Introducing every Surrey resident’s ultimate sidekick: The Surrey Recycles search tool and app! Can you name a better duo? Surrey households are currently producing 442kg of rubbish per year and that doesn’t include the staggering, estimated 298 tonnes of material that was rejected for recycling in Surrey due to too many incorrect items being placed into recycling bins, which was then disposed of as rubbish. But don’t fear! We’re sending Surrey residents on a mission to check how to correctly dispose of an item before throwing it away.
With confusing packaging and guidance around waste disposal sometimes changing, it can be difficult to know how and where to correctly dispose of an item. This is why the Surrey Environment Partnership (SEP) created Surrey Recycles, a user-friendly platform, which helps Surrey residents dispose of their household items quickly, easily and in the most environmentally friendly way possible! All you need to do is go online or download the Surrey Recycles app, enter your postcode and the item into the search bar and instantly we’ll let you know whether to reuse, recycle, compost or place it in your rubbish bin. It’s that simple!
The search tool and app is constantly being updated with the latest information so use it and you’ll always get it right . Here are the top five most commonly searched items, all of which can be recycled differently depending on where you live in Surrey (check the search tool to find out what to do in your area):
- Shredded paper – You can recycle shredded paper wherever you live, either in your recycling or garden waste bin
- Aerosol cans – You can recycle empty aerosol cans either in your recycling bin or at a community recycling centre
- Clothes and textiles – All clothes or textiles that can’t be repaired or reused can be recycled either through your local council’s collection service (separate from your other recycling) or at a drop-off point or community recycling centre
- Small electricals – Broken small electricals (anything with wire, plugs or that takes batteries) can be recycled either through your local council’s collection service (separate from your other recycling) or at a drop-off point or community recycling centre
- Plastic bags – You can recycle plastic bags either in your recycling bin or at a supermarket drop-off point
Don’t forget to check the search tool to find out which options are available to you where you live in Surrey!
Though recycling is great, our goal should always be to reduce waste and reuse or repurpose items where possible. When disposing of items such as books, glass jars and CDs and DVDs, consider if these could be donated, upcycled or refashioned.
Checking how to dispose of an item before throwing it away doesn’t just help the environment, but it can also keep crews safe and save councils money that can then be used for other essential services. The Surrey Recycles app can be downloaded for FREE via the App Store or Google Play Store, alternatively you can visit the SEP website to access the online version of the search tool.