Refuse & Recycling - FAQ's

Shropshire Waste Partnership are responsible for managing household waste and recycling services on behalf of North Shropshire District Council and other Shropshire authorities.

These services will be delivered on behalf of SWP by Veolia Environmental Services. Veolia will be responsible for producing and delivering your collection date calendars and other information leaflets.

General Questions

Why is waste collected on an alternate weekly basis?

Space is running out where we can put waste and legislation requires that more and more waste that rots has to be removed from landfill sites. From 2010 all councils will have to offer all households a kerbside collection for at least two recyclable materials. As increased recycling and waste minimisation is a priority for this Council we introduced these changes at the first opportunity.

By providing these services we are able to deal with your waste in the most efficient way. By using the recycling boxes and putting your kitchen waste in the green garden bin you greatly reduce the waste you have to put in your grey refuse bin. We are providing the equivalent capacity to 5 ½ standard refuse sacks per week for collection. This should be more than enough for all but the very largest of households.

Does any other local authority collect waste this way?

This system has been introduced successfully by a number of local authorities throughout the UK and is proving to be most effective in increasing recycling and reducing waste landfilled dramatically. There are now well over 100 councils providing collections on a similar basis.

Is it really worth recycling and collecting waste separately?

We are hoping to recycle about half of the domestic waste we all produce in North Shropshire; this is a huge amount compared to a few years ago. Every other full refuse wagon will go for recycling and reuse. The only way we can do it is by collecting it separately.

The benefits to the environment are:

Reducing the amount of waste that has to be landfilled
Reducing the amount of harmful gasses, which are a cause of global warming, being released into the atmosphere
Reducing potential pollution of watercourses
Preserving valuable resources and environments from which materials are extracted

What are the benefits to me?

We all want to do our best for the environment and the improved services will make that easier, for example:

By making it more convenient to recycle
Allowing food waste to be composted
Keeping down the cost of waste disposal and recycling

When will you make my collections?

Please call the helpline on 0845 678 9009 or email customerfirst@shropshire-cc.gov.uk.

Details of collections days are also available by clicking here.

Aren't SWP obliged to collect my waste every week?

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 state that Waste Collection Authorities have a duty to arrange waste collection, however there is no stated or implied frequency. You will still receive a weekly collection but your waste will be sorted into separate containers so that we can deal with it most effectively.

How long does it take to get a bin/box delivered?

Please ring the helpline on 0845 678 9009 to request a bin or a box and you will be advised of approximately how long it will take.

Refuse Collection

Why won't you take any waste put at the side of the bin and why must the bin lid be closed?

There are health and safety implications for the collection crews from the point of view of both manual lifting and the possibility of injuries resulting from the contents of bags and open lids.

The bins provided are of a sufficient size to take most families refuse if they are using the green waste bin and the recycling boxes. However, please be aware that there is a 75kg weight limit for both the grey and green wheeled bins.

Why is the household refuse collection fortnightly?

By providing the additional recycling service and taking kitchen waste in the green bin there will be no need to collect household refuse weekly.

I have a large family and the grey bin is just not large enough. What will you do?

By separating your waste between the three schemes the containers should be large enough for everyone other than the very largest families.

Households with six or more permanent, full time residents, may purchase an additional grey bin if they are unable to cope with one bin. Please ring the helpline or email using the details below.

An additional recycling box is available free of charge if you are regularly putting out your existing two recycling boxes. Call the recycling helpline on 0845 678 9009 or email

customerfirst@shropshire-cc.gov.uk to request another recycling box.

Which bin do nappies go in? I have young children in nappies and I won't have enough room in my grey bin?

Nappies should be disposed of in the grey bin. However, if you haven't got enough room and you have a large family (6 or more) then you may qualify for an extra bin. We recommend you consider reusable nappies, which are better for the environment. For further information on reusable nappies please call the Real Nappy Network on 01743 271600 or 0870 777 1137.

Real Nappies - NSDC Cashback Scheme

The Real Nappy Campaign Information Leaflet

What are the opening times of the Household Waste Recycling Centres?

Householders may arrange their own transport and dispose of large or heavy items at the Household Recycling Centre at Waymills Industrial Estate, Whitchurch. This facility, which is free of charge, is operated by Shropshire County Council.

Winter opening times (from Monday 27 October 2008 to Sunday 1 March 2009) will be 9am to 5pm everyday. The Centres are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Where are the nearest Household Recycling Centres (HRCs)?

HRCs are operated by Shropshire County Council.

Whitchurch HRC, Waymills Civic Park, Whitchurch SY13 1TT
Battlefield HRC, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury SY1 3TG
Bridgnorth HRC, Barnsley Lane, Bridgnorth
Craven Arms HRC, Long Lane, Craven Arms
Oswestry HRC, Maesbury Road, Oswestry

Winter opening times (from Monday 27 October 2008 to Sunday 1 March 2009) will be 9am to 5pm everyday. The Centres are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Recycling of computer equipment

UK IT Recycling

Unit 1E

Centurion Park

Kendal Road

Harlescott

Shrewsbury SY1 4EH

0845 226 2563

enquiries@ukitrecycling.com

The above company details are provided for information only and should not be considered to be recommended by this Council.

Kerbside Box Recycling

Do I need to separate out the things in my boxes?

