Aerosols
You can recycle empty aerosol cans in your blue recycling bin. Please put their plastic lids in your rubbish bin.
Be careful not to pierce or squash the aerosol can.
You cannot recycle aerosols that have a skull and crossbones or black cross on an orange background. You must put these in your rubbish bin.
You can find more information on the aerosols page on the Hampshire County Council website.
Aluminium cans
You can recycle both aluminium and steel drink cans in your blue recycling bin.
Please rinse them out first and leave the lids and ring-pull attached or placed inside the can.
Aluminium foil
You cannot recycle aluminium foil in your blue recycling bin, however some charities do collect aluminium foil.
You can put it in your rubbish bin or take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Why we can't recycle aluminium foil
Aluminium recycling companies in the UK will not accept large amounts of foil mixed with cans. Our materials recovery facility cannot sort these two materials, so we do not accept aluminium foil. Foil is also often contaminated with food, which can reduce the quality of other materials in your recycling bin, especially paper.
Ammunition
You cannot dispose of ammunition or explosives in our rubbish and recycling collections or at Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centres.
Please contact your local police station for advice.
You can find more information on the ammunition page on the Hampshire County Council website.
Animal waste
You can put small amounts of bagged up animal waste in your green rubbish bin.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centres or contact a private disposal company to remove it.
You can find more information on the animal waste page on the Hampshire County Council website.
Asbestos
If you have small quantities of cement bonded asbestos sheets to dispose of (no more than 15 sheets of approximate size 120 cm by 60 cm), you can take them to one of Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centres that are specially licensed to receive this type of hazardous waste. These are in:
- Andover
- Basingstoke
- Efford
- Netley
- Portsmouth
They cannot dispose of any other type of asbestos.
For further details of your nearest disposal site and guidance on safe handling, please visit the asbestos page on the Hampshire County Council website.
Bath
We can collect plastic or ceramic baths through our bulky waste collection service. There is a fee for this service.
You can also take a bath to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre. Please ask the site staff for guidance as they may charge a fee.
Batteries
We offer a kerbside battery recycling service. Please place your used batteries into a small bag and leave it on top of either your blue or green bin.
Please visit our battery recycling page for more information, including the types of battery we accept.
If you live in a flat and don't have your own bin to place your batteries on top of, you can recycle your batteries at most supermarkets and DIY stores. You can also bring them to the Council Offices or take them to the household waste recycling centre. Please do not place them into your recycling bin as they can cause a fire.
Bed base
If the bed base is in good condition, there are a number of organisations and charities, such as the British Heart Foundation, Debra and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice that will take it for resale.
Alternatively, you can arrange for a bulky waste collection of an item of furniture. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre, where it can be sold on for reuse if in good condition.
Bedding
You may be able to donate good quality bedding to a charity shop.
Alternatively, you can put sheets and pillowcases into textile banks. Please see our recycling points page for more information.
You can't put duvets or pillows in textile banks, so please take these to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Birthday cards
You can recycle cards that do not have glitter or foil on them. Please put them in your blue recycling bin.
Books
You cannot recycle books in our recycling bins.
You can donate books to your local charity shop, or advertise via social media.
Bottle lids
You can recycle plastic bottle lids along with plastic bottles in your blue recycling bin.
Please crush the plastic bottle and screw the lid on tightly or push the lid inside the bottle.
Broken glass
Broken glass cannot be put in your blue recycling bin and it is a hazard to our recycling handlers.
It should be wrapped up and placed into your green rubbish bin.
Bubble wrap
Please put bubble wrap in your green rubbish bin as it cannot be recycled.
Bulky waste
We offer a service to collect larger items of household waste from your home. We charge for this service.
Please see our bulky waste collection service page for more information.
Candle jars
Candle jars are usually made from heat-resistant glass, so can't be recycled with your food and drink bottles and jars.
Why not reuse them and make the candle again by buying wax pellets and a wick?
If you do not want to reuse the jar, they can be put into the sheet glass recycling container at Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre. Otherwise they should be put in your green rubbish bin.
Cans
You can recycle both aluminium and steel drink cans in your blue recycling bin.
Please rinse them out first and leave the lids and ring-pull attached or placed inside the can.
