April 24, 2025 • 31 mins
Ever wondered what can and what can't go into your silver recycling bin in Cheshire East? Do you know what is classed as contaminated recycling? Tune into our latest podcast episode to discover some of the strange items recently found in recycling. We also share some interesting facts and figures, including a reminder about battery safety. #CheshireEast #Recycling #Wishcycling #Podcast #Batteries
You can also watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/N7UoIB70SL4
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:11):
So welcome to a new series ofthe Challenge to Change podcast.
The Challenge to Change podcast isnow part of the Cheshire East family.
Thank you so much for takingtime to listen or watch.
If you are watching on YouTube,let's get into the podcast episode.
As you can see, uh, if you are watchingus on YouTube, I'm here with my colleague
(00:36):
Matthew Williams, who is going to sharesome really interesting statistics about
the recycling that we collect here inCheshire East and also the size of the
vehicles that we use to collect wasteand recycling here in Cheshire East.
So, hello Matthew.
How are you today?
I'm really good.
Thanks, Hazel.
How are you?
(00:56):
I'm, I'm really good as well.
Awesome.
So, so tell me then that theseinteresting statistics, I'm sure people
will want to, uh, know all about.
Yeah.
So Cheshire East, the averagecollection of recycling a week
is between 700 and 800 tonnes.
Wow.
That's a lot, isn't it?
It's a heck of a lot.
(01:17):
It's kind of hard.
To picture really, to be honest.
Yeah.
Amazing.
I think you have some vehiclestatistics as well there, I believe.
Yeah, there's three different sizevehicles that are used according
to what the route dictates andaccess and stuff like that.
So the smaller one cancollect 1.6 tonnes, right?
Uh, the next size up can collect4.8 tonnes, and then the larger
(01:40):
one can collect 10.8 tonnes.
Wow.
Uh, in one collection.
That's it.
It's impressive.
It, it's, it's a lot isn't it?
It is a lot.
And I think when we do, we havegot some images to, to show people.
So if you are watching us on YouTube,you will get to see those images.
For people listening to the podcast,Matthew and I will do our best
to describe, uh, what the peopleover on YouTube are looking at.
(02:04):
So you've got sort of a goodsense of what's, of what's there.
Uh, but that will kind ofgive people an idea of.
You know, the capacity of,of the recycling that, that
we're talking about as well.
So should we, uh, have alook at those, those images?
Yep.
Let's do that.
Okay.
So hopefully everybody can see that.
Okay.
I think, I think they probably can.
(02:25):
So obviously we're looking here,um, at recycling, although I say
obviously it probably doesn't reallylook that much like recycling.
I mean, here in, in Cheshire East,um, you can put what we describe as
the big five into your recycle bin.
Um, I'm gonna test you, Matthew.
(02:46):
Can you remember what that big five is?
Yep.
So cardboard and paper glass.
Glass bottles.
Please give it a a rinse.
Please give it a swill for you.
Do, uh, aluminum canscan go in and tin cans.
If they've had food in so if, the tincans had painting or varnish or a, an
(03:07):
engine oil treatment, something like that.
Please take that to the recycling centre.
So what have we done?
Glass paper and card cans.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So we've got what?
Glass paper card tinfoil can go in.
Obviously that comes under the,the kind of like metal category.
Of course, it does need to befree of food contamination.
(03:29):
What else have we got?
Uh, squash, squash able plastic.
We mentioned squashable plastic.
We haven't, so no.
Um.
Squashable with plastic, something like,uh, your water bottle, uh, uh, if you
bought water in, then you can squash it.
The bottom of what yourbacon might come in.
Uh, not the top, not the film.
Yeah.
Uh, um, punnets.
(03:50):
So what your strawberries oryour blueberries are come in.
Yeah.
And in fact, something apparentlyin the UK we are not very good at
recycling at the moment generally is,is bath, bathroom, product bottles.
Right.
Okay.
That's a good, so yeah,shampoo and that stuff.
That's a good, yeah.
Um, the thinking is that we dump thatin the bathroom bin and doesn't make it
down to recycling, so that can go in.
(04:11):
Interesting.
Yeah.
So we've got glass, aluminum card,uh, squashy, plastic, how we are
missing in one Hazel, uh, paper.
Paper.
That's always a, always a tricky one.
'cause I, I guess because cardand paper come from the same.
Uh, you know, they, they come from a tree
.Yeah.
Um, so yeah, it was always a tricky one.
But yeah, card and paper, they,they can go in and as you already
(04:35):
mentioned, they do, they do need tobe free of contamination and we tend
to think of contamination as beingfood, but also contamination includes.
So if you are doing like shampoos.
Conditioners, that kind of thing.
It does need to be free of shampoo andconditioners, so you need to give them a
rinse before they go into the recycle bin.
They also need to bepretty much dry as well.
(04:56):
Uh, so we don't wantlots of wet recycling.
And the reason for that is thatsoggy cardboard, um, it's, it's very
difficult to recycle soggy cardboard.
And as you can see, looking at thatimage there, um, I'm pretty sure this.
Some soggy cardboard in there.
Um, you know, so we, wedo want it to be dry.
We do want it to be clean.
(05:16):
And also significantly,we want it to be loose.
So don't put it in a bag.
And the reason for that is it makes iteasier, um, for that sorting process.
But also if you have it in atied bag, there could be some
contamination hiding in there.
It may not even contain.
Recycling.
So that's why we want it to also be loose.
So there you go.
But yeah, thank you for sharingthose, uh, five, five items there.
(05:40):
That's brilliant.
So let's have a look at some more images.
So I mean, again, that does, that doeskind of give people an idea of the
volumes of recycling that, um, that wedeal with at the waste transfer station.
Um, I think that is, um.
I think that's just one,possibly just one load.
(06:00):
Just one tip.
Um, I'm fairly surethat it's just one tip.
Um, but there's, there's a lot inthere and I can kind of see from here.
I dunno if you can, Matthew, but there'sa, there's some definitely some things
that, that shouldn't be in there.
I'm fairly sure down here.
We've got a crisp packet, so thatcan't go into your recycle bin.
Some supermarkets will take crisppackets for recycling, but you can't
(06:23):
put them into your recycle bin, soif you're not gonna take them to the
supermarket, you need to put crisppackets in your black household waste bin.
Can you spot any other itemsof contamination in there?
Matthew?
Difficult, isn't it?
It is.
Yeah, it's quite smallon my screen actually.
Yeah.
Let's, um, let's see if wecan zoom in a little bit.
(06:46):
Maybe a bag, like a canvasbag or something like that.
It looks like it is.
So again, that would be, if that isthe case, that would be a problem.
Right.
Let's look at another picture.
So we've got a lovely picture there of oneof our waste transfer station operatives
holding a very pretty, uh, handbag.
Um.
And of course, you know, you can't, youcan, you can donate something like that.
(07:11):
You can put it on, um, acommunity recycling app.
You can even maybe sell a handbag,but what you can't do is put it into
your recycle bin because it isn'tone of those, that big five that
we'd already mentioned, it can't be,it can't be recycled in that way.
