What to recycle at Townmead Road
A to Z of what can be recycled at re-used at Towmead Road
Aluminium foil
Such as milk bottle tops, tops of cartons (yoghurt, cottage cheese or similar), baking/freezing trays, kitchen foil and even foil from cigarette packets.
No plastic coated foil such as crisp packets, coffee bags, tea bags wrapping, some chocolate and sweets wrappers, etc. Tip - you can easily test of something is aluminium and can be recycled by scrunching it in your hand.
If it stays squashed it is aluminium and can be recycled, If it springs back into shape when it is squashed it can not be recycled!
Batteries
There is a container provided at Townmead Road where you can place used household batteries and they are then sent for safe disposal.
Books
Books in good condition can be left for re-use.
These are donated to various charities and organisations including Amnesty International, Book-Aid, RNLI, local charity shops and hospitals. Speak to a member of staff on site for more details
Bric a Brac
Our contractors ensure that all usable items of bric-a-brac are sent for re-use. Items collected range from CDs to furniture.
Cans (mixed) and empty aerosol cans
The recycling of aluminium cans allows an energy saving of 95% compared with the production of virgin metal. Last year Richmond residents collected 120 tonnes of drinks cans and food tins for recycling.
Car batteries (Householders only)
You can drop off car batteries for re-use. Please ask one of the assistants at Townmead Road for further advice on where to leave it.
Cardboard
Please keep your newspapers and magazines separate from your cardboard. Telephone directories should be put in the paperbank. No juice cartons eg tetra pak please take to one of the carton recycling sites in the borough.
If you are moving we have a supply of good quality cardboard and packing boxes that can be re-used for free. Alternately if you have just moved in then please recycle your packing boxes here or at any of the 50 Cardboard recycling sites across the borough.
Christmas trees
Christmas trees can be can be left at the green waste bay for composting throughout the year.
A free Christmas tree collection service from the home is available for a limited time during January, this service is advertised near Christmas.
Cooking oil
All vegetable cooking oil can be recycled but please ask for assistance on site. Old vegetable oil is collected and used in the manufacture of Biodiesel.
Electrical equipment
We can accept all electrical goods for recycling. If we are unable to send an item for re-use then we will ensure that its components are recycled or sent for safe disposal.
Energy saving lightbulbs
These are accepted from householders only. They are sent for reprocessing, which includes mercury extraction for reuse and recycling of glass and aluminium parts.
Engine oil (householders only)
This is collected at Townmead Road and processed (by removing excess water and filtering out particles) to be used as a fuel in heavy industry and power stations.
Fire extinguishers
These are accepted from householders only, not commercial businesses.
Fluorescent tubes
These are accepted from householders only, not commercial businesses.
Fridges and freezers (not commercial units)
New legislation means that we are now recycling more fridges and freezers than ever before. Please use our drop off point and be sure to ask an assistant for help.
Gas bottles
These are accepted from householders only, not commercial businesses.
Glass bottles and jars
It is very important that you separate your glass into the appropriate colours - green, brown or clear. There are separate bays for each. Excessive contamination effects the quantities of glass that can be recycled.
No Pyrex, mirrors or other types of glass.
Green waste
There is a dedicated bay for green waste for more information visit Recycling Garden Waste at Townmead Road.
Hazardous waste (householders only)
Many products that are reguarly used in the home and garden may contain hazardous substances, which should be disposed of safely via Townmead Road. For more information on hazardous waste please visit the Garden Chemicals and Household Hazardous Waste page.
Metals
We are able to send all metal objects for recycling. If you have any bulky metal items, please ask our staff for assistance.
Mobile phones
If you have an unwanted mobile phone (preferably with a charger) you can take it to Townmead Rd. where they are collected for re-use.
Alternatively you can contact Oxfam or Action Aid who can recycle your phones for you and the money goes towards funding the charities projects.
Paint
Good quality re-usable paint can be deposited in a special container on-site. It is then collected and redistributed for use in the community via the'Re-Paint' Scheme. This gives out free paint to schools, charities and those who need it. Visit our Re-Paint Scheme page for more details.
No rusty tins or empty pots.
Paper
Please do not mix cardboard with your paper, shredded paper, newspapers and magazines. Yellow pages and white directories can be recycled in the paper bank.
Paving slabs
Please drop off any unwanted paving slabs for re-use. Please ask an assistant for help if you would like to have some for free for your own use (Richmond residents only).
Plastic bottles
All household plastic bottles including household cleaner and detergent bottles, plastic milk, juice, softdrink and water bottles. Please wash and squash plastic bottles before recycling.
Lids can also be recycled. No bottles please that have contained motor oil or pesticides or any other plastic container that is not a bottle. For more information about what plastics can be recycled.
Rubble and hardcore
You can drop off any concrete, rubble or asphalt for recycling. We hope to recycle 100 tonnes every week. At present we average around 50 tonnes.
Hardcore is re-used as aggregate.
Shoes and textiles
We can accept pairs of shoes, clothes, hats, belts, towels, bed sheets and curtains that are clean and in good condition. These items are re-used in developing countries. Please place items in a plastic bag to help keep them clean. Find out more information on how the shoes and textiles are re-used.
No duvets or pillows.
Soil and clay
Soil and Clay can be deposited for recycling in the special designated skip. The soil is then re-used once it has been sorted and graded.
No stones, hardcore, rubble, bags, plastic or litter'.
Spectacles
These are taken to Dollond & Aitchison to be re-used or recycled.
Toner and ink cartridges
Over two million non-biodegradable toner cartridges are thrown away annually in the UK, each one weighing about 4kgs and made mostly of plastic. Townmead Rd has containers you can leave them in for recycling.
These items are then donated to ActionAid Recycling, raising funds to help fight poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Wood and timber
Many types of wood can be recycled including wooden furniture, timber off-cuts, flooring and crates / pallets. Wood is recycled and chipped into animal bedding, equestrian surfacing and used to make new furniture such as kitchen worktops.
No treated wood (creosote, etc), painted wood, MDF or chipboard. Speak to a member of staff on-site for advice.
Woodchip
We have free woodchip to give away to residents. The Council's Parks and Open Spaces Department donate the woodchip for re-use. Please bring your own bag to fill and take away.