Car batteries
You cannot recycle car batteries in our recycling bins or by using our battery collection scheme.
You can take them to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre for recycling and safe disposal.
Cardboard
You can recycle cardboard in your blue recycling bin. Please remove any packing tape and flatten large boxes.
You can also recycle large cardboard boxes and packaging at Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centres.
Carpet
You can take carpet to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre for disposal.
You can also arrange for a bulky waste collection of carpet. There is a charge for this service.
Carrier bags
You cannot recycle carrier bags in our blue recycling bins.
Many larger supermarkets accept carrier bags for recycling.
If you cannot reuse your carrier bags or find a place to recycle them, please put them in your green rubbish bin.
Why we can't recycle carrier bags
Individual carrier bags can wrap around machinery in our sorting facility and can be mixed up with paper, making the paper less recyclable.
Bagging recyclable items into carrier bags in your blue bin also prevents them from being sorted.
Cassettes and cases
You cannot recycle cassettes and cases in our blue recycling bins.
Local charities may accept these to sell through their shops.
You can also get rid of them in your green rubbish bin or at Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centres.
Cat litter
Cat litter can be a hazard to our recycling handlers.
It should be wrapped up and placed in your green rubbish bin.
CDs
You cannot recycle CDs in our blue recycling bins.
You can donate CDs to your local charity shop, or advertise your item via social media or online selling platforms.
We also have a number of charity music banks. Please see our recycling points page for more information.
Ceramics and crockery
Why not try upcycling old ceramics or crockery.
Small items such as broken plates can be put into your green rubbish bin.
Chairs
If the furniture is in good condition, there are a number of organisations and charities, such as the British Heart Foundation, Debra and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice that will take it for resale.
Alternatively, you can arrange for a bulky waste collection of an item of furniture. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre, where it can be sold on for reuse if in good condition.
Chemicals
We cannot accept chemicals like white spirit, oven cleaner, or anti-freeze in our rubbish or recycling bins.
Please see the household and garden chemicals page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Christmas bows
You cannot recycle Christmas bows. Please put them in your green rubbish bin.
Christmas cards
You can recycle Christmas cards that do not have glitter or foil on them. Please put them in your blue recycling bin.
Christmas trees
We offer a tree collection service for composting your real Christmas tree, after Christmas.
You can arrange a bulky waste collection of an artificial Christmas tree. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take real and artificial trees to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centres.
Cling film
Cling film cannot be recycled. Please put it in your green rubbish bin.
Clinical waste
We offer a free collection of certain types of clinical waste with a referral from a healthcare professional. This includes infectious and/or dangerous items such as sharps and soiled surgical dressings.
Please see our clinical waste page for more information.
Clotheslines
You can take rotary lines and clothes airers to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
You can also arrange for a bulky waste collection service of these items. There is a charge for this service.
Clothing
You can take clothing that is in a good condition to a charity shop for resale.
We also have a number of textile banks. Please see our recycling points page for more information.
Please do not put them in your blue recycling bin.
Coat hangers
You cannot recycle clothes hangers in your blue recycling bin.
You can take coat hangers that are in good condition to charity shops.
Please put broken coat hangers into your green rubbish bin.
Coffee cups
Single use coffee cups cannot be recycled in your blue bin.
Sainsbury's in Brookwood is the nearest large-scale recycling collection point.
Some large coffee shops and fast food chains recycle their paper cups if you dispose of them in store.
Commercial waste
We do not collect commercial waste in your green or blue household bins.
You must arrange for a waste collection service through a commercial waste company.
Please visit our waste, cleaning and landscaping services for local businesses page for more information.
Compost
You can use compost around your garden, or you can try offering it to a neighbour.
You can get rid of soil and rubble at Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre. There is a charge for this service.
Please see the soil page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Computers
You can recycle laptops using our small electrical items recycling service.
You can take desktop computers to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
There are other organisations that accept computers for recycling. Search for 'weee recycling' online.
You can also arrange for a bulky waste collection of computers. There is a charge for this service.
Cooking oil
You can get rid of small amounts of cooking oil in your green rubbish bin.
Please make sure that it has cooled down first, put it back inside its bottle or container and then put it in your bin.