So you can, you can recycle it, butnot through your silver recycling bin.
(07:33):
Let's have a look, seewhat we've got next.
There's another very, uh, it's a bitof a huge pile of recycling and it, you
know, it doesn't, from here it reallydoesn't look like recycling at all.
But I think, you know, that there arethings in there that, that should be,
um, that looks like maybe a carpetor something like that at the top.
(07:54):
I'm not too sure, but if it is acarpet, of course, that can't go in.
Can you spot any, uh.
Tricky items there, Matthew.
I'm just gonna move it down.
See if you can see anything.
Got some glass bottlesin there, which are good.
They can go in.
Just above the glassbottles at the bottom.
That looks like the backof a carpet or something.
(08:16):
Yeah, that's it there.
Yes it does, doesn't it?
Yeah.
So, yeah.
Um, but again, obviously, ofcourse, you know, something like
that, um, would need to go to ahousehold waste recycling centre.
If you've got carpet that is in goodcondition, you might be able to offer
it on a community recycling app.
Um, but.
I guess the strongest likelihood isthat it wouldn't be in good condition.
(08:37):
In which case, householdwaste recycling centre.
Is that, um, like a, a medicine,you know the things that have the
tablets in it looks like it there.
Blist pack.
Yeah, a blister pack.
That's the correct term.
So they can be recycledat some pharmacies.
You can take them to some pharmacies.
Um, if you pop onto the Recycle Nowwebsite, that should, um, should give
(09:01):
you some options for recycling those.
But alternatively, they would needto go into Black household waste bin.
So let's have a look,see what we've got next.
Ooh, this is a, this is a pretty one.
Um, but still, still contamination.
It's pretty contamination, butit's contamination nonetheless.
So.
What bin should we be putting that one in?
(09:23):
Matthew?
Definitely not the recycle bin.
Yeah, black.
Black bin.
Definitely.
Black bin.
Yeah.
If you can't reuse it in some way, Idon't know, for maybe a craft project
or something like that, but yeah,definitely black bin for that one.
Definitely not in thesilver recycling bin.
Oh, another interesting item there.
(09:44):
So.
This one, of course,is an electrical item.
It's solar powered lights.
Um, so for something like this, there'svarious options, um, to, to kind of
recycle it if it's still working.
Some charity shops might be able to takeit, but check, before you donate, you
(10:04):
can pop onto the Recycle Your Electricalswebsite for all the recycling options.
What you cannot do is put an itemlike that into any of your bins
because it's an electronic item.
So if a charity shop that sells, um,working electrical items isn't an option.
(10:24):
If the Recycle Your Electricalswebsite isn't, isn't something you
wanna look at, then it's a householdwaste site, household waste recycling
centre rather for an item like that.
Batteries in general.
Uh, the battery that will beassociated with the, the solar
panel of that, uh, the lithium inthem, uh, can actually start a fire.
(10:45):
So if that gets damaged in thecompaction when it's put into the
vehicle, uh, that can start a, a fire.
So obviously if we're thinking of.
10.8 tonnes of somethingthat's quite flammable.
Uh, if that's, uh, that's in a,uh, a residential area as people
are getting to school or whatever.
That's, that's definitelysomething we want to avoid.
(11:07):
Yeah, definitely.
Definitely.
And I think for a lot of people it'sjust, you know, it is to sort of perhaps
that they're not aware that that canhappen, but you're absolutely right.
It it, it, it is a fire hazard.
And, and you know, thank youfor highlighting that Matthew.
Most definitely.
Um, okay.
Um, so we've got here, what,what are we looking at here?
I think, um, a laptop, I think,um, possibly another electrical
(11:32):
item there, maybe a remote control.
Um.
A charger and a laptop bag.
Um, so yeah, so with somethinglike this, it's, you know,
the, the same thing applies.
The, you know, there is,there is that fire risk there.
Um, obviously a laptop contains abattery, quite a large battery, really.
(11:54):
Um, so if it's a working electricalitem, once you've, um, you know,
kind of removed all of your kind of.
You know, if you've got photographson there or like kind of any personal
details once you've kind of made it,um, kind of clear of all of that.
And there is information on how to do thaton the Recycle Your Electricals website.
(12:14):
Uh, if it's working, it could probably goto some charity shops, some charity shops.
I. Do, um, accept electrical items.
Of course, check before you donate, um,and the Recycle Your Electricals website.
Not only does it tell you how to, um,clear these items of personal details, it
also tells you, um, how to recycle them.
(12:35):
Some, some, uh, electricalretailers will take items like
this back and the laptop bag.
Assuming it was clean, not like that one.
Of course might have been cleanwhen it went into the recycle bin,
but it's certainly not clean now.
So if it was clean and still usableagain, you, you could donate that
to a charity shop, maybe offerit on a community recycling app.
(12:57):
Um, but definitely don't put electricalitems into any of your bins and.
With a laptop bag that can't gointo your silver recycling bin.
You could put the laptop bag inyour black household waste bin.
Um, but not of course the electrical item.
So, yeah.
(13:17):
Right.
Okay.
Do you like to talk about thisimage that we have here, Matthew?
Is it, is it a grill, is it amicrowave or can't quite tell.
I think it's a grill.
Yeah.
And it, you know, itlooks, it looks like it.
It looks like it's new.
I mean, it may be that it looks likeit's new 'cause it's still wrapped
in polystyrene and a cardboard box.
(13:40):
Yeah, it does.
It has been incrediblywell packaged, hasn't it?
It's been really well packaged.
Yeah.
It's kept it very, uh, comfortable.
Um, but.
Yeah.
Um, so what, what should we do with that?
Getting straight to it.
Please do not put this in yoursilver bin, and please do not
put this in your black bin.
Uh, so take it to, uh, a recycling centre.
(14:02):
Yeah.
Uh, but yes, don't, please don'tput that in your recycling.
No.
I mean, it, it looks quite large.
I mean, it's difficult to tell fromthe, from the picture, but it looks
quite large, so I'm not, you know, it's,it's, it looks like it's a miracle that
someone's managed to fit that in there.
Um, silver recycling bin,but somehow they have, um, of
course the cardboard box itself.
(14:23):
The cardboard box could goin the silver recycling bin.
The polystyrene, uh, would need to gointo the black household waste bin.
So you've literally gotthree different items there.
Another option is having a look on that.
Um, Recycle Your Electricals website, uh,for other recycling options because some
electrical retailers will take items back.
(14:43):
Um, and also charity shops as well.
Some charity shops dosell, um, electrical items.
Um, not all.
So check before you donate, right?
Then this is another interesting one.
Now, I think, uh, thisis a wardrobe cover.
Probably made out of, ofmaybe canvas or plastic.
(15:04):
So people might think, oh, it's plastic.
It can go in the recycle bin.
But no, that would be incorrect.
It's not the type of plastic, uh,it's a mixed material for one thing.
Um, so there's more than onematerial involved with that
particular product there.
Um, so it can't go inyour silver recycling bin.
