Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
In 2008, Westminster recycled nearly 20,000 tonnes of waste.
In one month you recycle over 200 tonnes of glass
and a 100 tonnes of plastic bottles.
We can all help reduce Westminster's carbon footprint.
So let's start by taking a look at what you can and can't recycle.
Newspapers and magazines, junk mail, computer paper and cardboard are all recyclable.
We can't currently take Tetrapaks in our doorstep collections.
We'll tell you what to do with those a little later.
Glass jars and bottles can all be recycled.
But remember to remove the lids.
Please dont recycle Pyrex, broken windows, lightbulbs or glass cookware.
Most plastic bottles are suitable for recycling.
But we can't take plastic packaging
such as yoghurt pots, cling film, carrier bags and polystyrene.
The vast majority of tins and cans we use are recyclable,
as are empty aerosol cans.
We can't take tin foil, takeaway containers or crisp packets.
To recap: you can recycle mixed paper and card, glass bottles and jars,
plastic bottles, and food and drinks cans.
And if you're still unsure, check the A to Z on our website www.westminster.gov.uk/recyclingatoz.
Many houses and small mansion blocks have a weekly doorstep collection.
Find out what day and time yours is on our website www.westminster.gov.uk/recycling.
You can also go online to order more blue recycling bags and baskets.
Or simply give us a call on the number onscreen 020 7641 2000.
All of Westminster's estates and many larger mansion blocks
have their own dedicated recycling bins for
paper and card, glass, plastic bottles and tins.
For those that don't. There are more than 140 micro-recycling centres dotted across the borough.
Some of these sites have Scope charity bins, for unwanted clothes,
fabrics and shoes.
We've also introduced a scheme at 13 sites to recycle Tetrapak cartons.
Before you put your recycling out, there are a couple of things to do first.
Please rinse out anything contaminated with food or liquid,
as these can attract vermin.
Flattening carboard boxes, cans and plastic bottles,
allows you to fit more in your recycling.
Please don't leave any other rubbish at our recycling sites,
and please be careful to put the right item in the right bin
as mixed loads may be rejected.
All of Westminster's recycling is sent to a local sorting facility,
where the different materials are separated.
The materials are then reprocessed mostly here in the UK
back into all sorts of useful things.
Glass is used in a road surfacing product.
Some of it has even been used in Westminster's streets.
Paper and cardboard is cleaned, pulped and made into huge rolls of new paper or packaging.
Food and drinks cans are melted down and can become anything
from new drinks cans to household appliances.
Plastic bottles are made into all sorts of products,
from plastic pellets to new drinks bottles.
For more information on recycling in Westminster,
including finding your street or building's recycling facilities,
visit our website.
And there are lots of great ideas and projects for you and your family to get involved in,
with Westminster's new environmental programme 'Go Green'.