Nothing wasted at recycling centres

Nothing wasted. Greener Kent. Person holding a bin bag, talking to a recycling centre worker.

Sorting your waste before visiting a recycling centre helps to ensure that we can recycle and reuse as much as possible. It also makes it easier for you to unload when you visit the site.

If you're not sure where things should go, our friendly site staff will be there to point out the right containers for recycling and reuse.

Here are some examples of items you can recycle and reuse at our centres:

Waste you can recycle

Recyclable itemsExamples
Appliances

All white goods including:

  • cookers
  • ovens
  • microwaves
  • fridges
  • freezers
  • washing machines.
BatteriesAll types of domestic and car batteries.
Building waste

This includes:

  • plasterboard
  • rubble and hardcore
  • soil.

Plasterboard is accepted at all recycling centres except:

  • Faversham
  • Folkestone
  • Sheerness
  • Swanley.

Charges will apply after certain limits.

Clothes and textilesThis includes shoes and fabrics.

Even if an item cannot be worn again, it can be recycled to produce items like cleaning wipes and mattress toppers.

We cannot accept duvets and pillows in the clothes recycling container.
Electrical and battery powered items

Anything that has a plug or uses batteries. This includes:

  • computers
  • mobile phones
  • hair dryers
  • fans
  • TVs
  • battery-operated games
  • e-cigarettes
  • vapes.
Light bulbs

This includes:

  • fluorescent tubes
  • low energy light bulbs
  • LEDs.
Green garden wasteThis includes plant and tree cuttings, and grass.
Gas bottlesAll types of gas bottles.
GlassGlass bottles and jars are accepted at all recycling centres except Faversham, due to limited space on the site.
MetalsAny item containing metals including cans and aerosols.
OilsCooking and engine oils (used).
Paper and cardAll types.
Printer cartridgesAll types.
TyresMotorbike and car tyres. Charges apply.
Wood and TimberAll types.

Reuse at recycling centres

We can reuse good quality items at certain sites and we're always looking for opportunities to reuse more.

Reusable itemsRecycling centres

Anything that can be reused by someone else including:

  • good quality furniture
  • electrical items
  • toys
  • games
  • bric-a-brac like ornaments
  • books.
Allington
Ashford 
Canterbury
Dover 
Margate
New Romney
Pepperhill 
Sheerness
BooksAllington
Ashford
Canterbury
Deal
Dover
Folkestone
Herne Bay
Margate 
New Romney
Richborough
Sheerness
Tunbridge Wells
Good quality furnitureMaidstone (Tovil)

Community care equipment such as:

  • walking sticks
  • crutches
  • wheel chairs
  • hand grabs.
Allington
Dover
Swanley
Tunbridge Wells

For any waste not mentioned here, you can find out how to dispose of it. Recycling and reusing items saves money, energy, and resources.

Find out how we recycle your waste

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Nothing Wasted video transcript.