Thank you for being the best recyclers in West Sussex!
In celebration of national Recycle Week from 17 - 24 October we’d like to say thank you to the residents of the Horsham District for all your hard work keeping us at the top of the West Sussex recycling tables!
Did you know that between us we recycle 53.5% of our waste - the highest in West Sussex by a whole 9%? We also rank at number 50 out of 338 local authorities in the country, which is a brilliant achievement.
But there’s always more to be done - especially as recent analysis of our general waste collections shows that 59% of what was thrown away across the District could have been reduced, reused or recycled.
We have collated some examples of good practice below that will hopefully inform and inspire you to find new ways to avoid as much unnecessary waste as possible.
Think Before you Throw
Waste is expensive - for our pockets and for the planet. Reducing what you waste is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment.
From thinking differently about what you buy to reducing your waste before you shop, using re-usable items, repairing or recycling all that you can and by composting at home - there are lots of ways we can make a real difference.
To avoid contaminating your recycling it's really important you make sure your recycling is:
- CLEAN - free from food and drink leftovers - a quick rinse will do.
- DRY - keep your recycling bin lid shut – soggy paper and cardboard can’t be recycled and can clog up machinery when sorted.
- LOOSE – not tied up in plastic bags.
Find out what can and can’t be recycled by visiting: West Sussex A-Z of recycling
Recycling plastics
Nearly all types of plastics can now be recycled.
The list of items that can be recycled at home has now expanded to include things you may not be aware of, such as takeaway coffee cups(but not polystyrene cups) and now plastic bottle tops. This includes trigger sprays, Tetra Pak, carton and milk bottle plastic lids - are all welcome as long as they are attached to squashed empty bottles.
Hard plastics such as garden furniture, coat hangers and plastic children's toys can also now be recycled at your local Recycling Centre.
Find out what additional plastics can now be recycled
Read our Top Tips for reducing your plastic waste
Recycling soft plastics
Supermarkets
A number of supermarkets now offer soft plastic recycling including Tesco, Sainsburys and the Co-op. More supermarket chains may also follow suit. Ask at your local supermarket - and if they don’t, encourage them to start!
Find your nearest participating supermarket
Sussex Green Living
Sussex Green Living work with a number of charities and companies, including TerraCycle, who recycle those hard-to-recycle plastics that you cannot recycle at home, such as bread bags, food pouches and plastic wrappers. This work helps to divert unwanted household plastics from being discarded in our rubbish bins, recycling them to make new products.
Find your nearest community recycling collection points
Recycling batteries
Did you know, over 800 tonnes of textiles and 130 tonnes of small electricals are thrown away in rubbish bins in the Horsham District every year? But we can change this!
Unwanted textiles and small broken electricals can now be collected at your kerbside by booking a free special collection from Horsham District Council.
Book your textiles and small electricals recycling collection
Or why not try to repair your small electrical items at one of several Repair Cafes across the District - see below for more details.
Reduce, refill, repair, reuse or recycle
By choosing to reduce, refill, repair, reuse or recycle we’re creating a more sustainable future for our planet.
Across the District communities are coming together to help collect, repair, or recycle those items that can’t be collected from the kerbside. Businesses too are joining in and many supermarkets now collect single use plastics for recycling.
Repair cafes
Rather than recycling ir discarding your broken item you may like to consider having the item repaired at your nearest Repair Cafe. Within the Horsham District there are repair cafes in Horsham, Storrington, Steyning, and Henfield. Bring any small item that doesn’t work to the café and skilled volunteers will do their best to mend it. There are also others sites across West Sussex. See the full list, compiled by Sussex Green Living.
Join the Refill Revolution
More and more refill shops are popping up in Sussex. Sussex Green Living volunteers have kindly compiled a list highlighting where these are across the District - so far!
List of refill shops in and around Horsham District
Watch this short video from Refill.org.uk
Share on social media
Please share any links, tips and new practices you have found useful and let's get people talking about how we can all reduce, refill, repair, reuse or recycle.
Tell businesses to act
Let your favourite brands know that you want to see them do more to reduce waste and offer environmentally friendly alternatives.
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