It's important to recycle, but even more important to make sure you're recycling correctly.
If you put the wrong items in the wrong recycling bin it can cause contamination.
A contaminated bin can contaminate a whole lorry load of recycling. We then have to treat that load as waste instead of being able to recycle it.
Even if a label says that something can be recycled, you should still check to make sure – recycling labels on packaging are often incorrect and we may not be able to recycle that item locally.
Find out what you can and can't put in your household recycling.
On the left, select the page that includes the letter your item starts with.
At the top of each page there is a list of the items covered. Choose your item from the list and you'll be taken to it, or told where to look if we’ve put it under a different heading.
If you can’t find what you are looking for, try Recycle Now’s recycling locator or, for local information, Brighton Green Centre’s directory.
In this section you will find:
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.
You can use silicone or beeswax reusable wraps as an alternative when wrapping food or reuseable box when making packed lunches.
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.
The Council does not collect aluminium foil wrap. You can take foil trays to our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
You can drop off clean aluminium foil at the FREE SHOP in the Open Market on London Road every day for recycling. A bin is left outside on days the shop isn’t open. Harriet’s of Hove on George Street also collect foil and are open 7 days a week.
You cannot recycle metallic plastic like crisp packets in your household or communal recycling bins. You can take them to supermarkets for recycling with soft or flexible plastics.
You can dispose of foil and foil containers in your household waste bin.
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.
You can reuse for garden paths or make a narrow path across your lawn for the winter.
Wood ash can be sprinkled lightly into your compost heap or around your garden.
Coal ash should be disposed of in your household rubbish.
Baby wipes cannot be recycled. You should place them in your household rubbish.
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.
Do not put car batteries in your household rubbish or recycling - they contain hazardous materials and can cause fires.
Car batteries can be recycled at our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Do not put batteries or electrical items with hidden batteries in your household rubbish or recycling - they contain hazardous materials and can cause fires.
Consider rechargeable batteries - they're environmentally friendly and better value over time.
Household batteries can be recycled at our Household Waste Recycling Sites and many shops or supermarkets.
Find your closest battery recycling point.
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 how to recycle electrical items.
Consider using a portable BBQ instead.
Disposable BBQs cannot be recycled.
Dispose in your household rubbish. You need to make sure your BBQ is fully extinguished first.
You could reuse as a planter in the garden or on the balcony.
Sell or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms.
Old, unwanted or damaged metal BBQs can be recycled at one of the city’s Household Waste Recycling Sites.
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.
Beds can be taken to either of our Household Waste Recycling Sites and put in the landfill bin.
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.
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.
Broken or damaged bicycles can be recycled at our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
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.
Metal ones can be taken to either of the Household Waste Recycling Sites. Plastic ones cannot be recycled in your household recycling.
Plastic tubs should be placed in your household rubbish.
Sweet wrappers cannot be recycled and should be placed in your household rubbish.
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.
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 our recycling points.
Blister packs cannot be recycled in your household recycling. You need to put them in your household rubbish.
Join one of our libraries and borrow books, both hard copy or download onto a mobile phone or tablet.
Sell or donate to a local charity shop, or online using Freegle and other online platforms.
You can take books to our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
You can find out what to do with bottles and jars in section G to J, by looking under 'glass bottles and jars'.
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.
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.
Bric-a-brac cannot be recycled in your household recycling, but you can take it to one of our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Sell or donate for uses in the garden, at allotment sites and for building projects.
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.
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.
Bubble wrap cannot be recycled in your household recycling. You need to dispose of it in your household rubbish.
Please see our bulky waste page for more information.
In this section you will find:
You can find out what to do with car batteries in section A to B, by looking under 'batteries: car.'
You can recycle cans and tins in your household recycling.
They can also be recycled in the appropriate bin at one of our recycling points and at either Household Waste Recycling Site.
Please empty and rinse out cans before recycling.
Donate locally to people moving houses or use as a weed-suppressing mulch in the garden. You can also add to your compost bin in small pieces.
You can put cardboard in your household recycling, or take to one of the city’s Household Waste Recycling Sites.
