10 recycling facts Bristol should know

Bristol Waste’s engagement team are our folks on the streets. The team talk directly to residents and businesses, giving out the recycling facts Bristol is keen to hear.

They have an amazing knowledge of the frequently asked questions about reducing, reusing and recycling across the city.

To help them spread the message of how residents of Bristol can make the most of their waste and recycling service, as well as getting some nerdy waste facts in there too, we asked them for the top ten recycling facts they want everyone in the city to know.

1. Bristol’s recycling really does get recycled

Our duty of care is to make sure that waste is disposed of responsibly and recycling is processed to become new products. We aim to keep resources within the UK. All our recycling is sent to factories based on the following factors: location, environmental credentials, demand, and price. This ensures we get the best results for our city and the planet.

This is one of the best recycling facts Bristol Waste has: yes, by putting your recycling in the right container, you really are helping protect the planet.

2. You need to wash (and squash) your recycling before you put it out

Our crews work really hard to complete around 23 million collections each year. By washing your recycling and squashing it so it’s compact, you not only reduce the risk of contamination* and save lots of space in your recycling containers, you make their jobs easier.

Remember, you’ve got a week to sort your recycling, while our crews have about 30 seconds to sort it into their trucks.

*When we talk about contamination in the world of recycling, it means materials that are in the wrong place. It might be card or glass in the wrong container, but it might be food left on packaging. Contamination means it might not be possible to recycle the material at all. It can even ruin the rest of the recycling it’s been collected with.

3. Our 3 household reuse and recycling centres are free to visit for all residents

Sort and separate your recycling thoroughly before you leave the house. There are handy maps of each site online to make your trip as easy as possible!

Remember, general waste is only for non-recyclables. Everything else can be popped in the relevant bay at the site for free. Please be aware, you may be charged for some types of DIY waste or if you’re bringing more than one load per week over a four-week period (see here for further details). 

4. You can visit all 3 of the recycling centres by bike and Hartcliffe Way’s recycling centre on foot.

Plus, not coming by car means you don’t need to book. Find out more here.

5. You can check your bin collection day online

If you’ve just moved to a new house, or just want a reminder, you can check your bin day super quickly online. Use this link to check your next waste and recycling collection.

6. Our Reuse Shops are the perfect place to pick up a second hand bargain, or to donate unwanted, usable items

We have a Reuse Shop based at each of the three household reuse and recycling centres and you can take items and pick up a bargain. Great for DIY bits, homeware and electricals like games consoles and computers.

7. You don’t have to line your food waste recycling caddy with a compostable liner

Reduce waste by using something you already have, rather than buying something specifically. The way food waste recycling is processed means that even the compostable liners are removed and processed as energy from waste before it gets recycled. So you can use plastic liners like bread or cereal bags, or a great solution is to line your caddy with newspaper. This is one of the recycling facts Bristol people are most often surprised about.

8. You can book a collection to dispose of your bulky waste

You can take bulky items like broken furniture to the recycling centre for free, but if that doesn’t work for you, you can book a collection right from your front door. Charges start from £25 and can be booked online here. For more tips and advice on bulky waste disposal, check our web page here.

9. We work directly with students to help them reduce waste and keep their neighbourhoods neat

To help students get their recycling facts, Bristol Waste focuses on student areas of the city. We work in partnership with the universities to get students to reduce waste, maximise recycling, avoid fines and keep their neighbourhoods neat and tidy. Find out more about our Students On The Move campaign here.

10. Unfortunately, you can’t recycle the oily bits of pizza boxes

You can’t clean oil or food off of card or paper, meaning if it’s dirty, it’s not recyclable. Tear greasy sections of pizza boxes off before you put the clean sections into the recycling bin. You can even put the greasy bits in your compost if you have one!

Always rinse other recyclable materials like plastic, glass and cans.