A trial scheme offering local people the chance to recycle unwanted small electrical items has proved so successful, it has now been extended to libraries and other buildings across the borough.

Portable items such as hairdryers, kettles and drills can all be dropped into the bin. As long as you can lift your items into the bin they will be accepted.

Bins can be found at:
Askew Road Library
Barons Court Library
Fulham Library
Hammersmith Library
Hammersmith Town Hall
Sands End Library
Shepherds Bush Library
Old Oak Housing Association

Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for residents' services, says: “These bins make it easier for our residents to recycle their unwanted electrical items. It is vital that we all recycle as much as we can so that we can save money by reducing the amount of waste sent to expensive landfill sites so I urge as many people as possible to get into the recycling habit."

Larger items such as TVs and white household goods will not be accepted - these can be taken for free to the Reuse and Recycling Centre at Smugglers Way, or collected for a charge from your home.

This new scheme is part of the Hammersmith & Fulham Council's drive to encourage all residents to recycle.

It points out that last year it cost £107 to dispose of a ton of waste but in April, the price has risen to £128.

In comparison, recycling waste is relatively cheap. Last year it cost the council £69 to recycle a ton of waste and that figure has risen by only £2 in April.

Last year, the council landfilled a massive 60,000 tons of rubbish at a total cost of £6.4m, while
16,000 of rubbishwas recycled at a total cost of £1.1m.

Cllr Smith says: " When residents throw their rubbish away very few realise just how expensive it is for the council to send it to landfill. The best way for the council to avoid paying astronomical landfill taxes is to recycle as much as possible. "

What can you recycle, either in orange smart sacks for street level properties or in a communal smart bank if you are in a block of flats?


Paper and card - Newspapers, magazines, catalogues, directories, leaflets, loose paper, card and cardboard (please flatten) Glass - Glass bottles and jars (no lids please) Cans, tins and aerosols Plastic bottles (please remove lids from plastic bottles and squash them if possible) Paper-based drinks and liquid food cartons (e.g. Tetra Paks)

The following items cannot be placed in Smart Sacks or Smart Banks

Food waste, cigarette ends or garden waste

Broken glass, pyrex or window glass

Paint, chemical containers or batteries

Other plastics (yoghurt pots, margarine containers, plastic bags or plastic film)

Builder’s waste or rubble

Foil or polystyrene

Paper towels, tissues or nappies

Textiles

For more information, call the Cleaner, Greener Hotline on 020 8753 1100 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, or email Cleaner.Greener@lbhf.gov.uk

April 14, 2011