It can also be placed in the appropriate bin at one of our recycling points.
Please flatten cardboard before recycling it and remove any non-cardboard packaging such as plastic & polystyrene. Normal amounts of tape and staples are acceptable.
Tetra Pak cartons (such as juice and soup cartons) are made from mixed materials and should not be mixed with cardboard. See cartons for more information.
Keep paper and cardboard dry in your recycling.
When paper and cardboard get too wet, cardboard and fibre prevent the material from being recycled. It’s a problem as water content affects the density of the material. This makes it harder to separate from other materials.
The moisture also causes fibres in paper and cardboard to break down. This makes them fragile when they dry out. It's then harder to turn the material into new products at paper mills. If too much wet material finds its way into fibre bales, the paper mills need to reject the bale.
If you have an open recycling box:
You could cut off the picture on a card and use it for a new card
You can recycle card in your household recycling
If a card is covered in glitter or foil, it cannot be recycled. You should place it in your household rubbish
If in good condition you can sell or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms.
You can dispose of carpets at Brighton and Hove’s Household Waste Recycling Sites and placed in the landfill area.
Do not put cartons and tetrapak (such as alternative milks, juice and soup cartons) in your household or communal recycling bins. In Brighton & Hove we have to recycle them separately due to the mixed materials they are made from.
Find out more about how to recycle cartons.
Rinse and flatten empty cartons as much as possible and replace lids. Then take them to one of our carton recycling points or either of our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Find your nearest carton recycling point.
If you are not able to access any of our carton recycling points, put them in your household rubbish.
You could use these for collages, or donate locally using Freegle for use on art projects.
Catalogues and magazines can be put in your household recycling
You could reuse them as coasters, in the garden or allotment to deter birds, or sell or donate locally to a charity shop or online using Freegle.
CDs and DVDs cannot be recycled and you need to put them in your household rubbish.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
You can recycle ceramics at one of the city’s Household Waste Recycling Sites in the hardcore container
You can find out what to do with chairs in section D to F, by looking under 'furniture'.
Both Household Waste Recycling Sites accept chemicals. Please ensure they are in sealed leak-proof containers. They should be placed on the chemical deposit table.
Please ask a member of staff if you need assistance.
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.
A limited amount of chipboard from home improvements or DIY can be disposed of at our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
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.
You can find out what to do with Christmas cards in section C, by looking under 'cards'.
Christmas trees can be taken to one of the Christmas tree recycling sites we open each year after Christmas, or taken to one of the city’s Household Waste Recycling Sites.
If you have signed up to our garden waste collections, a Christmas tree can be placed in your brown garden bin if it is cut up into smaller pieces to fit inside and does not include any logs wider than 10cm.
You can find out what to do with Christmas wrapping paper in section W to Z, by looking under 'wrapping paper'.
Clinical waste cannot be accepted at the Household Waste Recycling Sites.
You must contact Environmental Services if you require a clinical waste collection.
Consider shopping for clothes in charity shops to give second-hand clothes a new life.
Clothes in good condition can be sold or donated to a charity shop or online using Freegle and other online platforms.
Find out more about how to recycle clothes.
You can recycle any clothes at one of the Household Waste Recycling Sites or textiles recycling points across the city.
Hangers in working condition can be sold or donated to a charity shop or online using Freegle and other online platforms.
Broken wire hangers at either one of the city’s Household Waste Recycling Sites in the metal recycling container.
Broken plastic and wooden coat hangers cannot be recycled and should be disposed of in your household rubbish.
Where possible use a reusable cup for on-the-go drinking.
You can recycle coffee cups in one of the Cup Neutral coffee cup shaped bins across the city.
If you are not able to access any of the recycling points for coffee cups, please put these in your household rubbish.
Local not-for-profit organisation Tech-Takeback can collect laptops and desktop computers to be checked, refurbished or upgraded to be distributed to members of the community who don’t have access tech.
If they can’t be reused, they will be sent for recycling to extract the raw materials.
You can recycle laptops, including cables, at our electrical recycling points (also known as WEEE bins)
Find your nearest electrical recycling point.
Find out more about recycling electricals.
