Office paper

You can recycle any white or coloured paper, newspapers, white paper directories, magazines, junk mail, and holiday brochures in your green bag as part of your household kerbside collection. Paper must be kept dry, so please keep the bag folded over if it is raining. Alternatively, paper can be taken to a recycling bank or your local recycling centre. Please note the kerbside recycling scheme is for household waste only. Trade waste should be disposed of by other means, please see our Commercial Waste page for details.

Oil

Pouring oil down the drain is not only illegal but also harmful to humans and the environment. A lot of surface water drains lead to the nearest stream and oil may cause pollution, affect aquatic life and contaminate water supplies. It is also harmful to put oil in the soil or in sewers. Your local recycling centre can take oil and harmful chemicals as long as they are bottled and clearly marked. It is best to ring them first to check the item can is accepted at your nearest recycling centre, as some do vary.

Oil tanks

Waste oil and oil tanks are considered to be hazardous waste, whether oil from home, cooking or engine. The tanks are from oil central heating systems in older houses. They will only usually need disposing of when the system is replaced with an alternative energy source such as gas. We would advise that often the best way to get rid of an unwanted oil tank is to advertise it in the small ads of a local paper. Recycling centres will not accept central heating oil tanks. They are not counted as normal household waste.

 

P

Paint

Paints, varnishes and wood stains can contain hazardous chemicals or solvents including heavy metals. Paint must not be poured down the drain. Local community groups, playgroups or charities will often welcome donations of useable paints. Many DIY superstores will take back unwanted paint, call them to check. Unwanted paint can be taken to any recycling centre. Please firmly attach the lid to prevent leakage. Please make the site staff aware that you are leaving paint.

Pallets

Pallets can be taken to your local recycling centre. If you have a large quantity, please call 0345 155 1010 to confirm.

Paper

By using recycled paper and recycling waste paper you will help to protect our environment. You can recycle any white or coloured paper, shredded paper, newspapers, paper directories, magazines, junk mail, and holiday brochures in your green bag. Paper must be kept dry, so please fold the bag over if it is raining. Alternatively, paper can be taken to a recycling bank or your local recycling centre.

Paper cups

Currently these are not accepted in your kerbside recycling service due to the plastic lining, however they can be recycled at your local recycling centre in one of their special collection banks.

Pesticides

Chemicals including weed killers, pesticides, white spirits, bleaches, old medicines and other household chemicals can be disposed of at your local recycling centre. These must be in a securely labelled container to be placed in the hazardous waste store. Limit 5 litres.

Photos

Photos cannot be recycled and need to be disposed of in your black general waste bin.

Pillows and duvets

Unfortunately, these items cannot be recycled and need to be disposed of in your black general waste bin or the general waste area of your local recycling centre.

Pizza boxes

Takeaway pizza boxes are made from corrugated cardboard, however the cardboard becomes soiled with grease, cheese, and other foods once the pizza has been placed in the box. Once soiled, the paper cannot be recycled because the paper fibers will not be able to be separated from the oils during the pulping process.  So they should be disposed of in the black general waste bin.

Plant pots

Unfortunately we are unable to take these in your black recycling box and these would need to be disposed of in your black general waste bin. Some garden centres and nurseries take back unwanted plant pots.

Plasterboard

Plasterboard can be taken to your nearest recycling centre. Please call Devon County Council (who manage the sites) on tel: 0345 155 1010 or visit their website.

Plastic carrier bags

Some large supermarkets offer in store recycling banks for carrier bags. If your shopping is delivered to your home you can request that it is delivered without bags. Alternatively, you could reuse plastic carrier bags as bin liners for your black bin waste.

Visit Recycle Devon for information on plastic resin codes.

Plastic film or wrapping

Plastic film and wrapping (soft plastics such as sweet wrappers, biscuit wrappers, chocolate wrappers) cannot be recycled in your kerbside collections, however, many local supermarkets are now taking them for recycling. Find out if your local supermarket is taking them by visiting Recycle More's website. 

Visit Recycle Devon for information on plastic resin codes.

Plastics - mixed

Plastic household packaging - tubs, pots, bottles and trays - can be collected from the kerbside by putting them in your green/black recycling box.

Other mixed plastics can be taken to one of the mixed recycling banks across the district. UPVC can be taken to the recycling centre at a charge.

Visit Recycle Devon for information on plastic resin codes.

Plastic bottles

Plastic bottles can be recycled in your green/black recycling box. Please wash, squash and replace lids. They can also be taken to a recycling centre or one of the plastic bottle banks located across the district.

Visit Recycle Devon for information on plastic resin codes.

Plastic window

You can take plastic windows, with or without glass, to your nearest recycling centre. However there is a charge to do so.

Plastic door

You can take plastic doors and frames, with or without glass, to your nearest recycling centre. However there is a charge to do so. 

Plastic pipes, guttering or fascia

You can take up to 5 lengths/pieces (approximately 2 metres per length or part thereof) to your nearest recycling centre. However there is a charge to do so. 

Polystyrene

Polystyrene should be placed in your black general waste bin. If the polystyrene is part of the packaging of electrical appliances, you can ask at the time the appliance is delivered if the company can take back the packaging to be reused or recycled. There is no facility as such to recycle polystyrene at the moment.

Postcards

Playgroups and schools may want postcards for play materials, and many charity shops sell them on.

Postcards can be recycled along with other cardboard in the brown bag, or taken to your local recycling centre.

Pringles tubes

Crisp tubes such as Pringles cannot be recycled as they are made from a mixture of paper, plastic and metal which are difficult to separate for recycling. Place items in your black general waste bin for disposal.

Printer cartridges

Some schools and charities collect empty toner and printer cartridges to raise funds. Alternatively, you can send your cartridges to organisations such as The Recycling Factory who will then make a donation to the charity of your choice.​

Pyrex

While pyrex ovenware is a type of glass - it has been specially treated in the manufacturing process to withstand high temperatures, which makes it non-recyclable.

If you have broken or chipped pyrex ovenware to get rid of, do not recycle it with other glass items. Simply dispose of it carefully in your black general waste bin.