle
Bric-a-brac cannot be recycled in your household recycling, but you can take it to one of our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Bricks and building materials
Reuse
Sell or donate for uses in the garden, at allotment sites and for building projects.
Recycle
A limited amount of bricks from home improvements or DIY can be disposed of at our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Please note: The recycling sites are for household waste from city residents only. Business waste will not be accepted. Business waste is any waste from commercial, trade or business activities. This includes any waste from domestic properties used for profit (for example landlords taking waste from a rented property) and waste that is being removed for payment. Our staff have the right to inspect any waste entering the recycling sites. If they suspect the waste is business waste the person will be turned away.
Find out more about business waste.
Bubble wrap
Reuse
You can use bubble wrap for transporting fragile items in the post or when moving house. You can also wrap plants with it to protect them from frost.
Dispose
Bubble wrap cannot be recycled in your household recycling. You need to dispose of it in your household rubbish.
Bulky waste
Please see our bulky waste page for more information.