To recycle, or not to recycle (and how) - an A-Z guide

Disposable nappies belong in your REFUSE bin.

Please Remember: If they do not fit in your refuse bin, you can purchase nappy sacks from Council offices and selected Libraries to be put out next to your refuse bin. Please note that only these sacks with the council logo will be collected.

Hints and Tips: Why not try 'real' nappies? Three Rivers Council along with WasteAware have lots of information about where to get them, how to use them, and support groups.

Facts:

• Did you know 14% of landfill is disposable nappies and they take around 500 years to break down.
• Babies go through 8,000 disposable nappies on average, alternatively people could use just 20 reusable ones.
• Most single-use nappies are about 50% plastic and 50% wood pulp.
• In the UK alone, we throw away around 400,000 tonnes of single-use nappies. And coffee cups? Just 25,000 tonnes.

Drink cans belong with your RECYCLING.

Examples: Fizzy drink and beer cans.

Please Remember: Lids can be left on, but any left-over liquid or food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. It does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.

Facts:

• Recycling an aluminium can saves 95% of the energy needed to make a new one.
• Recycling a single aluminium can will save enough energy to power a TV for up to three hours.
• Cans are easy to recycle, each recycled can, could be back on shelves within 60 days.
• Recycling just one tonne of aluminium saves up to 9 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Drinking glasses and vases belong in your REFUSE bin.

Examples: Wine glasses or pint glasses.

Please Remember: Put broken glasses in a bag, box or wrap them up to prevent possible injury as a result of broken glass. Please also donate drinking glasses in good condition.