So where, where would weput that one, Matthew?
(15:24):
What would be the correctplace for that one?
Uh, I can't quite tellthe dimensions of it.
So if you could get that, uh,scrunched up fairly small, that
could go in your black bin.
Yeah.
If, if it's a larger item, then uh,take it to your recycling centre.
Absolutely.
And if it was, if it was clean,still usable, still a saleable item
(15:48):
than a charity shop could take it.
I mean, looking at that one there, it'sobviously quite dirty, but the reason
it most likely dirty is because it'sactually come, you know, it's been
mixed with other, other materials,uh, within the recycling and, and as
we've seen sometimes, um, recyclingdoes have contamination in there.
Uh, but before it went into thebin, it may be that it was suitable
(16:10):
to be donated a charity shop, butalways check before you donate.
Right then this is, uh, thisis another interesting one.
So I know from the description thatour colleague, uh, put on this image,
it's actually, um, brand new, um, haircurling tongs, if that's the correct term.
I don't know what they're, I knowwhat they're called these days.
(16:31):
Um, still in the box as well, so.
Again, it's an electrical item.
It can't go into any of your bins.
Um, it, you know, it's new,so presumably it's working.
Some charity shops will takeit so you could donate it.
Um, probably not within thebox by the looks of things.
'cause the box is a little bit, um.
(16:51):
Uh, obviously it's got, yes,it's looking a little bit tired.
That box, the cardboard boxcould go in the recycle bin.
Um, so long as it is just cardboardand it doesn't have sort of embossing
and that kind of thing on there, orI don't know, glitter or something,
which you probably wouldn't.
Um, but yeah, those curling tongs, ifI've got the correct, um, hairstyling
(17:12):
product, electrical hairstylingproduct, we'll call it that.
Yeah, Recycle Your Electricals website.
Charity shops, if they sell productslike that, check before you donate
household waste recycling centre.
Or you could offer it ona community recycling app.
I'm sure there's lots of people that wouldappreciate, um, a, you know, a as new, uh,
(17:34):
hair product of, of that, of that kind.
No doubt.
Definitely not your recycle bin.
Right then.
So what have we got here?
So this is, is that achild's play area or a cot?
Maybe.
It's either a cot or a playpen.
I think it's a travel cot.
It's a travel cot.
I remember my, my, my, um, mydaughter had one like that.
(17:56):
Um, so obviously looking a littlebit squashed now, um, as it's
gone through, most likely throughthe machinery, um, in the, um.
In the waste collection vehicle, it's gota little bit squashed during that process.
Um, I, those are usuallyquite large as well, so.
You know, I dunno whether it'sbeen perhaps squashed down to fit
(18:16):
it into the recycle bin, but asyou might have guessed for people
watching and listening, definitelydon't put that in your recycle bin.
Don't put it in your black householdwaste bin either, because it, it's
really far too large, uh, for, for that.
So.
Household Waste Recycling centre.
Um, if it's in good working condition,you could donate it to a charity shop.
(18:39):
You could also offer it ona community recycling app.
So none, none of your bins for that one.
Um, yeah, right.
Then what have we, what have we got here?
I think this is electrical.
Electrical trunking.
Yeah, electrical trunking.
Um.
Yeah, really the only place that couldgo is a household waste recycling centre.
(19:01):
So I think these are all,um, children and baby items.
So we've got, um, a trainingpotty there, quite, quite a
large one by the looks of things.
If it was clean and usable, youcould donate it to a charity shop.
You could offer it on acommunity recycling app that
doesn't look particularly clean.
(19:22):
Um, so I think for that one.
It would need to go to ahousehold waste recycling centre.
Um, the other items too.
Sure.
What they are.
Matthew, any thoughts?
Is that another carry cot butjust folded up in the bag?
Um, possibly.
Yeah.
I'm not sure at the bottom the.
I can't quite tell what that might be.
(19:44):
No, I mean, all, none of thesethings are suitable for your silver
recycling bin, so none of thosethings should have gone in there.
Um, anything that's in, anything that'sin good working order and it's clean and
saleable, a charity shop is a good option,but always check before you donate and
don't leave it outside the shop either.
That causes a big problem forcharity shops, so don't just sort
(20:06):
of leave it outside the door, um,unless they have a, a facility.
Set up for doing that.
Um, you know, don't justleave it outside the door.
So check that they can receive theitem that you're offering them.
Um, but for all of these things, ifthey're, if they're, they're clean,
damaged, not usable, household wasterecycling centre, the smaller things,
(20:29):
um, they could, they could probablygo in the black house or waist bin.
I'm not too sure as just,I don't know what they are.
They look like maybe toys ifthey're not electronic toys.
They could go into your black bin, but forthe larger things, yeah household waste
recycling centre on the larger things.
What about yeah, Facebook marketplace.
(20:49):
Uh, I mean, yeah, those things look abit tired, but it could be that they've
only got that dirty as they've beammixed around in the true in the truck.
So it might be if someone's going tothrow them, uh, offer them for free on
Facebook Marketplace if they're in okay.
Condition option.
Or it might even be.
You could get a coupleof quid for these things.
(21:09):
Uh, yeah, absolutely.
Like you say, they could, there maybe only a look like that now because
they've been through that process.
They could have looked pretty, sort of,you know, in pretty good working order
or reasonable, you know, reasonably okay.
So absolutely, that'sdefinitely an option.
Right then.
Okay, so we've got an a arrayof different things here in
(21:30):
this image of vacuum cleaner.
A mini vacuum cleaner.
Fridge.
Vacuum.
Mm. Two.
Three different printers.
Two different printers.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Uh, I'm not sure what the gold thing is.
Um, no.
I'm not sure what thegold thing is either.
Uh.
That long goal thing, is that like a pen?
Some kind, I dunno, a pen?
(21:51):
I don't know.
Um, but for all of the electricalitems, it's, as we've said
already, good working order.
Some charity shops will accept them.
Check, before you donate, look onthe Recycle Your Electricals website.
For options.
Um, as you've mentioned Matthew, youknow, Facebook marketplace, um, you know,
other types of community recycling apps.
(22:14):
Um, you know, I'm trying to thinkof some examples, like Frugal
Freecycle, um, LIO was another one.
So there's various different placeslo you know, that you can put,
put things like that if you know,if they're in good work in order.
Um, but definitely don't put.
Electrical items into any of your bins.
If they're not working, um, recycleyour electrical's website for options
(22:38):
because there are, um, electricalretailers that will take these back.
And then of course we've got thehousehold waste recycling centre.
If that is a gold pen, that could gointo your black household waste bin.
Not too sure is I, Iagree with you, Matthew.
I don't really know what the otherthings are, but nothing in that image.
Look suitable for thesilver recycling bin.
(23:02):
I think there might be some cardboardcovering up, whatever that is.
So of course, cardboard can go into thesilver recycling bin if it's not, uh,
I wonder if that gold thing is actuallya light fitting that's got squashed.
That's my best guess.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(23:22):
Light fitting.
I think you're right.
