Frequently Asked Questions about
Recycling (Monday Collections from August 2008 only)

The information on this page only applies to new collections from June 2008.  This means they will only be relevant to you if your NEW collection day is a Monday, because other days haven't begun the new system yet.

What will I be able to recycle at kerbside under the new service?

What containers will I use under the proposed new service?

Why can't the Council take plastic packaging (food trays, yoghurt pots etc..)?

What is the Council doing about packaging from supermarkets?

What if I have more recycling than I can fit in my kerbside recycling box

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

Can I put broken glass in the recycling boxes?

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

What happens to the things we recycle?

What will I be able to recycle at kerbside under the new service?

Under the new service (for everyone with a MONDAY collection from 4 August 2008 only), we will be collecting the following materials every fortnight:

  • paper (newspapers, magazines, office paper, Phone Directories)
  • food and drink cans
  • glass bottles and jars
  • Aerosol cans.
  • Textiles
  • Foil
  • Household batteries
  • Plastic bottles (from 4 August 2008 this is in Axminster, Beer and Seaton areas only - other areas to follow)

What containers will I use under the proposed new service?

You should continue to use your kerbside recycling box (es) for the recycling of paper, cans, aerosol cans glass, textiles, foil and household batteries. This should be put out alongside your green box (es) every fortnight on your normal collection day.  Additional recycling boxes can be requested by calling the Council on 01395 517528.

Why can't the Council take plastic packaging (food trays, yoghurt pots etc..)?

This sort of packaging often has the recycling symbol on it but we do not currently have an outlet for this type of material.  It is light but very bulky and therefore expensive to transport.  These items are very low value making it difficult for reprocessors to deal with it economically.  We are aware that many manufacturers of packaging use the recycling symbol but this only indicates that it is theoretically possible to recycle it, not that there is a reprocessing company willing to take it.

What is the Council doing about packaging from supermarkets?

The Council has asked all supermarkets within the East Devon District to reduce the amount of packaging they generate. Many supermarkets and other multi-national organisations have now signed up to the Courtauld Agreement to reduce packaging significantly in the future.

What if I have more recycling than I can fit in my kerbside recycling box?

The recycling boxes cannot be any larger because they would become too heavy to lift.  However, you can buy additional recycling boxes.

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

All the different materials are sorted at the kerbside manually into separate compartments.  However, it would help the collection crews if you could separate the materials, and rinse bottles/cans etc.

Can I put broken glass in the recycling boxes?

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

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

There are nearly 30 recycling banks across the District for various materials.  Visit: www.recycledevon.org to find out where your nearest recycling banks are.

Many more materials can be recycled at the Household Recycling Centres details at www.recycledevon.org.

What happens to the things we recycle?

All the separated materials are sent off for reprocessing.  Bottles and jars are made into new ones, steel and aluminium cans go back into steel production and newspapers and magazines are pulped and made into newsprint.