Plastics recycling frequently asked questions
What plastic items can I put out
for recycling?
What do I put my plastics in
for recycling?
When will I receive my new re-usable
white sack for recycling plastic?
What do the new re-usable white sacks
look like?
What time will collections
start?
Where should I leave my materials
for recycling?
How will I know when my plastics
waste collection will take place?
Is the vehicle that collects both
garden waste and plastics actually a refuse vehicle?
What happens to the plastics I put
out for collection?
Can I put plastics in my normal household
rubbish collection?
Missed collections – when will they be
rectified?
I am elderly/disabled – can I register
for assisted collection?
What plastic items can I
put out for recycling?
You can put most mixed household plastics out for collection
except for large items (such as garden furniture), polystyrene,
toys, any electrical or electronic items, other hard plastic
items (e.g. plant pots) and bubble wrap.
The materials will be taken to Greenford Depot and bailed before being sent to a plastic recycling facility.
Large plastic items and electrical or electronic items should be taken to one of our re-use and recycling centres.
Acton Re-use and Recycling Centre
Southall Re-use and Recycling Centre
Greenford Road Re-use and Recycling Centre
What
do I
put my plastics in for recycling?
You should now have a re-usable white sack for recycling
plastics. Plastic items should be placed loose in the
sack. Please also close the flap to help ensure that plastic
items do not blow away in the wind. Please do not use black
sacks as the collection crew will not be able to tell what the
contents are and this will be treated as refuse. The new
re-usable white sacks replace the old system of using a green box
or carrier bag.
When will I receive my new
re-usable white sack for recycling plastic?
Residents eligible for the green box collection
service should have received their new re-usable white sack
for recycling plastic. If you have not received your
re-usable sack, please contact Ealing Council Customer Services on
(020) 8825 6000 or email
customers@ealing.gov.uk
What do the new re-usable
white sacks look like?
The new re-usable white sacks for recycling plastic are
similar to the re-usable pink sacks for garden waste. They
are made of heavy duty weather-proof material that should last for
up to three years. They are weighted so that they shouldn't
blow away. They also have a flap at the top to help
ensure that plastic items do not blow away in the wind.
To protect the sacks, please store when not in use.
What time will collections
start?
Refuse and recycling collections start from 7am. Depending
where you live on the collection route will determine when your
collections will take place. Street signs will be placed in
each road informing you of your collection slots next
spring. Until then you should put out your refuse and
recycling on your collection day by 7am.
Where should I leave my materials for
recycling?
Materials should be left in a clearly visible spot at the
front edge of (but within) your property. Refuse or recycling must
not be placed on the pavement where it can cause an
obstruction.
How will I know when my plastics waste collection will take
place?
It will be the same day as your refuse and other recycling
waste. Find out your collection day by using the
ECT
Recycling online database.
Is the vehicle that collects both garden waste and plastics
actually a refuse vehicle?
No. The vehicle is similar but has two compartments and
takes garden waste in one half and plastics in the other. This
vehicle is used because it can mechanically squash the contents so
more can be collected before emptying is required.
What happens to the plastics
I put out for
collection?
An initial sort will take place at the Greenford recycling
depot in order to separate waste into types. For example, large
plastic items that cannot be baled, hard plastics for special
reprocessing into items such as dashboards and any non-plastic
waste items. The remaining mix will be baled and sent for
further sorting. The agent will find named reprocessors for
these material streams.
Can I put plastics in my normal
household rubbish collection?
Recycling is not compulsory. However we would like to
encourage you to do your bit for the environment and separate your
plastic for recycling. The cost of collecting waste and sending it
to landfill is rising constantly so by recycling you will help save
the borough money.
Missed collections – when will
they be rectified?
Once you notify us of a missed recycling collection it will
be collected by the end of the next working day. Plastics
materials for recycling are collected by the same collection crew
as garden waste, and this crew is not provided with additional time
to sort materials (unlike the other recycling crew). This is
why we request plastics to be presented separately to other
materials in the white sack. If only your plastic has been
missed, please check if it really has been missed or if we have
declined to collect it. In some cases ECT Recycling may have left
you a feedback card if they have not been able to take your
recycling for a particular reason (e.g. plastic mixed with other
recycling). Please read the feedback card carefully, present
your recycling correctly, and place your recycling out on your next
collection day.
I am elderly/disabled – can I
register for assisted collection?
Yes. Please complete the
assisted collections form (pdf), and post to:
Envirocrime Prevention, Ealing Council, Perceval House, 14-16
Uxbridge Road, London W5 2HL. Alternatively, contact Ealing
Council Customer Services on (020) 8825 6000 or email
customers@ealing.gov.uk
and a form will be posted out for completion. The assisted
collection will start five working days from the date that we
receive and process the form. This service is available for refuse
and recycling collections.