A limited amount of construction/demolition materials from home improvements or DIY can be disposed of at Household Waste Recycling Sites.
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.
Can be reused as animal bedding
Confidential waste cannot be recycled in your household recycling, you should dispose of it in your household rubbish.
If in good condition you can sell or donate locally using Freegle.
Small dismantled conservatories from home improvements or DIY can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Sites providing you have done the work yourself. If you have paid someone to install or dismantle your conservatory then they must pay to dispose of it as business waste.
Please note: Business waste will not be accepted as the recycling sites are for household waste from city residents only.
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.
If in good condition you can sell or donate locally using Freegle.
You can take these to either of the Brighton & Hove Household Waste Recycling Sites.
You can take cooking oil to the Household Waste Recycling Sites and recycle it. Please take it in a sealed leak-proof container and place it on the oil deposit table.
Small quantities in a sealed leak-free container can be placed in your household rubbish
Do not dispose of oil down drains, in toilets, onto soil or near water.
You could give corks to schools for use in art projects.
Corks can be disposed of in your household rubbish
You can find out what to do with creosote by looking under 'chemicals'.
Crisp packets cannot be recycled and you should dispose of them in your household rubbish
You can find out what to do with crockery by looking under 'ceramics'.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
Do not take curtains to textile recycling points. If you want to recycle curtains, take them to one of our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
In the metal recycling container at our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
In this section you will find:
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
Small amounts of decking from home improvements or DIY can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Sites.
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.
You can find out what to do with deodorant cans in section A to B, by looking under 'aerosols'.
You cannot take petrol and diesel to either of the household recycling centres.
Do not dispose of petrol down drains, onto soil or near water.
Contact a hazardous waste disposal company to dispose of it in a safe way. Some examples are below and you can also complete an internet search for others:
You can find out what to do with drink cartons in section C, by looking under 'cartons'.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
Small amounts of doors from home improvements or DIY can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Sites.
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.
You can find out what to do with duvets and quilts in section A to B, by looking under 'blankets and bedding'.
You can recycle cardboard egg boxes in your household recycling
Plastic or polystyrene egg boxes cannot be recycled and should be placed in your household rubbish.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
Local not-for-profit Tech-Takeback are able to collect laptops and desktop computers, which will be refurbished or upgraded and distributed to digitally excluded members of the community.
Find out more about how to recycle electrical items.
You can put envelopes in your household recycling - including any 'windows', stamps or sticky strips
Padded envelopes cannot be recycled. Please put these in your normal household rubbish.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
Small amounts of fencing and fence posts can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling sites.
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.
Hove Household Waste Recycling Site takes small household fire extinguishers. Commercial or business fire extinguishers should be taken back to where you bought them.
Unused fireworks should be returned to where you bought them from.
Fireworks cannot be recycled and cannot be taken to household waste recycling sites. If you have used the firework, we advise that you soak them in water overnight, then dispose of them in your household rubbish.
You can find out what to do with flammable chemicals in section C, by looking under 'chemicals'.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
Ceramic and clay pots can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Sites and placed in the hardcore area.
You can put flower pots in your household rubbish
These can be accepted at both Household Waste Recycling Sites. They should be placed in the fluorescent tube box.
You can find out what to do with foil and foil containers in section A to B, by looking under 'Aluminium foil and containers'.
You can recycle these in your household recycling. Please clean and rinse first.
See the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership page on ways to reduce food waste.
Get involved with a community composting scheme or buy a composting bin for home. See the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership for up-to-date information.
You can dispose of food in your household rubbish
Food and meat trays cannot be recycled and should be disposed of in your household rubbish
If in working condition sell, or donate locally online using Freegle.
You can take these items to one of our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
We also run a Bulky Waste Collection Service for items which cannot be recycled or disposed of in your household collection or communal bins. This includes items of furniture and household appliances. We charge for this service, but discounts are available for people over 60 and those receiving certain benefit payments.
If in good condition sell or donate locally online using Freegle. They can also be taken to the Hove recycling centre and donated to the YMCA shop where it will be sold to raise money for charity. Please ask a member of staff on site for advice.
