A-Z Waste and Recycling

Aerosols

Empty aerosols can be placed in your green bags or blue bin for recycling.

Aluminium and Steel Cans

Food and drinks cans should be placed in the green bags or blue bin for recycling. Please rinse food cans to remove any food.

Assisted Collections

If you have difficulty putting your bin/recycling bags out for collection you may be eligible for an assisted collection and will be offered a free 140 blue bin for recycling.  

Asbestos

If you hire a tradesperson to remove asbestos from your home, check that they have the proper training and equipment.

If you choose to remove asbestos materials yourself make sure you wear the correct personal protective equipment. This includes a dust mask approved for asbestos and a disposable overall. More information is available on the Health and Safety Executive website.

Baby Clothes

All clothing and shoes may be disposed of at one of our textile banks at our recycling sites. Alternatively why not take unwanted clothing and baby or children's unwanted toys to a local charity or advertise them on one of the many recycling sites widely available.  Just type 'recycle' in to any search engine on the internet followed by the item you wish to sell or give away and browse the sites.

Batteries 

Any type of battery should never be thrown away in any bins as they may cause a fire. Please recycle all household batteries by returning to larger shops/supermarkets (who have to provide battery recycling points) or take to the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Black Bin Liners

Black bin liners cannot be recycled. Please do not use them to put recyclable items in, all recycling should be loose in the blue bin or green bags.

Bottles 

Glass & plastic bottles (drinks, toiletries, cleaning products) can be placed in your green bags/blue bins along with their lids. Alternatively try using returnable glass milk bottles through a doorstep delivery service. Some dairies also deliver soft drinks and bottled water in returnable bottles.

Bric-a-Brac

Charity shops will always welcome good quality bric-a-brac. If you have a sufficient quantity, why not try a car boot sale or jumble sale, you could make a profit whilst recycling. Alternatively try visiting one of the many sites such as preloved.co.uk or Ebay. 

Brochures and Catalogues 

Please recycle in the green bags or blue bin.  

Bubble Wrap

Please reuse or place in your black bin.

Bulky Waste Collections

The council provides a chargeable residential bulky collection service for items that are not suitable for re-use or recycling or that are too big to fit in the black bin.  Please see our bulky waste collections page for more information or more details and what is accepted. 

Cans

Food and drinks cans should be placed in the green bags or blue bin for recycling. Please rinse food cans to remove any food.

Carrier and Plastic Bags

Clean bags can be tied in a knot and placed in your green bags/blue bins. Please place recycling loose in your blue bin or green bags.

Christmas Tree Recycling

After the Christmas period the Council provides a real Christmas tree drop off point at West Park Leisure Centre car park, Long Eaton and Rutland Recreation Ground car park in Ilkeston.

Clinical Waste Collections

The Council collects certain clinical and medical waste from residents after a referral from a GP or medical centre.

Clothes

Clothes can't be put in the blue bin but there are charity clothing bins at some supermarkets. You can also sell items in good condition on Ebay Preloved or the Vinted app. Clothing and textiles can also be taken to Ilkeston Recycling Centre. 

Coffee Pods 

Find out ways that you can recycle your pods at podback.org. Refillable pods are also available to buy online from major retailers.

Commercial Waste Collections

The Council provides a chargeable trade waste service for local businesses and collect general trade waste and recycling. 

Composting 

Home composting is an great way to turn your garden waste and kitchen scraps into useful compost. 

Computer Equipment

If your IT equipment is still in working order it may be worth considering selling it or giving it away if you wish. The broadband wherever website has valuable information relating to your security if you are considering selling or giving away IT equipment.  Items can be taken to the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre, run by Derbyshire County Council.

Dangerous and Hazardous Waste 

Information on asbestos and paint can be found on the Derbyshire County Council website.  

Automotive/cooking oil, tyres, household chemicals, small amounts of rubble/DIY waste and batteries can all be taken the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Electrical Items

These should not be placed in your black bin. Large electrical items can be collected on our chargeable bulky waste service.

Energy Saving Light Bulbs or Strip Lights 

Contain mercury and should not be placed in any bin or recycling bag. Please take to the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre where they can be disposed of correctly.

Foil 

Recycle foil in your green bags and blue bins such as take-away trays, pie and quiche cases and oven-ready meal trays. Remember to clean foil before you recycle it, and if possible scrunch it up into a ball.

Food and Drinks Cans 

These should be placed in the blue bin or green bags for recycling. Please rinse food cans to remove any food. 

Food Waste 

Food waste, includes unwashed containers and greasy papers and should be wrapped in paper and then sealed within an airtight bag and placed in the household waste bin. Food waste must not be put in brown bins which is for garden waste, or the green bags and blue bins as this will contaminate the recycling. 
Advice on reducing food waste can be found on the Love Food Hate Waste website.

Furniture

If your item is still in good condition consider donating to a local charity such as Salcare Furniture Project or take it to the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Gas canisters (empty)

Should be in the first instance returned to the named supplier on the side of the canister, if this is not possible, they can be taken to the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre

Glass 

Glass bottles and jars, including their lids, can be placed in your green bags or blue bins for recycling.  Some types of glass are not suitable for recycling in the green bags/blue bins, such as glass from windows, mirrors and cookware, such as Pyrex. These should be wrapped and place in the black bin or taken to Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Household Waste Recycling Centre 

Run by Derbyshire County Council the recycling centres accept a wide range of household waste including bulkier items of furniture and electricals and items which cannot go in your bin. 

