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FAQs about recycling

 

What can I recycle using my wheelie bin or green box?

• Any type of paper - e.g. newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard packaging, such as cereal boxes, catalogues, greetings cards, envelopes and directories (but no Yellow Pages or shredded paper please) 
• All plastic bottles – e.g. plastic milk cartons, drinks bottles, detergent or shampoo bottles. We don't take any plastic packaging that's not a bottle (no yoghurt pots or plastic trays). Please take lids off the bottles first (these are made from a different type of plastic)
• All types of food and drink cans

Why can’t I recycle all types of plastic?

Unfortunately, only plastic bottles can be recycled at the moment because it’s not economically or environmentally efficient to recycle other types of plastic (even if they display the recycling triangle).

Why can’t I recycle shredded paper?

The problem with recycling shredded paper is that the Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) uses automatic sorting equipment to sort through the vast amount of recycling.  The machine recognises many different types of material but has difficulty distinguishing small or shredded paper.  Shredded paper can also cause problems in jamming the machinery.

Use your shredded paper in your compost or put into a paper bank and it will then go straight to the papermill rather than the MRF.

Why can’t I recycle Yellow Pages?

Yellow Pages cannot be recycled in the kerbside collection as this is taken is that the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Copnor, this facility is currently configured to ensure that Yellow Pages are rejected (the MRF separates all the recyclable material semi-automatically by a series of conveyor belts).

However, Yellow Pages can now be recycled in the numerous paper bring banks around the city.

Why can’t I recycle Tetra Paks?

Typically, a Tetra Pak product is made with 70-90 per cent paperboard, 10-25 per cent polyethylene and around 5 per cent aluminium foil. The combination of different materials makes it harder for paper mills to process using traditional methods. None of the paper mills we supply will accept Tetra Paks.

While Tetra Pak consults with UK paper mills, the majority of recyclable cartons are being shipped to Norway's Hurum paper mill for processing. We are in communication with Tetra Pak and await the outcome of these talks. If UK mills start to accept we will look to collect via our paper bank network.

Do I need to sort my recyclables by type?

No. Put all your recyclables mixed and loose into your recycling container. They will be sorted for you after collection. Please don't put your recycling in plastic carrier bags as these cannot be recycled and we do not have the facility to empty all the bags at our sorting centre. If you have too much recycling to fit into your current container let us know and we can send you a larger one. 

Do I have to wash out my recyclables?

Please give plastic bottles and cans a quick rinse out before putting them in your wheelie bin or green box. Getting rid of any food or drink residue will help keep your recycling container clean and will make the people who initially sort the material's job more pleasant!

Can I put glass in my recycling container?

No.  You can’t put glass out for the recycling collection. This is because it breaks easily and mixes in with the other materials, preventing them being recycled. Instead, take glass to your neighbourhood recycling point. There are over 50 sites in the city so there should be one near you.

Where do I recycle large or bulky items?

You can take them to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Port Solent. It’s open all week but remember there’s a 175cm (5'9'') height barrier, that’s only open on Fridays and Saturday mornings.

What do I do if my recycling container is not emptied or goes missing?

Call the City Help Desk on 023 9283 4092 to report it. If you call within 48 hours they can organise the recycling crew to return if your recycling has been missed. They can also send you a new recycling container for free and you have the choice of either a wheelie bin or green box.

What do I do if I’m having problems taking part in the Pompey Recycling Scheme?

If you have any problems at all with recycling we have a Recycling Advice Team on hand to help. To arrange a visit call the City Help Desk and a recycling adviser will get back to you. They can help if you are confused about what you can and can't recycle, if you're not sure where you collection point is, if you need help moving your wheelie bin to your collection point and much more.

Why can’t we recycle more types of materials in our wheelie bin or green box?

In Hampshire, we are constantly looking at the recycling markets and investigating which new materials we might be able to collect. The two most likely materials to be introduced to the Pompey Recycling Scheme will be glass and possibly green garden waste - we'll keep you posted!

Why has a yellow hanger been left on my wheelie bin?

We can only recycle food and drinks cans, paper, card and all other types of plastic bottles from the doorstep. If you have been left a yellow hanger, it will mean that one of the following items has been put in your wheelie bin:

• Textiles and clothing - recycle using local banks 
• Plastic packaging e.g. food trays, tubs and pots 
• Aerosol cans and foil e.g. food and cake trays 
• Drinks cartons e.g. fruit juice boxes 
• Shredded paper - recyle using local banks 
• Polystyrene or cellophane - e.g. crisp packets and sweet wrappers 
• Plastic bags - please place all your recycling loose in your bin or box. If you need more space call the helpdesk on 92834092 for an extra bin or box.

The card has been left, to help you get it 100% right next time, so please don't worry!  With your help we can continue to be one of the "cleanest" recycling cities.

Why has a red hanger been left on my wheelie bin?

If your wheelie bin has been left a red hanger and not emptied it is either because:

• Your bin contained things that we can't collect - you can only include paper, cans, card and plastic bottles
• Your bin was in the wrong place - it needs to be left for emptying where the front boundary of your property meets the pavement
• Your bin was out at the wrong time - it needs to be out by 7am on collection day. You can put it out after 7pm the night before.  Please bring your bin in as soon as possible after emptying.