No oils or liquids should be put in your food waste caddy.
Diesel
You cannot get rid of diesel or petrol using our waste collection service or at to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centres.
Please contact a private disposal company, or search for car breakers or garages online.
DIY waste
You can get rid of DIY waste at to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre. There may be a charge for this.
Please see the DIY waste page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Dressing table
If the furniture is in good condition, there are a number of organisations and charities, such as the British Heart Foundation, Debra and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice that will take it for resale.
Alternatively, you can arrange for a bulky waste collection of an item of furniture. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre, where it can be sold on for reuse if in good condition.
Drink cartons (tetra paks)
You should put drinks cartons in your green rubbish bin.
Why we can't recycle drinks cartons
We can't currently recycle drinks cartons due to their foil lining and plastic coating. Our recycling facilities do not have the capability to separate them out from other materials.
There is only one facility in the UK capable of recycling them and that facility is not yet able to recycle 100% of a carton.
DVDs
You cannot recycle DVDs in our blue recycling bins.
You can donate DVDs to your local charity shop, offer them to someone through Freecycle, or sell them on.
We also have a number of charity DVD banks. Please see our recycling points page for more information.
Engine oil
You cannot put engine oil in your rubbish bin, but you can take it Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
There are some restrictions for how much engine oil you can get rid of. Please see the engine oil page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Envelopes
You can recycle envelopes, including those with film windows, in your blue recycling bin.
Electricals
We can collect your small electrical items for recycling. Please put them on top of your green or blue bin on your collection day. Visit our small electrical items recycling page for further details.
You can take electrical equipment to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre for recycling and safe disposal.
Some local organisations also accept electrical items for recycling. Search 'weee recycling' for more information.
Explosives
You cannot dispose of ammunition or explosives in our rubbish and recycling collections or at Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centres.
Please contact your local police station for advice.
Fire extinguishers
Please check with the fire extinguisher manufacturer first to see if they will take them back for recycling.
If the manufacturer of the fire extinguisher is unable to take them back, you can take them to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Please visit the fire extinguishers page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information about any restrictions.
Fish and chip paper
Due to oil and food residue left on the paper, fish and chip wrappings cannot be recycled and should be placed into your green rubbish bin
Fish tank
If your fish tank is in a good condition you can give it to someone or sell it, using a website like Freecycle or Gumtree.
You can arrange for a bulky waste collection of a fish tank. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre, where it can be sold on for reuse if in a good condition.
Flares
You cannot put flares in our rubbish or recycling bins or take them to a household waste recycling centre.
Please visit the flares page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information and to find out your options.
Foil and foil containers
You cannot recycle aluminium foil or foil containers in your blue recycling bin, however some charities do collect aluminium foil.
Please put any foil or foil containers in your green rubbish bin, where it will be taken to an energy recovery facility.
Why we don't collect aluminium foil or containers
Aluminium foil cannot be recycled in your blue recycling bin as it cannot be sorted at our materials recovery facility. Aluminium recycling companies in the UK will not accept large amounts of foil mixed with cans.
Foil is also often contaminated with food, which can reduce the quality of other materials in your recycling bin, especially paper.
Food packaging
Please put plastic food packaging in your green rubbish bin, where it will be taken to an energy recovery facility and burnt, helping to generate electricity.
Why we don't recycle plastic packaging
Plastic food packaging cannot currently be recycled due to limited reprocessing facilities available in the UK.
Food waste
We offer a separate food waste collection service, see our food waste recycling page for more details. Using this service, your food waste is diverted from landfill and taken to an energy recovery facility where it helps to generate electricity.
You can compost some food waste in a home compost bin. You can buy discounted home composting bins by visiting the Get composting website.
Fridges and freezers
You can arrange for a bulky waste collection of a fridge or freezer. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Please see the fridges and freezers page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Fruit stones
Fruit stones can be put in your food waste caddy.
Fuel
Please contact a commercial disposal company or search for car breakers or garages online. Fuels are not accepted at household waste recycling centres.
Furniture
If the furniture is in good condition, there are a number of organisations and charities, such as the British Heart Foundation, Debra and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice that will take it for resale.
