Time and time again, recyclable items are placed into rubbish bins in Surrey. This not only wastes valuable resources and harms our environment but also increases costs for councils; money that could support other essential services across the county.
That’s why the Surrey Environment Partnership (SEP) is proud to support this year’s Recycle Week campaign: Rescue Me! Recycle, created by WRAP. Join our mission to rescue our recyclables and increase recycling rates across Surrey.
The key items, and advice on how to dispose of them in Surrey, are:
• Shampoo bottles – Simply rinse and dry to remove any residue, before placing in your recycling bin. Pumps should always be removed and disposed of separately in your rubbish bin.
• Yoghurt pots – Once clean and dry, yoghurt pots and other plastic pots, tubs and trays, can be placed in your recycling bin. Please remove any lids or film and dispose of them separately in your rubbish bin.
• Foil – Aluminium foil can be recycled in most areas of Surrey. To find out how to dispose of it correctly in your area, visit our handy search tool – bit.ly/surreyrecycles
• Aerosol cans – Empty, full and partially full aerosols can be taken to your nearest community recycling centre (CRC).
• Plastic trigger sprays – Trigger spray bottles, often used for cleaning products, can be recycled at home. Simply rinse the bottle, allow to dry and then put the trigger back on before placing in your recycling bin.
• Perfume and aftershave bottles – If your bottle is made entirely of glass, you can pop it in your kerbside recycling bin (or separate glass bin if you live in Epsom and Ewell). If it contains metal or plastic parts (like pumps or springs), please put it in your rubbish bin.
• Toilet roll tubes – You can dispose of toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes in your recycling bin alongside your other paper and cardboard. They can also be composted at home!
Catherine David, CEO, WRAP: “Recycle Week continues to be a powerful moment to inspire action across the UK, and this year’s ‘Rescue Me! Recycle’ campaign is no exception. By highlighting everyday items like shampoo bottles and foil —things we often overlook—we’re helping people see the real impact of small changes. Thanks to innovation and collaboration, more of these items can now be recycled than ever before. Together with local authorities and communities, we’re making it easier to do the right thing and keep valuable materials in use. Let’s rescue these items from the rubbish and give them a second life.”
For more information on recycling and to find out how to dispose of an item where you live, visit www.surreyep.org.uk/.