There is no need as all the different materials are sorted onto the vehicle into separate compartments. Though it would help the collection crews if you did, for example, put newspapers and magazines in one box and use the other for tins, bottles and jars.

Please leave the boxes out on collection days even if they are only part full. This will make it easier for staff to handle rather than leaving the boxes to get full.

Can I put broken glass in the recycling boxes?

Please don't. The contents of the boxes are sorted at the kerbside by the crew - they risk injury if there is broken glass in the boxes.

Why aren't lids provided for the recycling boxes?

Lids quickly become lost or broken. It makes no difference if the recyclates get wet, even the newspapers. Households can use a weight e.g. a piece of wood or plastic to weigh the recycling down. There are drainage holes in the boxes.

How do I recycle items that I can't leave at the kerbside?

Kerbside recycling boxes have been provided for householders to recycle glass, paper and cans. The boxes are put out for collection on the same day as the green wheeled bin.

Glass, paper, cans, textiles, shoes and books can be placed into the recycling banks provided by the Council, and at the Household Recycling Centre in Whitchurch.

Plastic bottles (type 1 and 2) can be recycled at the Household Recycling Centre in Whitchurch.

Why aren't you collecting plastics?

We are not currently collecting plastics in the kerbside boxes as we do not have the capacity on the vehicles. The vehicles would soon become full and it is not economical for the vehicles to keep driving to the transfer station where all the recyclates are bulked up before going to be recycled. Plastic recycling is expensive. There are many different types of plastic which need to be separated.

Plastic bottles (types 1 and 2) can be taken to the Household Recycling Centres at Whitchurch and Shrewsbury. There are plastics recycling banks at the bring sites in Ellesmere (Talbot Street Carpark), Hinstock (Memorial Hall), Market Drayton (Morrisons Carpark), Prees (Church Street Carpark), Wem (High Street Carpark) and Woore (The Swan Carpark).

Recycling Bank sites - North Shropshire district

What happens to the things we recycle?

All the separated materials are sent off for reprocessing, for example:

Bottles and jars are made into new bottles and jars
Steel cans go back into steel production and can be used for anything made out of steel - the possibilities are endless!
Aluminium cans are made into new aluminium cans - about 95% of the energy is saved compared to making aluminium cans from raw materials
Newspapers and magazines are pulped and made into newsprint

Two boxes are just not big enough for all my recyclables?

Just call the helpline on 0845 678 9009 or email customerfirst@shropshire-cc.gov.uk and we will log your request for a third box and provided you are regularly putting out two boxes we will deliver another free of charge.

There are a number of recycling centres in the district for the collection of glass, paper, cans, and clothing/textiles. The paper banks can also be used for the recycling of old Yellow Pages and telephone directories, which should not be put in your kerbside boxes.

Shropshire County Council runs five Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) at which you can recycle up to 20 different types of waste, including paper, cans, glass, plastic bottles, batteries, cardboard, electrical items and garden waste.

Whitchurch Household Recycling Centre

Shrewsbury Household Recycling Centre

Green Waste Collection

Why can we put kitchen waste in the green bins?

We are able to take kitchen waste as well as your garden waste and cardboard because the waste will be composted in sealed containers at higher temperatures. This effectively sterilises it and helps produce a high quality peat free compost.

Why can we put paper and cardboard in the green bin?

You can put uncoated paper and cardboard in the green bin as it will rot down in the same way as kitchen and garden waste. Please do not put plastic, wax or foil coated card in the bin as the coating will stop it rotting. Card which is not coated but printed on can be put in with no problems. Please remove packaging tape and staples from cardboard.

What types of cardboard can I put in the green bin?

Any type such as corrugated cardboard, food cartons such as breakfast cereal packets. Please do not put plastic, wax or foil coated card in the bin as the coating will stop it rotting.

Can I wrap food waste in foil or in plastic bags?

No, please do not put any types of plastic, foil, cling film or coated cardboard in the green bin. This type of material will stop the composting process.

Can I put stones and soil in the green bin?

No, please do not put soil or stones in the green bin as it can damage the machinery in the composting plant. Small amounts of soil, on weed roots are fine, but the process cannot accommodate large quantities of soil such as a bin full of cleared turf.

Where can we put shredded paper?

Shredded paper should be put into the green bin.

Is there a weight limit for the green bin?

Yes, there is a maximum weight limit of 75kg for the green bin.

Can we use biodegradable bags in the green bin?

No, as we cannot tell if the bags are biodegradable. Food waste can be wrapped in newspaper or kitchen paper.

One green bin just not enough for all my green waste

Just call the helpline on 0845 678 9009 or email customerfirst@shropshire-cc.gov.uk and we will discuss this with you. Normally we would encourage you to compost. Have you thought of composting some of your garden waste at home? This will save you money on buying compost and is the most environmentally friendly way of disposing of your garden waste. We can give you further advice on composting or buying a composting bin at reduced cost or a second bin, this could be provided to any size of household.

If you already have one garden waste bin you can request another one. This is currently free of charge, but will be chargeable from 1 April 2008 (indicative cost £60 plus VAT per annum).

NSDC is a partner in WRAP (Waste Resources Action Programme) phase III home composting scheme to promote the sale of subsidised compost bins. Compost bins can be purchased online by visiting www.recyclenow.com/compost.

Application for compost bins

Home Composting