So a light fitting.
Household Waste recycling centre.
Really?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Dunno what this is here.
Like a bit of, I dunno, string, but yeah.
Okay.
Ah, so we've zoomed in on this item sothat there is an electrical item in there.
So we've got some cardboardhere surrounding it.
(23:44):
Cardboard, if it's not contaminatedwith grease food or whatever, um,
that can go in the recycle bin, butthe contents that electrical item.
As we've already said, householdWaste Recycling centre.
Uh, if it's in good workingorder, some charity shops can,
um, receive, um, electrical items.
(24:05):
And also you can look on theRecycle Your Electricals website.
Definitely don't put it in your bin.
Right.
Okay.
Got some.
Uh, so I think these are, ifmemory serves, these are battery
powered toys, aren't they?
Um.
So the same thing appliesgood work in order charity
shop check before you donate.
(24:27):
Um.
Again, obviously, you know, communityrecycling app, if it's in good working
order, um, you know, even if they'renot pristine, you know, so, you know, we
can't sort of presume what other peoplewill be happy to receive if it's free.
Um, if it's, if it works, it doesn'thave to be, it doesn't have to
(24:47):
look like brand new, you know,like as you said before, Facebook
Marketplace, um, offered for free.
You know, for some things aswell, you could even sell them
if they're in good work in order.
I mean, this looks, it lookspretty pristine, doesn't it?
Both of them do actually.
It's a real shame that they've endedup in the silver recycling bin.
(25:08):
I.
What's this one, Matthew?
What we looking at is that garden hose?
I think it's two.
Yeah, two garden hoses.
Um, right then.
So yeah, the mixed materials of, uh, soI can understand if someone's thought
it's plastic, it can be recycled.
I, I kind of get that.
But, uh, they've normallygot like a, a nylon.
(25:29):
Meshing it for the strength, haven't they?
Yeah.
So yeah, they, that's, that's nota plastic that, uh, we recycle.
So it can't go in your silver bin.
Yeah, absolutely.
And I think because yeah, but for asmall amount I think you could, you
know, but for that looks like quite alarge amount, so I think you have to be a
household waste recycling centre for that.
Really?
(25:49):
Yeah.
I think, is that a light,ah, a light fitting.
Okay.
Yeah.
So again, it might have beenin good condition, wasn't it?
When it was first popped in and gotsquashed in the process in the vehicle.
But, um, yeah, not, not one For thesilver gring, it's definitely not because
(26:11):
of the, the different mixing materials.
So it looks like it's got some kind ofcard or hardboard there than the brown
material on it and the wire framing.
Um, so recycling, recycling centre.
Yeah, absolutely.
And, and obviously if it was in goodworking order before it went into the
bin, you could donate it, you could offer,offer it on those community recycling,
(26:36):
um, options that we've already mentioned.
Uh, this appears to be a bag of some sort.
Um, is it a ground sheet ora tent or, yeah, I think so.
Yeah.
Um, so some, some sports, uh, kindof camping type retailers will
take back items like that if youhave a look online for options,
(26:58):
if it's in good working order.
You could donate it to a charityshop, offer it on all of any of those
community recycling options thatwe've mentioned, failing that, um,
household Waste Recycling centre.
Think we have come tothe end of our pictures.
Yes, we have.
Right?
So
(27:19):
we had quite an array of differenttypes of items, didn't we?
There?
Um, you know.
In some cases you can kind of seewhy people might think this would be
suitable for the recycle bin, but inother cases, you know, um, it's a bit
of a kind of mystery as to why peoplewould actually pop that in there.
(27:42):
Um, but yeah, I mean, I think it's,it's also worth noting that, you know,
we always appreciate the residents ofCheshire for doing their best to recycle.
Um, and you know, for doing their best tokind of get the right things into the bin.
And sometimes the reason thatpeople put the wrong things in
is because they're wish cycling.
So they, they want it to be recycledto such an extent that they wanna
(28:06):
pop it in their recycle bin.
But unfortunately, wish cyclingdoes lead to contamination.
Um, yeah, definitely.
Yeah.
We recap something you'vetaught me today, the big five.
So if you recap that it's, uh, card.
Paper, glass tins, tins, if they'vehad food in, if it's paint or an
(28:28):
oil treatment or varnish, thencan't go in your recycling bin.
And I think that leaves me glass.
So that's absolutely, that's, that'sthe items and the materials that
we do want in silver gray bin.
Yeah.
Um, but yeah, absolutely.
And, and as you say, you, you've mentionedthere are obviously tins of paint.
So tins of paint would needto go to a household waste
(28:48):
recycling centre, of course.
Um, not into, not into your bins.
So to do, take those to the householdWaste recycling centre if you've,
if there's still paint in there,um, sometimes there are, um.
Community projects that will, youknow, if you've still got paint left
over, but you simply don't need it.
So if you have a look online, um, for, um.
(29:10):
I'm trying to think what they're called.
Community paint projects.
I think, um, there are, there aresome that, that, that exist, um,
sort of locally or local-ish, soyou can do that as well as an option
if there's still paint in there.
Obviously, if that's not an optionor there's no paint in there
household waste recycling centre, hawas talking about paint and, yeah.
(29:33):
Brilliant.
Um, are they calledcommunity scrap shacks?
Um, places that peoplehobbyists and stuff.
If they've got bits left over, they willtake and pass on and that kind of thing.
Yeah.
Uh, and Hazel alsomentioned the wish cycling.
So people want theirpaintings to be recycled.
That's brilliant.
But if you take it to the recyclingcentre, they will make safe and process
(29:57):
the chemicals that have been inside.
Yeah.
And then it will be recycled.
So that's why we want it to get there.
It's not safe to go into the silver bin.
Absolutey.
Uh, on the theme of.
Of safety, um, batteries.
So batteries themselves or anythingwith a battery in it is, it's the
science, it's the nature of it.
(30:17):
It's, uh, sadly it happens.
We don't want them to go into thevehicles because they can start a fire.
Yeah.
And from the tonnages that we sharedearlier, that much dry, dry material,
that's very easy to, to catch.
Mm-hmm.
That's, that's the situationwe want to avoid at all costs.
Absolutely.
Uh, thank, thank you somuch for that Matthew.
(30:38):
I know as you've said, we havehad fires in the transfer station.
Of course, we do have facilitiesin there to, to, to deal with
those fires very, very swiftly.
And we have had fires in, inwaste collection vehicles as well.
But actually that happens.
All over the UK, all over the world.
So, you know, it, it's notjust a problem here in Cheshire
East, it's a problem everywhere.
(31:00):
Anywhere that sell batteries shouldhave a tub for you to be able
to pop your batteries, uh, in.
Uh, so supermarket, uh,is, is an obvious one.
So.
Wherever your, wherever you goto buy your, your groceries,
they normally have some kind oftub at the front of the store.
Larger batteries, if youtake to the recycling centre.
(31:23):
Yeah, absolutely.
Absolutely.
Fantastic.
Well, thank you so much foryour time today, Matthew.