If your furniture is in poor condition then please take it to either of the Household Waste Recycling Sitesfor landfill. If you have no transport then please contact our Bulky Waste Collections Service.
In this section you will find:
Sell or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms.
A limited amount of waste - 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.
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.
Sell or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms. They can also be taken to the Hove recycling site and donated to the YMCA shop to raise money for charity. Please ask a member of staff on site for advice.
Can be recycled at our Household Waste Recycling Sites in the scrap metal container.
Can be composted at home in your garden, or recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Both sites take garden waste, which is composted and turned into soil conditioner and sold at the site. Please remove plastic bags, string and other bindings.
We also run a fortnightly garden waste collection service.
Please look under 'J' for information about what to do with Japanese Knotweed and other invasive species.
These remain the property of the producer and should be returned to where you bought them from. Some companies, such as Calor, will pay for returned cylinders.
If your gas bottle has no markings on it and you don't know where you got it from then you can take it to Hove recycling site.
Gas bottles are not accepted at the Brighton recycling site under any circumstances.
Reuse glass bottles and jars when buying food and other household products in refill shops across Brighton & Hove.
Jars can also be reused for keeping things tidy in the house, including nails, screws and stationary.
All glass bottles and jars, including perfume bottles, go in your separate glass box or bin rinsed with metal lids on. Plastic lids can go in your household rubbish.
You can also recycle glass bottles and jars at one of our recycling points, or at the Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Many opticians have in-store collection points for glasses, which they send to charities for reuse.
Cannot be recycled in your household recycling.
You can find out what to do with grass cuttings, by looking under 'garden waste'.
Sell, or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms.
A limited amount of waste - 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 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.
You can find out what to do with greeting cards in section C, by looking under 'cards'.
Sell, or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms.
You can take your hardcore to either the Household Waste Recycling Sites.
There is a limit of six small builder’s bags for each household each month.
Please note: The recycling centres 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.
You can find out what to do with hazardous household waste and chemicals in section C, by looking under 'chemicals'.
You can find out what to do with hearing aids in section D to F, by looking under 'electrical appliance and electronic equipment'.
Ensure it is empty then take it to one of the recycling sites.
Can be recycled at both Household Waste Recycling Sites in the cartridge recycling bin.
You can find out what to do with irons in section D to F, by looking under 'electrical appliance and electronic equipment'.
Sell, or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms.
Ironing boards can be recycled at Household Waste Recycling Sites if they are made of metal or wood.
Some old ironing boards have an asbestos 'rest' and cannot be recycled. They can be taken to the above recycling sites, but must be wrapped in at least two layers of plastic.
If you are planning on visiting a 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.
This weed cannot be taken to either of the recycling centres under any circumstances.
Disposal requires a professional specialist due to the extremely aggressive nature of the weed.
For more information on the disposal of this weed please visit the Environment Agency’s Japanese knotweed page.
You can find out what to do with Tetra Pak juice cartons in section C, by looking under 'cartons'.
Citizens Advice provides information on ways to stop getting junk mail.
In your household recycling and at both Household Waste Recycling Sites.
In this section you will find:
You can find out what to do with kettles in section D to F, by looking under 'electrical appliances and electrical equipment'.
You can find out what to do with kitchen waste in section D to F, by looking under 'food'.
Sell, or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms
A limited number of kitchen cupboards from home improvements or DIY can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Sites.
The recycling centres are only for household waste from city residents. 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.
Cannot be recycled in your household recycling because they are made of thin fibres that make recycling extremely difficult. They are also very often contaminated spills or messes, the food waste, grease or dirt which also makes them non-recyclable.
In your household rubbish.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
Take to one of the city’s Household Waste Recycling Sites and put in the metal container.
You can find out what to do with lawnmowers in section D to F, by looking under 'electrical appliances and electrical equipment'.
Fluorescent tubes and energy saving light bulbs should be taken to Household Waste Recycling Sites and recycled.
You can also take your energy saving light bulbs to shops and stores listed on Recycle Now.
These bulbs contain small amounts of mercury and hazardous materials so should not be put in your wheelie bin.
