Council Services
Recycling - household waste
Kerbside collections
Paper
Every two weeks paper is either collected from the kerbside, or the neighbourhood and mini recycling centres. The day of collection varies across the city, so please check your collection calendar or call us on 0344 980 3333 if you are unsure.
Not all homes have a kerbside collection service. A programme to provide facilities for these households is underway and information about these will be provided as the schemes become available.
Glass
It is very important that you wash your glass bottles and jars out before you put them out for recycling. High levels of contamination in our recycling loads can mean they are not accepted at the recycling plant and so may be sent to landfill.
Glass is collected with paper in green boxes for those homes that are not on the alternate weekly collection (AWC) service.
Those homes that are on the AWC system have their glass collected on its own from their green boxes.
Glass is also collected from the recycling centre and mini recycling banks.
Tins and cans
It is very important that you wash your tins and cans out before you put them out for recycling. High levels of contamination in our recycling loads can mean they are not accepted at the recycling plant and so may be sent to landfill.
If you are on a weekly collection tins and cans should be put out in your green box for the fortnightly kerbside recycling collection. You are able to recycle both aluminium (fizzy drinks cans) and also steel cans and tins (baked bean tins).
If you are on the alternate weekly collection system you should put all your tins and cans in your blue wheelie bin for collection.
You can also still take cans to your local bring bank.
Watch this space and your letterbox for details about changes and additions to communal schemes.
Other household waste that can be recycled
Plastics
If you are on the alternate weekly collection (AWC) system then you can put out plastic bottles in your blue wheelie bin — please remember to wash them out and remove 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 11 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 - 4.30pm |
| Tuesday | 12 noon - 4.30pm |
| Wednesday | 2 - 4.30pm |
| Thursday | 2 - 4.30pm |
| Friday | 12 noon - 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.