It's been wonderful talking to you asever, um, and even more wonderful talking
to you here on this podcast episode.
So I really appreciate it andI'm sure that people listening
and watching will find all theinformation that we've shared.
(31:43):
Really, really useful.
So welcome to a new series ofthe Challenge to Change podcast.
The Challenge to Change podcast isnow part of the Cheshire East family.
Thank you so much for takingtime to listen or watch.
If you are watching on YouTube,let's get into the podcast episode.
As you can see, uh, if you are watchingus on YouTube, I'm here with my colleague
(00:36):
Matthew Williams, who is going to sharesome really interesting statistics about
the recycling that we collect here inCheshire East and also the size of the
vehicles that we use to collect wasteand recycling here in Cheshire East.
So, hello Matthew.
How are you today?
I'm really good.
Thanks, Hazel.
How are you?
(00:56):
I'm, I'm really good as well.
Awesome.
So, so tell me then that theseinteresting statistics, I'm sure people
will want to, uh, know all about.
Yeah.
So Cheshire East, the averagecollection of recycling a week
is between 700 and 800 tonnes.
Wow.
That's a lot, isn't it?
It's a heck of a lot.
(01:17):
It's kind of hard.
To picture really, to be honest.
Yeah.
Amazing.
I think you have some vehiclestatistics as well there, I believe.
Yeah, there's three different sizevehicles that are used according
to what the route dictates andaccess and stuff like that.
So the smaller one cancollect 1.6 tonnes, right?
Uh, the next size up can collect4.8 tonnes, and then the larger
(01:40):
one can collect 10.8 tonnes.
Wow.
Uh, in one collection.
That's it.
It's impressive.
It, it's, it's a lot isn't it?
It is a lot.
And I think when we do, we havegot some images to, to show people.
So if you are watching us on YouTube,you will get to see those images.
For people listening to the podcast,Matthew and I will do our best
to describe, uh, what the peopleover on YouTube are looking at.
(02:04):
So you've got sort of a goodsense of what's, of what's there.
Uh, but that will kind ofgive people an idea of.
You know, the capacity of,of the recycling that, that
we're talking about as well.
So should we, uh, have alook at those, those images?
Yep.
Let's do that.
Okay.
So hopefully everybody can see that.
Okay.
I think, I think they probably can.
(02:25):
So obviously we're looking here,um, at recycling, although I say
obviously it probably doesn't reallylook that much like recycling.
I mean, here in, in Cheshire East,um, you can put what we describe as
the big five into your recycle bin.
Um, I'm gonna test you, Matthew.
(02:46):
Can you remember what that big five is?
Yep.
So cardboard and paper glass.
Glass bottles.
Please give it a a rinse.
Please give it a swill for you.
Do, uh, aluminum canscan go in and tin cans.
If they've had food in so if, the tincans had painting or varnish or a, an
(03:07):
engine oil treatment, something like that.
Please take that to the recycling centre.
So what have we done?
Glass paper and card cans.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So we've got what?
Glass paper card tinfoil can go in.
Obviously that comes under the,the kind of like metal category.
Of course, it does need to befree of food contamination.
(03:29):
What else have we got?
Uh, squash, squash able plastic.
We mentioned squashable plastic.
We haven't, so no.
Um.
Squashable with plastic, something like,uh, your water bottle, uh, uh, if you
bought water in, then you can squash it.
The bottom of what yourbacon might come in.
Uh, not the top, not the film.
Yeah.
Uh, um, punnets.
(03:50):
So what your strawberries oryour blueberries are come in.
Yeah.
And in fact, something apparentlyin the UK we are not very good at
recycling at the moment generally is,is bath, bathroom, product bottles.
Right.
Okay.
That's a good, so yeah,shampoo and that stuff.
That's a good, yeah.
Um, the thinking is that we dump thatin the bathroom bin and doesn't make it
down to recycling, so that can go in.
(04:11):
Interesting.
Yeah.
So we've got glass, aluminum card,uh, squashy, plastic, how we are
missing in one Hazel, uh, paper.
Paper.
That's always a, always a tricky one.
'cause I, I guess because cardand paper come from the same.
Uh, you know, they, they come from a tree
.Yeah.
Um, so yeah, it was always a tricky one.
But yeah, card and paper, they,they can go in and as you already
(04:35):
mentioned, they do, they do need tobe free of contamination and we tend
to think of contamination as beingfood, but also contamination includes.
So if you are doing like shampoos.
Conditioners, that kind of thing.
It does need to be free of shampoo andconditioners, so you need to give them a
rinse before they go into the recycle bin.
They also need to bepretty much dry as well.
(04:56):
Uh, so we don't wantlots of wet recycling.
And the reason for that is thatsoggy cardboard, um, it's, it's very
difficult to recycle soggy cardboard.
And as you can see, looking at thatimage there, um, I'm pretty sure this.
Some soggy cardboard in there.
Um, you know, so we, wedo want it to be dry.
We do want it to be clean.
(05:16):
And also significantly,we want it to be loose.
So don't put it in a bag.
And the reason for that is it makes iteasier, um, for that sorting process.
But also if you have it in atied bag, there could be some
contamination hiding in there.
It may not even contain.
Recycling.
So that's why we want it to also be loose.
So there you go.
But yeah, thank you for sharingthose, uh, five, five items there.
(05:40):
That's brilliant.
So let's have a look at some more images.
So I mean, again, that does, that doeskind of give people an idea of the
volumes of recycling that, um, that wedeal with at the waste transfer station.
Um, I think that is, um.
I think that's just one,possibly just one load.
(06:00):
Just one tip.
Um, I'm fairly surethat it's just one tip.
Um, but there's, there's a lot inthere and I can kind of see from here.
I dunno if you can, Matthew, but there'sa, there's some definitely some things
that, that shouldn't be in there.
I'm fairly sure down here.
We've got a crisp packet, so thatcan't go into your recycle bin.
Some supermarkets will take crisppackets for recycling, but you can't
(06:23):
put them into your recycle bin, soif you're not gonna take them to the
supermarket, you need to put crisppackets in your black household waste bin.
Can you spot any other itemsof contamination in there?
Matthew?
Difficult, isn't it?
It is.
Yeah, it's quite smallon my screen actually.
Yeah.
Let's, um, let's see if wecan zoom in a little bit.
(06:46):
Maybe a bag, like a canvasbag or something like that.
It looks like it is.
So again, that would be, if that isthe case, that would be a problem.
Right.
Let's look at another picture.
So we've got a lovely picture there of oneof our waste transfer station operatives
holding a very pretty, uh, handbag.
Um.
And of course, you know, you can't, youcan, you can donate something like that.
(07:11):
You can put it on, um, acommunity recycling app.
You can even maybe sell a handbag,but what you can't do is put it into
your recycle bin because it isn'tone of those, that big five that
we'd already mentioned, it can't be,it can't be recycled in that way.
So you can, you can recycle it, butnot through your silver recycling bin.
(07:33):
Let's have a look, seewhat we've got next.
