Council Services
Recycling - household waste
Click here to check your waste and recycling collection day over the August bank holiday week.
The majority of homes in the city have an alternate weekly collection service, where recycling is collected one week, and general waste the next.
It is very important that glass bottles and jars, tins and cans, and plastic bottles are washed out before you put them in to your recycling. High levels of contamination in our recycling loads can mean they are not accepted at the recycling plant, and may be sent to landfill – undoing all your hard work!
What goes in my bin?
Click on a link to find out what to put in each bin:
Check what else you can recycle in the city at your local bring banks or recycling centres.
What goes in each bin? (1.98 Mb pdf)
Top tips (3.53 Mb pdf)
Questions and answers (964 Kb pdf)
Other waste that can be recycled
Plastic bottles
If you have a blue bin for recycling you can put plastic bottles in this — please remember to wash them out and remove the lids.
There are three bring banks around the city that accept plastic bottles:
- Sainsburys, Queens Road
- Waitrose, Eaton
- Mile Cross Recycling Centre - Swanton Road.
All mini recycling banks around the city now accept plastic bottles in the same bin as tins and cans. Click here to see their locations.
Plastic bags
Plastic bags can be re-used. Many supermarkets will now take back plastic bags for recycling.
Better still use cloth bags or bags for life.
Drinks cartons
All drinks cartons (Tetra Paks) can be taken to the Mile Cross recycling centre on Swanton Road.
The Tetra Paks are taken for bulking and when there is enough they are shipped to Norway where there is one of the only factories in Europe that can recycle Tetra Paks.
Textiles
There are a number of textile banks provided by the Salvation Army where all unwanted clean clothes and material can be taken. Alternatively they can be taken to charity shops. Click here for a list of the recycling centres provided by Norwich City Council, which will help you to find your nearest textile bank.
Did you know?
It is estimated that more than one million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year, with most of this coming from household sources.
Textiles make up about 3% by weight of a household bin. At least 50% of the textiles we throw away are recyclable.
Furniture and toys
Furniture and toys in good clean condition can be donated to Norfolk Homemakers. This charity can collect items from a large area surrounding Norwich.
They cannot accept white goods, electrical items, carpets, and items not suitable for re-use or soft furnishings that do not have a fire regulation label.
You can take items to the warehouse at Unit 4, Aylsham Way, Aylsham Road, Norwich NR3 2RF.
Opening hours:
| Monday | 12 noon to 4.30pm |
| Tuesday | 12 noon to 4.30pm |
| Wednesday | 2 to 4.30pm |
| Thursday | 2 to 4.30pm |
| Friday | 12 noon to 4pm |
To contact Norfolk Homemakers to arrange for a free collection please telephone 01603 487444 between 12 noon and 4.30pm. Collections are between 8am and 12 noon weekdays.
Norfolk Homemakers main aim is to help disadvantaged individuals and families. Items are sold at low prices; the charge is kept to a minimum and helps with the upkeep and running of the project.
This scheme is supported by Norwich City Council and Broadland District Council.
If you have unwanted items that are still in good condition then you can donate them to a charity shop or give them a new home through www.freecycle.org.uk
Real nappies
Real nappies have come on in leaps and bounds since the traditional 'fold and pin, Terry nappies'. There are a wide variety of real nappies available from shaped nappies that fasten with Velcro or poppers to all-in-ones with a built in waterproof outer.
They are easy to use and clean, and can even be tumble-dried. One size fits all and held you make considerable savings in the first two years of your baby's life.
Norfolk County Council is offering £30 discount to promote washable nappies. For more information please visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/nappies or call 01603 222128.
Other ways to give your waste a second chance
Freegle is a great resource for not only giving someone else the chance to enjoy what you no longer need, but you can also give a new life to other people's unwanted items - so the good deed works both ways! Simply visit www.norfolk-freegle.org.uk to register and get started!
Other online auction sites like eBay can also help to find your unwanted goods a home - you'd be amazed what people are looking for. Have a search through the categories and terms and conditions to see what is acceptable.
If you want to make a night out of it, why not invite your friends over with their unwanted goodies and have a swishing party? This is where you all bring in things you don't want anymore and swap them for something you do. Make it a night in with drinks and nibbles, and grab yourself a freebie! This works especially well with things like clothes, toys, CDs and DVDs.
If there's anything you've got that you think is worth a bit of cash, then make the most out of the coming sunshine and get to a car boot sale, or hold a garage or garden sale at home. There are plenty to choose from. Get the whole family involved by having a really good clear-out of things that haven’t been used, watched or worn in the last year, or join forces with a couple of friends to share manning the stall and put the money raised towards a day out.
If you haven't got time to organise a car boot, then do your bit for charity, by keeping your eyes open for any of the free collection sacks that come through your door. Different charities collect different things so do read the instructions on the bag before you fill it up. The most common things collected are clothes.
Alternatively you could always visit one of the many charity shops in the city. Just have a look through a phone directory for your nearest one. But again, do check with them what they accept before you set off.
For information about your local charity shops visit:
www.charityshops.org.uk
Barnardo's
For information on car boot sales visit:
www.yourbooty.co.uk/Norfolk-car-boot-sales
EDP What's On listings
www.mynorfolkguide.co.uk
Useful links