Alternatively, you can arrange for a bulky waste collection of an item of furniture. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre, where it can be sold on for reuse if in good condition.
Garden waste
You can compost green garden waste in your own garden using a home compost bin. You can buy discounted home composting bins by visiting the Get composting website.
We also offer a garden waste collection service. See our garden waste recycling service page for more information. Garden waste must not be placed into your green or blue bins.
Alternatively, you can take garden waste to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Gas bottle
Please contact the manufacturer of the gas bottle first, to check if they can take it back for reuse, refilling or disposal.
Alternatively, you may need to contact a private disposal company.
Hampshire County Council's Household waste recycling centres accept some types of gas bottles if no alternative disposal route can be used. Please see the gas bottles page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Glass bottles and jars
Please place glass bottles and jars in your kerbside box or purple bin (if you live in a flat). Please do not place glass bottles and jars in your green or blue bins. You can find out more by visiting our glass recycling page.
Alternatively, we have a number of bottle banks in the Aldershot and Farnborough. Please see recycling points for locations.
Please see the glass bottles and jars page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Hazardous household waste
You cannot dispose of hazardous waste with your normal household rubbish. Hazardous waste that you might have at home includes:
- Garden chemicals
- Bleach, or other strong cleaners and disinfectants
- Gas bottles
- Solvents (including paint strippers/thinners)
You can take it to selected Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centres.
Healthcare waste
We offer a free special collection for healthcare waste for items such as sharps and soiled surgical dressings, with a referral from a healthcare professional.
Please see our clinical waste collection page for further details.
Please do not place these items into your green or blue bins.
Helium bottles
Please contact the manufacturer of the gas bottle first, to check if they can take it back for reuse, refilling or disposal.
Alternatively, you may need to contact a private disposal company.
Hampshire County Council's Household waste recycling centres accept some types of gas bottles if no alternative disposal route can be used. Please see the gas bottles pages on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Japanese knotweed
Japanese Knotweed cannot be put in your garden waste bin or taken to household waste recycling centre sites under any circumstances.
Please see the Japanese knotweed page on the GOV.UK website for advice or phone the Environment Agency on 0370 8506506.
Junk mail
You can recycle junk mail made of paper and card in your blue recycling bin. Make sure you remove any personal details first.
You can reduce the amount of junk mail you get by signing up to the Mailing Preference Service for free. This removes your details from up to 95% of direct mail lists.
Kitchen waste
We offer a separate food waste collection service, see our food waste recycling page for more details. Using this service, your food waste is diverted from landfill and taken to an energy recovery facility where it helps to generate electricity.
You can compost some food waste in a home compost bin. You can buy discounted home composting bins by visiting the Get composting website.
Knives
Knives can be given to a charity shop if they are in a good condition.
Knives should be wrapped in old newspaper or similar and be put in your green rubbish bin. Knives must never be put in your recycling bin, or a public litter bin.
You can also put them in the metal skip Hampshire County Council's Household waste recycling centre
Laminate flooring
You can arrange for a bulky waste collection service collection of laminate flooring. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Leaves
You can compost green garden waste, such as leaves, in your own garden using a home compost bin. You can buy discounted home composting bins by visiting the Get composting website.
We also offer a garden waste collection service. See our garden waste recycling service page for more information. Garden waste must not be placed into your green or blue bins.
Alternatively, you can take garden waste to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Light bulbs
We cannot accept light bulbs or fluorescent tubes in your glass box or bin.
We can collect your LED bulbs from the kerbside for recycling. Please place them in a small bag on top of your blue or green bin.
You can get rid of traditional light bulbs in your green rubbish bin. Please wrap them first.
Energy efficient light bulbs and fluorescent tubes should be recycled at Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Magazines
You can recycle magazines in your blue recycling bin. Please remove them from any plastic covers before recycling, even if they say they are compostable.
Margarine tubs
You cannot recycle margarine tubs in your blue recycling bin.
Please place this packaging in your green rubbish bin, where it will be taken to an energy recovery facility and burnt, helping to generate electricity.
Why we don't recycle margarine tubs
Plastic food packaging, like margarine tubs, cannot currently be recycled due to limited reprocessing facilities available in the UK.