There's another very, uh, it's a bitof a huge pile of recycling and it, you
know, it doesn't, from here it reallydoesn't look like recycling at all.
But I think, you know, that there arethings in there that, that should be,
um, that looks like maybe a carpetor something like that at the top.
(07:54):
I'm not too sure, but if it is acarpet, of course, that can't go in.
Can you spot any, uh.
Tricky items there, Matthew.
I'm just gonna move it down.
See if you can see anything.
Got some glass bottlesin there, which are good.
They can go in.
Just above the glassbottles at the bottom.
That looks like the backof a carpet or something.
(08:16):
Yeah, that's it there.
Yes it does, doesn't it?
Yeah.
So, yeah.
Um, but again, obviously, ofcourse, you know, something like
that, um, would need to go to ahousehold waste recycling centre.
If you've got carpet that is in goodcondition, you might be able to offer
it on a community recycling app.
Um, but.
I guess the strongest likelihood isthat it wouldn't be in good condition.
(08:37):
In which case, householdwaste recycling centre.
Is that, um, like a, a medicine,you know the things that have the
tablets in it looks like it there.
Blist pack.
Yeah, a blister pack.
That's the correct term.
So they can be recycledat some pharmacies.
You can take them to some pharmacies.
Um, if you pop onto the Recycle Nowwebsite, that should, um, should give
(09:01):
you some options for recycling those.
But alternatively, they would needto go into Black household waste bin.
So let's have a look,see what we've got next.
Ooh, this is a, this is a pretty one.
Um, but still, still contamination.
It's pretty contamination, butit's contamination nonetheless.
So.
What bin should we be putting that one in?
(09:23):
Matthew?
Definitely not the recycle bin.
Yeah, black.
Black bin.
Definitely.
Black bin.
Yeah.
If you can't reuse it in some way, Idon't know, for maybe a craft project
or something like that, but yeah,definitely black bin for that one.
Definitely not in thesilver recycling bin.
Oh, another interesting item there.
(09:44):
So.
This one, of course,is an electrical item.
It's solar powered lights.
Um, so for something like this, there'svarious options, um, to, to kind of
recycle it if it's still working.
Some charity shops might be able to takeit, but check, before you donate, you
(10:04):
can pop onto the Recycle Your Electricalswebsite for all the recycling options.
What you cannot do is put an itemlike that into any of your bins
because it's an electronic item.
So if a charity shop that sells, um,working electrical items isn't an option.
(10:24):
If the Recycle Your Electricalswebsite isn't, isn't something you
wanna look at, then it's a householdwaste site, household waste recycling
centre rather for an item like that.
Batteries in general.
Uh, the battery that will beassociated with the, the solar
panel of that, uh, the lithium inthem, uh, can actually start a fire.
(10:45):
So if that gets damaged in thecompaction when it's put into the
vehicle, uh, that can start a, a fire.
So obviously if we're thinking of.
10.8 tonnes of somethingthat's quite flammable.
Uh, if that's, uh, that's in a,uh, a residential area as people
are getting to school or whatever.
That's, that's definitelysomething we want to avoid.
(11:07):
Yeah, definitely.
Definitely.
And I think for a lot of people it'sjust, you know, it is to sort of perhaps
that they're not aware that that canhappen, but you're absolutely right.
It it, it, it is a fire hazard.
And, and you know, thank youfor highlighting that Matthew.
Most definitely.
Um, okay.
Um, so we've got here, what,what are we looking at here?
I think, um, a laptop, I think,um, possibly another electrical
(11:32):
item there, maybe a remote control.
Um.
A charger and a laptop bag.
Um, so yeah, so with somethinglike this, it's, you know,
the, the same thing applies.
The, you know, there is,there is that fire risk there.
Um, obviously a laptop contains abattery, quite a large battery, really.
(11:54):
Um, so if it's a working electricalitem, once you've, um, you know,
kind of removed all of your kind of.
You know, if you've got photographson there or like kind of any personal
details once you've kind of made it,um, kind of clear of all of that.
And there is information on how to do thaton the Recycle Your Electricals website.
(12:14):
Uh, if it's working, it could probably goto some charity shops, some charity shops.
I. Do, um, accept electrical items.
Of course, check before you donate, um,and the Recycle Your Electricals website.
Not only does it tell you how to, um,clear these items of personal details, it
also tells you, um, how to recycle them.
(12:35):
Some, some, uh, electricalretailers will take items like
this back and the laptop bag.
Assuming it was clean, not like that one.
Of course might have been cleanwhen it went into the recycle bin,
but it's certainly not clean now.
So if it was clean and still usableagain, you, you could donate that
to a charity shop, maybe offerit on a community recycling app.
(12:57):
Um, but definitely don't put electricalitems into any of your bins and.
With a laptop bag that can't gointo your silver recycling bin.
You could put the laptop bag inyour black household waste bin.
Um, but not of course the electrical item.
So, yeah.
(13:17):
Right.
Okay.
Do you like to talk about thisimage that we have here, Matthew?
Is it, is it a grill, is it amicrowave or can't quite tell.
I think it's a grill.
Yeah.
And it, you know, itlooks, it looks like it.
It looks like it's new.
I mean, it may be that it looks likeit's new 'cause it's still wrapped
in polystyrene and a cardboard box.
(13:40):
Yeah, it does.
It has been incrediblywell packaged, hasn't it?
It's been really well packaged.
Yeah.
It's kept it very, uh, comfortable.
Um, but.
Yeah.
Um, so what, what should we do with that?
Getting straight to it.
Please do not put this in yoursilver bin, and please do not
put this in your black bin.
Uh, so take it to, uh, a recycling centre.
(14:02):
Yeah.
Uh, but yes, don't, please don'tput that in your recycling.
No.
I mean, it, it looks quite large.
I mean, it's difficult to tell fromthe, from the picture, but it looks
quite large, so I'm not, you know, it's,it's, it looks like it's a miracle that
someone's managed to fit that in there.
Um, silver recycling bin,but somehow they have, um, of
course the cardboard box itself.
(14:23):
The cardboard box could goin the silver recycling bin.
The polystyrene, uh, would need to gointo the black household waste bin.
So you've literally gotthree different items there.
Another option is having a look on that.
Um, Recycle Your Electricals website, uh,for other recycling options because some
electrical retailers will take items back.
(14:43):
Um, and also charity shops as well.
Some charity shops dosell, um, electrical items.
Um, not all.
So check before you donate, right?
Then this is another interesting one.
Now, I think, uh, thisis a wardrobe cover.
Probably made out of, ofmaybe canvas or plastic.
(15:04):
So people might think, oh, it's plastic.
It can go in the recycle bin.
But no, that would be incorrect.
It's not the type of plastic, uh,it's a mixed material for one thing.
Um, so there's more than onematerial involved with that
particular product there.
Um, so it can't go inyour silver recycling bin.
So where, where would weput that one, Matthew?
(15:24):
What would be the correctplace for that one?
Uh, I can't quite tellthe dimensions of it.
So if you could get that, uh,scrunched up fairly small, that
could go in your black bin.
