Recycling Collections

This page explains the kerbside recycling service for paper/card, plastic bottles/cans and glass we provide to all domestic households in the district, the service may be slightly different for residents living in flats. For information on what happens to your recycling and where else you can recycle choose from the links below:

• New Plastic Bottle Collections 
• What goes in your recycling boxes
  
• Find your Collection Day
• Recycling Box Request Form
• Recycling in Flats
• Recycling Centres

How to ensure your recycling will be collected
Residents are provided with recycling boxes free of charge, upon request, which are collected on the same day as the refuse but not necessarily at the same time. We aim to collect all recycling boxes that are clearly visible from the road however residents should ensure the recycling can be collected by making sure;

• All recycling is placed at the property boundary or alternative collection point as specified by this council, before 7am on the morning of collection and no earlier than 5.00 p.m. the night before. Your property boundary is where your front path or driveway meets the public pavement or road. If you have electrically operated gates, your refuse and recycling should be placed outside of the gates.
  
  
• All recycling is properly contained within South Bucks District Council recycling boxes. Any recycling presented in non SBDC containers, bags or boxes will not be collected. Residents can have up to three of each colour box free of charge, please see contact details below to order.
• Materials are separated into the correct box. Paper/card must be put into your black box and glass into one green box and cans/plastic bottles into a second green box, see below for more details on what can and can’t go in to your boxes. If materials are mixed together or additional materials such as plastic trays or foil are placed in your boxes then they will not be emptied.
• Materials are clean. Please rinse any food and drink bottles, jars and cans and remove any lids, not only will this reduce contamination but it will reduce nuisances such as odours and flies. Do not place any dirty paper or card in your boxes such as paper plates, napkins or tissues.
• Large cardboard is flat packed. Please place any large cardboard that does not fit into your box to the side and break it down into manageable flat pieces.
• Shredded paper is not contained in plastic bags. Please place shredded paper in to a paper bag/envelope or cardboard box rather than a plastic bag, as this will reduce contamination.

What can go into your recycling boxes?

Paper and Card – your black recycling box
	Yes Please Newspapers and Magazines Envelopes and Junk mail (please remove plastic packaging)windows are OK Catalogues, phone books and Yellow Pages Writing Paper, wrapping paper and greetings cards (non metallic) Cardboard Packaging Shredded paper (please contain in an envelope or paper bag)		No Thanks Juice and milk cartons Plastic bottles Plastic carrier bags General refuse Dirty tissues, napkins or paper plates
Your Green recycling boxes at least two required
	Plastic Bottles and Cans Yes Please All plastic bottles including drinks, milk, shampoo, cosmetic and cleaning bottles. PLEASE REMOVE LIDS Any rinsed food and drink cans including pet food tins		Glass Bottles and Jars Yes Please All colours of clean, unbroken glass bottles and jars (please remove lids and rinse dirty items)
	No Thanks Plastic pots, tubs or trays Plastic film, wrap or bags Pet food pouches Items with food still inside Bottle and Jar lids		No Thanks Drinking glassed Vases Light bulbs Pyrex Window Glass Items with food still inside Bottle and Jar lids

Residents can have up to 3 of each colour recycling box free of charge. If you have just moved to the area or would like additional boxes please call 01895 837333 or use the recycling box order form.

Is everything collected recycled?
All materials collected for recycling are recycled, to find out what happens to your paper/card, glass/cans, kitchen/garden waste see where does your recycling go page. Only when the recycling is contaminated by unwanted materials could it end up in landfill, however South Bucks has a very low contamination rate thanks to our residents and the way we collect recycling.

What else can you recycle?
Residents with fortnightly kitchen and garden waste collections can also recycle organic materials such as food and garden waste. Alternatively residents can also compost at home, find out how on the garden and food waste page.

Additional  materials including plastic bottles, clothing, and foil can be recycled at the many recycling centres throughout the district.

Household electrical goods, light bulbs, wooden furniture, scrap metal, plasterboard, batteries and much more can be recycled at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.