Old style incandescent bulbs are not recyclable and are not hazardous. Please throw them away in your household rubbish.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
The contractor laying a new flooring should be able to take back any remnants.
We can accept lino at both Household Waste Recycling Sites, but it must be placed in the non-recyclable waste.
Consider laying new insulation on top of your old insulation, for additional protection.
Loft insulation can be disposed of at the Household Waste Recycling Sites in the ordinary non-recyclable waste area.
Please double-bag loft insulation when transporting it, to prevent fibres floating into the air.
You can find out what to do with magazines in section C, by looking under 'catalogues'.
If they are in good conditions and not stained, you could sell or donate locally to a charity shop or online using Freegle.
Mattresses cannot be recycled. You can dispose of them at one of the city’s Household Waste Recycling Sites in the landfill bin.
You can find out what to do with medical and clinical waste in section C, by looking under 'clinical waste'.
You can find out what to do with mercury in section C, by looking under 'chemicals'.
You can find out what to do with metal cans in section A to B, by looking under 'aerosol cans'.
You can find out what to do with metal lids in section G to J, by looking under 'glass bottle and jar lids'.
Can be recycled at one of the Household Waste Recycling Sites.
You can find out what to do with microwave ovens in section D to F, by looking under 'electrical appliances and electrical equipment'.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop or online using Freegle.
You can take mirrors to a Household Waste Recycling Sites and put it in the landfill container.
You can find out what to do with mobile phones in section D to F, by looking under 'electrical appliances and electrical equipment'.
You can find out what to do with mobile phone chargers in section D to F, by looking under 'electrical appliances and electrical equipment'.
Do not pour engine oil down drains. You can recycle it at either of our Household Waste Recycling Sites in the proper oil container.
In this section you will find:
Consider using cloth nappies to reduce your overall nappy waste.
In your household rubbish.
You can find out what to do with used cooking oil in section C, by looking under 'cooking oil'.
Do not pour engine oil down drains. You can recycle it at either of our Household Waste Recycling Sites in the proper oil container.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
Can be taken to one of the city’s Household Waste Recycling Sites.
If you have no transport then please contact the council which runs a Bulky Waste Collections Service. We charge for this service, but discounts are available for people over 60 and those receiving certain benefit payments.
Both Household Waste Recycling Sites take paint. Emulsion paint will be recycled.
Gloss and oil based paints will be sent for safe disposal.
Please place all paints on the paint and chemical deposit table.
If the paint is in secure containers, we donate it for reuse by community and charity projects.
Both Household Waste Recycling Sites take paint pots.
Providing they are empty, metal paint pots can go in the metal container
Plastic paint pots go in your household rubbish.
Pallets can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Sites and recycled as timber providing they have been used for a household purpose
Use both sides of blank paper and reuse scrap paper for notes
In your household recycling. You can also recycle windowed envelopes and stapled paper.
Keep paper and cardboard dry in your recycling.
When paper and cardboard get too wet, cardboard and fibre prevent the material from being recycled. It’s a problem as water content affects the density of the material. This makes it harder to separate from other materials.
The moisture also causes fibres in paper and cardboard to break down. This makes them fragile when they dry out. It's then harder to turn the material into new products at paper mills. If too much wet material finds its way into fibre bales, the paper mills need to reject the bale.
If you have an open recycling box:
Shredded paper cannot be recycled and should be placed in your household rubbish
You can find out what to do with paper towels in section K to M, by looking under 'kitchen and paper towels'.
You can find out what to do with paving slabs in section G to J, by looking under 'hardcore and rubble'.
Pens cannot be recycled in your household recycling and should be put in your household rubbish
You can find out what to do with pesticides in section C by looking under 'chemicals'.
You cannot take petrol and diesel to either of the household recycling centres.
Do not dispose of petrol down drains, onto soil or near water.
Contact a hazardous waste disposal company to dispose of it in a safe way. Some examples are below and you can also complete an internet search for others:
Photographs cannot be recycled in your household recycling and should be put in your household rubbish
You can find out what to do with pillows and cushions in section A to B, by looking under 'blankets and bedding'.