Yeah.
If, if it's a larger item, then uh,take it to your recycling centre.
Absolutely.
And if it was, if it was clean,still usable, still a saleable item
(15:48):
than a charity shop could take it.
I mean, looking at that one there, it'sobviously quite dirty, but the reason
it most likely dirty is because it'sactually come, you know, it's been
mixed with other, other materials,uh, within the recycling and, and as
we've seen sometimes, um, recyclingdoes have contamination in there.
Uh, but before it went into thebin, it may be that it was suitable
(16:10):
to be donated a charity shop, butalways check before you donate.
Right then this is, uh, thisis another interesting one.
So I know from the description thatour colleague, uh, put on this image,
it's actually, um, brand new, um, haircurling tongs, if that's the correct term.
I don't know what they're, I knowwhat they're called these days.
(16:31):
Um, still in the box as well, so.
Again, it's an electrical item.
It can't go into any of your bins.
Um, it, you know, it's new,so presumably it's working.
Some charity shops will takeit so you could donate it.
Um, probably not within thebox by the looks of things.
'cause the box is a little bit, um.
(16:51):
Uh, obviously it's got, yes,it's looking a little bit tired.
That box, the cardboard boxcould go in the recycle bin.
Um, so long as it is just cardboardand it doesn't have sort of embossing
and that kind of thing on there, orI don't know, glitter or something,
which you probably wouldn't.
Um, but yeah, those curling tongs, ifI've got the correct, um, hairstyling
(17:12):
product, electrical hairstylingproduct, we'll call it that.
Yeah, Recycle Your Electricals website.
Charity shops, if they sell productslike that, check before you donate
household waste recycling centre.
Or you could offer it ona community recycling app.
I'm sure there's lots of people that wouldappreciate, um, a, you know, a as new, uh,
(17:34):
hair product of, of that, of that kind.
No doubt.
Definitely not your recycle bin.
Right then.
So what have we got here?
So this is, is that achild's play area or a cot?
Maybe.
It's either a cot or a playpen.
I think it's a travel cot.
It's a travel cot.
I remember my, my, my, um, mydaughter had one like that.
(17:56):
Um, so obviously looking a littlebit squashed now, um, as it's
gone through, most likely throughthe machinery, um, in the, um.
In the waste collection vehicle, it's gota little bit squashed during that process.
Um, I, those are usuallyquite large as well, so.
You know, I dunno whether it'sbeen perhaps squashed down to fit
(18:16):
it into the recycle bin, but asyou might have guessed for people
watching and listening, definitelydon't put that in your recycle bin.
Don't put it in your black householdwaste bin either, because it, it's
really far too large, uh, for, for that.
So.
Household Waste Recycling centre.
Um, if it's in good working condition,you could donate it to a charity shop.
(18:39):
You could also offer it ona community recycling app.
So none, none of your bins for that one.
Um, yeah, right.
Then what have we, what have we got here?
I think this is electrical.
Electrical trunking.
Yeah, electrical trunking.
Um.
Yeah, really the only place that couldgo is a household waste recycling centre.
(19:01):
So I think these are all,um, children and baby items.
So we've got, um, a trainingpotty there, quite, quite a
large one by the looks of things.
If it was clean and usable, youcould donate it to a charity shop.
You could offer it on acommunity recycling app that
doesn't look particularly clean.
(19:22):
Um, so I think for that one.
It would need to go to ahousehold waste recycling centre.
Um, the other items too.
Sure.
What they are.
Matthew, any thoughts?
Is that another carry cot butjust folded up in the bag?
Um, possibly.
Yeah.
I'm not sure at the bottom the.
I can't quite tell what that might be.
(19:44):
No, I mean, all, none of thesethings are suitable for your silver
recycling bin, so none of thosethings should have gone in there.
Um, anything that's in, anything that'sin good working order and it's clean and
saleable, a charity shop is a good option,but always check before you donate and
don't leave it outside the shop either.
That causes a big problem forcharity shops, so don't just sort
(20:06):
of leave it outside the door, um,unless they have a, a facility.
Set up for doing that.
Um, you know, don't justleave it outside the door.
So check that they can receive theitem that you're offering them.
Um, but for all of these things, ifthey're, if they're, they're clean,
damaged, not usable, household wasterecycling centre, the smaller things,
(20:29):
um, they could, they could probablygo in the black house or waist bin.
I'm not too sure as just,I don't know what they are.
They look like maybe toys ifthey're not electronic toys.
They could go into your black bin, but forthe larger things, yeah household waste
recycling centre on the larger things.
What about yeah, Facebook marketplace.
(20:49):
Uh, I mean, yeah, those things look abit tired, but it could be that they've
only got that dirty as they've beammixed around in the true in the truck.
So it might be if someone's going tothrow them, uh, offer them for free on
Facebook Marketplace if they're in okay.
Condition option.
Or it might even be.
You could get a coupleof quid for these things.
(21:09):
Uh, yeah, absolutely.
Like you say, they could, there maybe only a look like that now because
they've been through that process.
They could have looked pretty, sort of,you know, in pretty good working order
or reasonable, you know, reasonably okay.
So absolutely, that'sdefinitely an option.
Right then.
Okay, so we've got an a arrayof different things here in
(21:30):
this image of vacuum cleaner.
A mini vacuum cleaner.
Fridge.
Vacuum.
Mm. Two.
Three different printers.
Two different printers.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Uh, I'm not sure what the gold thing is.
Um, no.
I'm not sure what thegold thing is either.
Uh.
That long goal thing, is that like a pen?
Some kind, I dunno, a pen?
(21:51):
I don't know.
Um, but for all of the electricalitems, it's, as we've said
already, good working order.
Some charity shops will accept them.
Check, before you donate, look onthe Recycle Your Electricals website.
For options.
Um, as you've mentioned Matthew, youknow, Facebook marketplace, um, you know,
other types of community recycling apps.
(22:14):
Um, you know, I'm trying to thinkof some examples, like Frugal
Freecycle, um, LIO was another one.
So there's various different placeslo you know, that you can put,
put things like that if you know,if they're in good work in order.
Um, but definitely don't put.
Electrical items into any of your bins.
If they're not working, um, recycleyour electrical's website for options
(22:38):
because there are, um, electricalretailers that will take these back.
And then of course we've got thehousehold waste recycling centre.
If that is a gold pen, that could gointo your black household waste bin.
Not too sure is I, Iagree with you, Matthew.
I don't really know what the otherthings are, but nothing in that image.
Look suitable for thesilver recycling bin.
(23:02):
I think there might be some cardboardcovering up, whatever that is.
So of course, cardboard can go into thesilver recycling bin if it's not, uh,
I wonder if that gold thing is actuallya light fitting that's got squashed.
That's my best guess.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(23:22):
Light fitting.
I think you're right.
So a light fitting.
Household Waste recycling centre.
Really?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Dunno what this is here.
Like a bit of, I dunno, string, but yeah.
Okay.
Ah, so we've zoomed in on this item sothat there is an electrical item in there.
