Waste and Recycling Guide - P
Packaging
Much of the waste that we collect is packaging, whether cans,
jars, plastic bottles, food trays or cardboard boxes.
There is legislation in place to try and ensure that the
amount of packaging used is no more than required. The Packaging
(Essential Requirements) Regulations of 2003 require that the
weight and volume of packaging are no more than is required to
maintain the required levels of safety and hygiene for the
products, and the amount that would be acceptable to the
consumer.
Many supermarkets now package fruit and vegetables, as well as
other goods, in a wide range of materials. The packaging often
contains guidance on the proper disposal, which may include
recycling or composting. New materials are being developed which
will make such packaging more commonplace. Check the label to see
if the packaging is made from paper, card or plastic which can be
recycled, or from a bio-degradable material which may go in your
home compost bin.
Paint
It can be difficult and dangerous to dispose of unwanted
paint. It should not be disposed of in your domestic waste as
spillages may occur, or the cans may explode under the pressure of
other materials in the bin.
Paint should be disposed of at one of the at the
Household
Waste Recycling Centres. You could also try donating spare
paint to a local charity, community group, or offer it to friends
or family.
Paper
Paper is very easy to recycle using your blue paper recycling
box or at one of the paper banks at
recycling centres
throughout the district.
Small amounts of shredded paper can be accepted in the blue
boxes used in the Kerbside Recycling Service. It is advisable to
shred credit card and bank statements for security reasons before
recycling the paper.
Perfume and Scent Bottles
Those using pump sprays can be recycled in the same way as
other glass bottles. However those that have aerosol sprays or are
not made of glass are not suitable for recycling.
Pesticides
Plasterboard
If you have any queries regarding the disposal of plasterboard
please telephone either Cumbria County Council on 0845 055 1118 pr
the Environment Agency on 0870 850 6506.
Plastic Bags
Some supermarkets now provide plastic bags that are
bio-degradable or supply durable bags that can be re-used may
times.
Instead of taking a new bag each time you shop re-use bags
before recycling them. Many supermarkets have collection
points to recycle plastic carrier bags, they can also be recycled
at the plastic banks at the Recycling Centres.
Plastic Bottles and Containers
Please wash and squash your containers before recycling
them. A one-litre plastic bottle will squash to less than half its
original size. Squashing maximises the amount of plastic in the
bank and minimises the number of times the bank needs emptying.
Don't forget that as well as drink and washing-up bottles you can
also recycle shampoo and shower gel bottles.
Postage Stamps
Some charity shops collect postage stamps.
Printer Cartridges
Printer cartridge recycling is widely available, either at
shops on the high street or through charity schemes.
Pyrex
Pyrex cannot be recycled. Pyrex is a ceramic product and
should not be placed in either bottle banks or in the kerbside
recycling scheme. Broken items should be wrapped in paper and left
in your household bin. Items in good condition are accepted for
re-sale by some charity shops.