Mattress
You can arrange for a bulky waste collection service collection of mattresses. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Medicines
You can return any unwanted medicines to your local chemist for safe disposal.
Metal
You can recycle metal at your local Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Microwaves
You can arrange for a bulky waste collection service collection of microwaves. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Mirrored wardrobe
If the furniture is in good condition, there are a number of organisations and charities, such as the British Heart Foundation, Debra and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice that will take it for resale.
Alternatively, you can arrange for a bulky waste collection of an item of furniture. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre, where it can be sold on for reuse if in good condition.
Mobile phones
You can donate mobile phones together with their accessories to charities (remember to remove your SIM card first).
Mobile phones can also be recycled at Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Nappies
Disposable nappies cannot be recycled. Please bag them and put them in your green rubbish bin.
Why not try real nappies as an alternative to disposable nappies? They are reusable cloth nappies that can save you money and reduce waste. Please see the Change Works website for more information and advice on how to switch.
Needles
We offer a free special collection for healthcare waste for items such as needles, sharps and soiled surgical dressings, with a referral from a healthcare professional.
Please see our clinical waste collection page for further details.
Please do not place these items into your green or blue bins.
If you find a discarded needle in the street, please contact our Customer Services team giving a clear description of where the needle is.
Paint
You can take paint to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre. Please make sure paint is in a suitable, sealed container. You can take a maximum of five litres per person per month.
Where possible, paint will be made available to community repaint schemes for reuse.
Please visit the paint page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Pesticides
We cannot accept pesticides in our rubbish or recycling bins.
Please see household and garden chemicals page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Pet bedding
Straw bedding from herbivores/vegetarian animals can be composted at home. If you are unable to compost it, small amounts can be placed into your green rubbish bin or you can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Petrol, oil and other fuels
We cannot accept fuels in our rubbish or recycling bins, and you should not take fuels to your local household waste recycling centre.
Please contact a commercial disposal company or search for car breakers and garages online.
Pillows
Old pillows can't be recycled in your blue bin or in a textiles bank. You take them to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Pillows in good condition could be donated to local charities.
Pizza boxes
Pizza boxes are not recyclable because of the grease and left over food.
Please put them in your green rubbish bin
Plasterboard
You can dispose of plasterboard at Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre. There is a charge for this service.
Please visit the DIY waste page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Plastic bags
You can reuse some of your sturdier plastic carrier bags or invest in a reusable one. Supermarkets offer to swap your old plastic bags for new ones, once they are unusable.
We cannot recycle plastic bags, so please put them in your green rubbish bin.
Also, please do not put recyclable items into carrier bags and put them into your blue bin. This prevents them from being sorted as the sorting plant cannot open the bags, so they are thrown away unopened.
Plastic bottles
You can recycle plastic bottles, including drinks bottles, shampoo bottles, and cleaning product bottles. Please put them into your blue recycling bin.
Plastic lids
You can recycle plastic bottle lids along with plastic bottles in your blue recycling bin.
Please crush the plastic bottle and screw the lid on tightly or push the lid inside the bottle.
Plastic packaging
You can recycle all types of plastic bottles in your blue recycling bin.
You should put other types of plastic packaging, including packaging made from recycled bottles, in your green rubbish bin.
Why we don't recycle all types of plastic packaging
Plastic packaging, except from plastic bottles, cannot currently be recycled due to limited reprocessing facilities available in the UK.
Please visit the plastic packaging, pots, tubs and trays page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Plastic pots and tubs or trays
You should put plastic pots, tubs and trays in your green rubbish bin.
Why we don't recycle plastic pots, tubs and trays
Plastic food packaging, like pots, tubs and trays, cannot currently be recycled due to limited reprocessing facilities available in the UK.
Please visit the plastic packaging, pots, tubs and trays page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Polystyrene
Please put polystyrene in your green rubbish bin
Why we don't recycle polystyrene
Polystyrene cannot currently be recycled due to limited reprocessing facilities in the UK.
Pringles
Pringles tubes can't be recycled in your blue bin as they are made from paper, foil and metal which cannot easily be separated.
There are however 300 Pringles recycling points nationally. Find your nearest collection point on the Terracycle website.
Printer cartridges
You could use refillable cartridges which can save you up to 60% of the price.