So we've got some cardboardhere surrounding it.
(23:44):
Cardboard, if it's not contaminatedwith grease food or whatever, um,
that can go in the recycle bin, butthe contents that electrical item.
As we've already said, householdWaste Recycling centre.
Uh, if it's in good workingorder, some charity shops can,
um, receive, um, electrical items.
(24:05):
And also you can look on theRecycle Your Electricals website.
Definitely don't put it in your bin.
Right.
Okay.
Got some.
Uh, so I think these are, ifmemory serves, these are battery
powered toys, aren't they?
Um.
So the same thing appliesgood work in order charity
shop check before you donate.
(24:27):
Um.
Again, obviously, you know, communityrecycling app, if it's in good working
order, um, you know, even if they'renot pristine, you know, so, you know, we
can't sort of presume what other peoplewill be happy to receive if it's free.
Um, if it's, if it works, it doesn'thave to be, it doesn't have to
(24:47):
look like brand new, you know,like as you said before, Facebook
Marketplace, um, offered for free.
You know, for some things aswell, you could even sell them
if they're in good work in order.
I mean, this looks, it lookspretty pristine, doesn't it?
Both of them do actually.
It's a real shame that they've endedup in the silver recycling bin.
(25:08):
I.
What's this one, Matthew?
What we looking at is that garden hose?
I think it's two.
Yeah, two garden hoses.
Um, right then.
So yeah, the mixed materials of, uh, soI can understand if someone's thought
it's plastic, it can be recycled.
I, I kind of get that.
But, uh, they've normallygot like a, a nylon.
(25:29):
Meshing it for the strength, haven't they?
Yeah.
So yeah, they, that's, that's nota plastic that, uh, we recycle.
So it can't go in your silver bin.
Yeah, absolutely.
And I think because yeah, but for asmall amount I think you could, you
know, but for that looks like quite alarge amount, so I think you have to be a
household waste recycling centre for that.
Really?
(25:49):
Yeah.
I think, is that a light,ah, a light fitting.
Okay.
Yeah.
So again, it might have beenin good condition, wasn't it?
When it was first popped in and gotsquashed in the process in the vehicle.
But, um, yeah, not, not one For thesilver gring, it's definitely not because
(26:11):
of the, the different mixing materials.
So it looks like it's got some kind ofcard or hardboard there than the brown
material on it and the wire framing.
Um, so recycling, recycling centre.
Yeah, absolutely.
And, and obviously if it was in goodworking order before it went into the
bin, you could donate it, you could offer,offer it on those community recycling,
(26:36):
um, options that we've already mentioned.
Uh, this appears to be a bag of some sort.
Um, is it a ground sheet ora tent or, yeah, I think so.
Yeah.
Um, so some, some sports, uh, kindof camping type retailers will
take back items like that if youhave a look online for options,
(26:58):
if it's in good working order.
You could donate it to a charityshop, offer it on all of any of those
community recycling options thatwe've mentioned, failing that, um,
household Waste Recycling centre.
Think we have come tothe end of our pictures.
Yes, we have.
Right?
So
(27:19):
we had quite an array of differenttypes of items, didn't we?
There?
Um, you know.
In some cases you can kind of seewhy people might think this would be
suitable for the recycle bin, but inother cases, you know, um, it's a bit
of a kind of mystery as to why peoplewould actually pop that in there.
(27:42):
Um, but yeah, I mean, I think it's,it's also worth noting that, you know,
we always appreciate the residents ofCheshire for doing their best to recycle.
Um, and you know, for doing their best tokind of get the right things into the bin.
And sometimes the reason thatpeople put the wrong things in
is because they're wish cycling.
So they, they want it to be recycledto such an extent that they wanna
(28:06):
pop it in their recycle bin.
But unfortunately, wish cyclingdoes lead to contamination.
Um, yeah, definitely.
Yeah.
We recap something you'vetaught me today, the big five.
So if you recap that it's, uh, card.
Paper, glass tins, tins, if they'vehad food in, if it's paint or an
(28:28):
oil treatment or varnish, thencan't go in your recycling bin.
And I think that leaves me glass.
So that's absolutely, that's, that'sthe items and the materials that
we do want in silver gray bin.
Yeah.
Um, but yeah, absolutely.
And, and as you say, you, you've mentionedthere are obviously tins of paint.
So tins of paint would needto go to a household waste
(28:48):
recycling centre, of course.
Um, not into, not into your bins.
So to do, take those to the householdWaste recycling centre if you've,
if there's still paint in there,um, sometimes there are, um.
Community projects that will, youknow, if you've still got paint left
over, but you simply don't need it.
So if you have a look online, um, for, um.
(29:10):
I'm trying to think what they're called.
Community paint projects.
I think, um, there are, there aresome that, that, that exist, um,
sort of locally or local-ish, soyou can do that as well as an option
if there's still paint in there.
Obviously, if that's not an optionor there's no paint in there
household waste recycling centre, hawas talking about paint and, yeah.
(29:33):
Brilliant.
Um, are they calledcommunity scrap shacks?
Um, places that peoplehobbyists and stuff.
If they've got bits left over, they willtake and pass on and that kind of thing.
Yeah.
Uh, and Hazel alsomentioned the wish cycling.
So people want theirpaintings to be recycled.
That's brilliant.
But if you take it to the recyclingcentre, they will make safe and process
(29:57):
the chemicals that have been inside.
Yeah.
And then it will be recycled.
So that's why we want it to get there.
It's not safe to go into the silver bin.
Absolutey.
Uh, on the theme of.
Of safety, um, batteries.
So batteries themselves or anythingwith a battery in it is, it's the
science, it's the nature of it.
(30:17):
It's, uh, sadly it happens.
We don't want them to go into thevehicles because they can start a fire.
Yeah.
And from the tonnages that we sharedearlier, that much dry, dry material,
that's very easy to, to catch.
Mm-hmm.
That's, that's the situationwe want to avoid at all costs.
Absolutely.
Uh, thank, thank you somuch for that Matthew.
(30:38):
I know as you've said, we havehad fires in the transfer station.
Of course, we do have facilitiesin there to, to, to deal with
those fires very, very swiftly.
And we have had fires in, inwaste collection vehicles as well.
But actually that happens.
All over the UK, all over the world.
So, you know, it, it's notjust a problem here in Cheshire
East, it's a problem everywhere.
(31:00):
Anywhere that sell batteries shouldhave a tub for you to be able
to pop your batteries, uh, in.
Uh, so supermarket, uh,is, is an obvious one.
So.
Wherever your, wherever you goto buy your, your groceries,
they normally have some kind oftub at the front of the store.
Larger batteries, if youtake to the recycling centre.
(31:23):
Yeah, absolutely.
Absolutely.
Fantastic.
Well, thank you so much foryour time today, Matthew.
It's been wonderful talking to you asever, um, and even more wonderful talking
to you here on this podcast episode.
So I really appreciate it andI'm sure that people listening
and watching will find all theinformation that we've shared.
(31:43):
Really, really useful.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.