A limited amount of waste from home improvements or DIY can be disposed of at our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
There is a limit of six small builder’s bags for each household each month.
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.
You can help reduce low grade plastics such as plastic pots, tubs and trays (PPTs) in the waste system by reusing containers or bottles to stock up at refill stations. You can also buy loose items like fruit and vegetables where possible.
We currently only collect plastics we know are recycled in the UK. This includes plastic bottles only.
Other types of plastics such as pots, tubs and trays (PTTs) are difficult to recycle and currently lack reliable end markets. Flexible plastics and films can be taken to supermarkets who offer recycling schemes.
Pots, tubs and trays should be placed in your household rubbish
By using a reusable bag instead.
As much as possible/ They can be used as bin liners.
Most supermarkets accept carrier bags as well as other soft plastics and films. Look out for the recycling bins, usually located by the main entrance.
This includes all bottles, like milk, water, shampoo, laundry liquid, bleach, detergent, handwash, shower gel.
You can get reusable water bottles for on the go drinking. You can also consider re-fillable bottles for laundry liquid, detergent, handwash, shampoo and shower gel. Many eco shops and supermarkets in Brighton have stations where you can re-fill bottles.
In your household recycling, with lids, and any pumps or triggers, still on.
Before recycling, rinse the bottles out, squash, and replace the lids. For milk bottles you can place the lids inside the bottle before squashing it.
Avoid by choosing non-packaged foods where possible.
You can take soft plastic films and wrappings (like clingfilm, plastic food bags), plastic netting and metallic plastic like crisp packets to supermarkets running recycling schemes.
Put plastic pots, tubs and trays in your household rubbish.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
Take hard plastics such as large toys, buckets and bins, water butts, plastic patio furniture, guttering and downpipes and large plastic storage containers at the Household Waste Recycling Sites.
If they are not in good condition and cannot be sold, donated or passed on for reuse, they can be put in your household refuse bin or general waste at the Household Waste Recycling Sites.
Electronic toys can be recycled at our Household Waste Recycling Sites, but please remove any batteries before dropping them off.
Where possible use a reusable bottle for on-the-go drinking
Plastic vending cups cannot be recycled, please dispose of them in your household rubbish
Polystyrene cannot be recycled and should be disposed of in your household rubbish
You can find out what to do with printer ink and toner cartridges in section G to J, by looking under 'ink cartridges'.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop or online using Freegle.
Cannot be recycled. While pyrex is a type of glass, it has been specially treated in the manufacturing process to withstand high temperatures, which makes it non-recyclable
If you have broken or chipped pyrex to get rid of, do not recycle it with other glass items. Simply dispose of it carefully in your household refuse.
It can also be taken to either of the Brighton & Hove Household Waste Recycling Sites and placed in the general waste facility.
In this section you will find:
You can find out what to do with quilts and duvets in section A to B, by looking under 'blankets and bedding'.
You can find out what to do with rubble, stones and gravel in section G to J, by looking under 'hardcore and rubble'.
Reuse
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
Take saucepans to either of our Household Waste Recycling Sites and put in the metal bin.
You can find out what to do with scrap metal in section K to M, by looking under 'metal - scrap'.
Reuse
Sell, donate locally to a charity shop or online using Freegle.
Recycle
You can take shoes to our textiles recycling points.
You can also recycle them at either of our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
You can reuse shredded paper as bedding for small animals
We cannot recycle shredded paper, you need to put it in your household waste bin.
You can find out what to do with soil in section G to J, by looking under 'hardcore and rubble'.
You can find out what to do with spectacles in section G to J, by looking under 'glasses'.
You can find out what to do with sofas and settees in section D to F, by looking under 'furniture'.
You can find out what to do with storage heaters in section D to F, by looking under 'electrical appliances and electronic equipment'.
We cannot recycle styrofoam. You need to put it in your household waste bin.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
We cannot recycle suitcases. You should take them to one of our Household Waste Recycling Sites for disposal.
You can refill tins as food containers, or to keep things organised in the bedroom, living room or bathroom.
You can also donate them locally using Freegle and other online platforms.