Alternatively, you can return most ink cartridges to their manufacturer for recycling. Details of how to do this are usually printed on the cartridge box.
Some charities also collect empty ink cartridges for recycling.
Radiators
You can arrange for a bulky waste collection service collection of radiators. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Razors and razorblades
Razors and razorblades should be placed into your green rubbish bin. Please wrap them carefully to prevent injury to our waste operatives.
Gillette also run an envelope recycling scheme, find out more on their website.
Rubble
You can take rubble to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre. There is a charge for this service. Please visit the rubble page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Sharps
We offer a free special collection for healthcare waste for items such as sharps and soiled surgical dressings with a referral from a healthcare professional.
Please see our clinical waste collection page for further details.
Please do not place these items into your green or blue bins.
If you find a discarded needle in the street, please contact our Customer Services team on 01252 398399 or email customerservices@rushmoor.gov.uk, giving a clear description of where the needle is.
Shoes
You can donate shoes to many charities.
You can also donate shoes at one of the textiles and shoes banks located in Aldershot and Farnborough. Please see our recycling points page for locations.
Please do not put them in your blue recycling bin.
Shredded paper
You can compost shredded paper in your home compost bin. You can purchase discounted home composting bins by visiting the Get composting website.
You can also use shredded paper as a packing material if you are moving house or posting something.
Alternatively, please put shredded paper into your green rubbish bin.
Why we don't recycle shredded paper
Shredded paper can't be recycled because the strands of paper are too small to be sorted from the other materials in your recycling bin at our material recovery facility.
Shredded paper will also get lost around the plant and it can become a fire hazard.
Finally, shredding paper shortens the length of the fibres and paper recycling companies find it harder to recycle it.
Sofa
If the furniture is in good condition, there are a number of organisations and charities, such as the British Heart Foundation, Debra and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice that will take it for resale.
Alternatively, you can arrange for a bulky waste collection of an item of furniture. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre, where it can be sold on for reuse if in good condition.
Soil
You can take soil to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre. There is a charge for this service. Please visit the soil page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Styrofoam
Please put styrofoam in your green rubbish bin.
Why we don't recycle styrofoam
Styrofoam cannot currently be recycled due to limited reprocessing facilities in the UK.
Syringes
We offer a free special collection for healthcare waste for items such as syringes, sharps and soiled surgical dressings, with a referral from a healthcare professional.
Please see our clinical waste collection page for further details.
Please do not place these items into your green or blue bins.
If you find a discarded needle in the street, please contact our Customer Services team on 01252 398 399 or email customerservices@rushmoor.gov.uk, giving a clear description of where the needle is.
Table and chairs
If the furniture is in good condition, there are a number of organisations and charities, such as the British Heart Foundation, Debra and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice that will take it for resale.
Alternatively, you can arrange for a bulky waste collection of an item of furniture. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre, where it can be sold on for reuse if in good condition.
Take away bags
Take away bags can only be recycled if they are completely empty and free from grease and food stains.
Please put them in your green rubbish bin.
Tapes
You cannot recycle cassettes and cases in our blue recycling bins.
Local charities may accept these to sell through their shops.
You can also get rid of them in your green rubbish bin collection or at Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Teabags
Teabags and loose tea leaves can go in your food waste caddy.
Even though some contain plastic, the amount is so small it does not affect the recycling process.
Tetra paks
You should put tetra paks in your green rubbish bin.
Why we can't recycle tetra paks
We can't currently recycle tetra paks due to their foil lining and plastic coating. Our recycling facilities do not have the capability to separate them out from other materials.
There is only one facility in the UK capable of recycling them, in Yorkshire, and that facility is not yet able to recycle 100% of a carton.
Textiles
You can donate good quality textiles to a charity shop for resale.
Alternatively you can put bagged textiles, such as clothing, linen, curtains, and shoes, into one of our textile banks in Aldershot and Farnborough. Even damaged items can be recycled. Please see our recycling points page for locations.
Tins
You can recycle all types of tins, including food, drink and pet food tins, in your blue recycling bin. Please rinse them out first and leave the lids attached or placed inside the tin.
Tissue paper
You should put tissue paper in your green rubbish bin.
