Residents in County Durham are being reminded of what rubbish goes in which bin as part of Recycle Week.
Durham County Council staff will be out at a number of venues to provide more information to the public on how best to recycle household waste.
This year’s Recycle Week takes place between Monday October 17 and Sunday October 23, with the theme ‘Let’s Get Real’.
Members of the council’s recycling team were in Durham Market Place on Saturday and will be at Asda in Stanley on Thursday, October 20, to give advice on what people can and can’t recycle in County Durham and the best ways to manage their waste.
This year’s week of action ties in with the council’s campaign to encourage more residents to recycle properly.
The authority is reminding households how important it is to only put the correct items in their blue lidded bin and glass box.
Cllr Mark Wilkes, the council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “We know many of our residents do a fantastic job of recycling their waste, but we are always looking to improve.
“Putting the wrong kind of items into recycling bins makes it harder for our refuse teams and can also damage the environment.
“For every item we recycle, we are reducing the need to use raw materials, which helps save energy and precious resources, so please help out by doing your bit.”
When recycling, residents should remember:
• Cardboard boxes can go in your recycling bin. Large boxes can be flattened and placed next to your recycling bin or you can take them to household waste recycling centres (HWRCs). Please make sure wherever possible cardboard is dry.
• Wash and squash items – this saves space, keeps your bin clean and stops contamination.
• Please do not put clothes, shoes or bedding in your recycling bin. These should be taken to a charity or a household waste recycling centre.
• Please do not put batteries or small electrical items in your recycling or rubbish bin as these items are a fire risk. They can be recycled separately at HWRCs or through one of the council’s local waste electrical and electronic equipment collection points.
Recycling bins which contain contaminates such as nappies, food waste, textiles and black bags will be rejected. Bins which are left at the kerbside and not taken back to the property will be taken away.
A full list of what can and cannot be recycled is available at www.durham.gov.uk/whatgoeswhere.