Metal tins can be taken to either of the Household Waste Recycling Sites
Sweet wrappers cannot be recycled and should be placed in your household rubbish.
You can refill tubs as food containers, or to keep things organised in the bedroom, living room or bathroom.
You can also donate them locally using Freegle and other online platforms.
We cannot recycle plastic sweet tubs. You should put them in your household waste bin along with any sweet wrappers.
In this section you will find:
You can find out what to do with tables in section D to F, by looking under 'furniture'.
You can find out what to do with telephone directories in section C, by looking under 'catalogues'.
You can find out what to do with televisions in section D to F, by looking under 'electrical appliances and electronic equipment'.
You can find out what to do with Tetra Pak in section C, by looking under 'cartons'.
Sell, or donate locally online using Freegle.
Find out more about how to recycle textiles.
Find your nearest textiles recycling point.
Sell, or donate locally online using Freegle.
A limited amount tiles - 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, in the hardcore and rubble container.
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.
You can find out what to do with tins and cans in section C, by looking under 'cans and tins'.
We cannot recycle these types of metal tubes because of the food residue left inside. You should put them in your household wate bin.
You cannot put tools in your household or communal recycling bins.
Hand tools, power tools and garden hand tools can be donated organisations such as the Brighton Community Workshop Project, this is a not for profit community organisation run by volunteers.
Tools are restored, cleaned, tested and put back into use either as part of the Brighton Tool Library, in their workshop, passed on to community groups or sold to help raise funds.
They may also be able to take workshop tools and workshop furniture.
You can find out what to do with towels, by looking under 'textiles'.
You can find out what to do with toys in section N to P, by looking under 'plastic toys and hard or rigid items'.
A limited amount of turf - six small builder’s bags for each household each month - from home garden improvements or DIY can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Sites.
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.
You can recycle tyres at our Hove recycling site.
We cannot accept them at our Brighton site.
Choose reusable or refillable instead of disposable vapes.
Vapes can be recycled by returning them to retailers.
Find your nearest vape recycling location.
Vapes contain hidden batteries that can cause fires when put in rubbish, recycling or litter bins. Please remove the battery if possible and recycle separately.
To prevent fires in our collection trucks and sorting facility in Hollingdean, return vapes and batteries to retailers using the link above.
Vapes and batteries are also accepted at our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
You can find out what to do with vacuum cleaners in section D to F, by looking under 'electrical appliances and electronic equipment'.
Sell, or donate locally online using Freegle.
We cannot recycle VHS tapes, you should put them in your household rubbish.
In this section you will find:
Sell or donate locally online using Freegle.
We cannot recycle wallpaper. You can put in your household rubbish or take it to one of our Household Waste Recycling Sites for disposal.
You can find out what to do with wardrobes in section D to F, by looking under 'furniture'.
You can recycle Brita cartridges.
Put any cartridges that aren't Brita in your household rubbish
You can find out what to do with weed killer in section C, by looking under 'chemicals'.
Sell or donate locally online using Freegle.
You can take wetsuits to your nearest textiles recycling point.
Sell or donate locally online using Freegle.
You can take wheelbarrows to either of our Household Waste Recycling Sites and put them the metal recycling container.
| Reuse | Sell or donate locally using Freegle and other online platforms. |
|---|---|
| Recycle |
Sell or donate locally online using Freegle.
We cannot recycle window panes or frames.
A limited number of window panes and frames from home improvements or DIY can be disposed of at our Household Waste Recycling Sites.
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.
A limited amount of wood - 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.
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.
Wrapping paper that hasn't been ripped can be reused as much as possible.
You can recycle standard wrapping paper or tissue paper in your mixed recycling at home or at one of our recycling points.
You cannot recycle plastic or foil wrapping paper, and you should put these in your household waste bin.
If you aren't sure what your wrapping paper is made of you can do the scrunch test. Scrunch the paper up and if it stays scrunched, it's paper and you can recycle it. If it bounces back it is most likely made with plastic or foil and you should reuse it or throw it away.
You can find out what to do with the Yellow Pages in section C, by looking under 'catalogues and magazines'.