Why we can't recycle tissue paper
We can't currently recycle tissue paper because it is mainly made from already recycled paper. This means that it can't be recycled again as the fibres are too short and will result in poor pulp in the recycling process.
Toothpaste tubes
Toothpaste tubes cannot be recycled.
Please put them in your green rubbish bin.
Toys
Clean, working toys with all the parts are accepted at charity shops.
Please do not put any toys in your blue recycling bin.
Turf
You should take turf to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre. There is a charge for this service. Please visit the soil page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Treadmill
If the treadmill is in good condition, there are a number of organisations and charities, such as the British Heart Foundation, Debra and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice that will take it for resale.
Alternatively, you can arrange for a bulky waste collection of a treadmill. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre, where it can be sold on for reuse if in good condition.
Tree branches
You can put branches under 100 mm / 4 inches in diameter in your brown garden waste bin if you subscribe to this service. Please see our garden waste recycling service page for further details.
Alternatively, you can take larger branches to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
You should not put garden waste in your blue recycling bin or your green rubbish bin.
Tyres
You should take tyres to a local garage, tyre and exhaust centre, or car breakers where they will be disposed of safely. There may be a charge for this service.
Household waste recycling centres cannot accept tyres.
Vapes
Please do not put vapes in your rubbish or recycling bins as they can cause fires.
It's best to return your used vapes to the shop where you bought them from. They have to provide a take-back service, as it is easier for the shop to recycle them.
You can also:
- Single-use vapes – leave the battery inside and recycle the whole thing by using our small electricals recycling service
- Rechargeable vapes - recycle the battery separately, if it's easily removable. But if you can’t, put the whole thing in for recycling using our small electricals recycling service
All reusable, refillable or disposable vapes can be recycled at Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centres.
Vegetable peelings
We offer a separate food waste collection service, see our food waste recycling page for more details. Using this service, your food waste is diverted from landfill and taken to an energy recovery facility where it helps to generate electricity.
You can also compost vegetable peelings in a home compost bin. You can buy discounted home composting bins by visiting the Get composting website.
Videotapes
Most charity shops no longer accept videotapes, however there are some people still collect them, so selling them might be an option.
Videotapes can be put in your rubbish bin in small quantities.
Wallpaper
You can put wallpaper in your green rubbish bin.
Alternatively you can take large amounts of wallpaper to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre.
Why we can't recycle wallpaper
Wallpaper cannot currently be recycled as it is difficult to pulp and is also often contaminated with paste.
Wardrobe
If the furniture is in good condition, there are a number of organisations and charities, such as the British Heart Foundation, Debra and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice that will take it for resale.
Alternatively, you can arrange for a bulky waste collection of an item of furniture. There is a charge for this service.
You can also take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre, where it can be sold on for reuse if in good condition.
Washing machine
You can arrange for a bulky waste collection service of a washing machine. There is a charge for this service.
Alternatively, you can take it to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre, where it can be sold on for reuse if in good condition.
Water filters
Brita have installed blue recycling bins at 157 Tesco stores across the UK and at selected Waitrose and Sainsbury's stores. They have also set up in store recycling schemes with some of the UK's biggest retailers including Argos, John Lewis, Robert Dyas and many independent stores. Visit Brita and enter your postcode to find your nearest participating retailer.
Alternatively they can be placed in your green rubbish bin.
White spirit
We cannot accept white spirit in our rubbish or recycling bins.
Please see the household and garden chemicals page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
Windows
The company who installs your new windows should also dispose of your old windows.
Wood
You can take treated, untreated and mixed wood to Hampshire County Council's household waste recycling centre to be reused or recycled.
Wrapping paper
You should put wrapping paper in your green rubbish bin.
Why we can't recycle wrapping paper
We can't currently recycle wrapping paper because it does not always contain much paper and is often layered with foil and plastic which cannot be recycled
Yoghurt pots
You should put yoghurt pots in your green rubbish bin.
Why we don't recycle plastic pots, tubs and trays
Plastic food packaging, like yoghurt pots, cannot currently be recycled due to limited reprocessing facilities available in the UK.
Please visit the plastic packaging, pots, tubs and trays page on the Hampshire County Council website for more information.
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