Juice Cartons

Cartons, including Tetra Paks, can be placed in your green bags or blue bins once they have been rinsed out.

Junk Mail 

Avoid junk mail. Visit mpsonline.org.uk for information on how to avoid junk mail. 

Kitchen Foil 

Clean kitchen foil (scrunched), clean aluminium food trays/containers, traditional milk bottle tops, can all be placed in your green bags or blue bin for recycling.

Lightbulbs 

Energy efficient light bulbs are a type of fluorescent lamp and should be recycled at Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre as they can contain mercury. They should not be put in any household bin or bag. Old style 'incandescent' bulbs can go in the black bin.

Laptops and Computer Equipment 

Electricals items can be taken for free of charge to the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre. Please ensure all personal information is removed. If your IT equipment is still in working order it may be worth considering selling it or giving it away if you wish.

Magazines 

Recent magazines can be donated to doctors, dentists, hospital waiting rooms or charity shops, or recycled in your green bags/blue bin.

Maggots

To prevent maggots in your black bin ensure that your waste is bagged, tied (with no gaps) and the lid closed securely on your bin. This will help prevent flies getting in and laying eggs.

Mirrors 

Cannot be recycled. If the item cannot be donated for reuse, it can be wrapped and placed in the black bin or taken to Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Medical (clinical) Waste

The council collects certain types of clinical waste from residents after a referral from a GP or medical centre.

Nappies

Disposable nappies cannot be recycled. They should be bagged and placed in the black bin. Washable nappies are a great alternative to disposal nappies. You can get £25 cashback from Derbyshire County Council's real nappy scheme  when spending over £50 on real nappies and covers.

Needles/Syringes 

If you find discarded needles/syringes please contact the council with as many details as possible about where and how many needles there are so that they can be removed quickly.  Please do not attempt to remove them yourself as they may be contaminated and dangerous. 

Oil 

Unwanted or waste engine oil or cooking oil can be taken to Ilkeston household waste and recycling centre.

Paint 

Paint has to be disposed of in a specific way in order to prevent harm to the environment. Please do not pour paint down the drain. Household paint can be taken to taken to Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Paper 

All types of paper and cardboard can go in the blue bin or green bags for recycling, no need to remove staples or windows from envelopes. If a cardboard box has a lot of tape on it, this should be removed and any other packaging from inside removed.

Pet Waste 

Pet waste should be wrapped and put in your black bin.

Phones

Green Smartphones is a smartphone recycling service. Fill out the form at greensmartphones.com and you will be sent a postage-paid envelope for your old phone: The phone will be donated to charity, or they will arrange to recycle it, depending on its condition. They then plant a tree in the UK.

Some charities will recycle phones.  Sites on the internet will offer cash for some phones.  Or take your phone to a recycling centre but remember to remove any personal data.

Plaster and Plasterboard 

See Household Waste and Recycling Centre information as some restrictions apply.

Plastic Containers: 

Residents can place all types of plastic in the green bags/blue bins for recycling but NOT polystyrene or black plastics and packaging such as black bin bags and black food trays.  You can recycle: Fizzy drink and water bottles, milk bottles, bleach bottles, cleaning solution bottles, most shampoo bottles, window cleaner and detergent bottles, cooking oil bottles, meat and salad trays, margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays, yoghurt pots, carrier bags (tied in knot. Any residue needs to be rinsed off before the item is place in the recycling bin).

Plastic Bags (including carrier bags and bread bags) 

Clean bags can be tied in a knot and placed in your blue bin or green bag, or taken back to certain supermarkets and stores.

Polystyrene Packaging and Food Trays

These are not recyclable and should be put in your black bin or large pieces taken to the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Rubble and DIY Waste

Small quantities can be taken to Ilkeston household waste and recycling centre.

Shredded Paper 

Can be put into your home compost bin or used as pet bedding. It can also be placed in your green bags and blue bins.

Shoes

Take them to your nearest charity shop or to a textile recycling banks. Please remember to tie them into pairs.

Tetrapaks

Rinsed out cartons can be placed in your green bags or blue bins for recycling.

Textiles

All clean and dry clothing and shoes can be recycled. Textiles can be taken to charity shops, placed in textile banks or taken to the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre. Even worn out clothes not suitable for reuse can be recycled into industrial rags.

Toys

Toys that aren't broken can be donated to charity shops, given away or sold on the internet. Please do not place plastic toys in the blue bin or green sacks as they cannot be recycled in our scheme.

Trade Waste 

The Council provides a chargeable trade waste service for local businesses and collect general trade waste and recycling.

Tyres 

Unwanted or used car tyres can be taken to Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre see Household Waste and Recycling Centre information as restrictions apply.

Vapes

Vapes are not safe to be recycled or disposed of at home. Please do not put vapes in any of your bins at home. Vapes can be disposed of through take-back schemes with the retailer or at electrical recycling points. See recycleyourelectricals.org.uk

Wallpaper

Don’t put wallpaper into the blue bin or green bags as it can be made from other materials which makes it hard to recycle. Please place in the black bin or take to the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Wood

This cannot go in the blue or brown bin. Please take to the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre where it can be recycled.

Yoghurt Pots

These can be placed in your green bags/blue bins for recycling (please rinse).