How is my waste collected in North Hertfordshire?
How do I know which day my waste is collected?
How can I dispose of excess waste?
What can I dispose of at the HCC waste / recycling sites?
I have some building waste, how can I dispose of this?
Where can I dispose of unwanted house paint?
Where can I dispose of used car engine oil?
Where can I dispose of car and household batteries?
Where can I recycle energy saving light bulbs?
Where can I recycle TVs, video recorders and other electrical equipment?
Why should we recycle?
What would happen if nobody recycled?
How can I recycle in North Hertfordshire?
I've heard about the Council's Blue / Black Box Scheme, do I have to have these boxes?
Why don’t my boxes have a lid?
I have a very small kitchen, where can I keep my boxes?
I am elderly / infirm and can not move my bins or recycling boxes, can you help?
Can I recycle domestic shredded paper?
Why can't yoghurt pots and other containers be collected with plastic bottles?
Why haven't I got a Brown Bin?
Where can I dispose of / recycle cardboard?
Why can I now put my food waste into my brown bin again?
My brown bin smells / is full of maggots, what can I do?
What happens to the food, green waste and cardboard that is collected in the brown bins?
Where can I buy Ace of Herts soil conditioner?
I have some excess garden waste, can you collect it?
Where can I send items for reuse?
Where can I buy items made out of recycled materials?
How can I complain about my waste or recycling service?
Most products have too much plastic packaging, what should I do?
Waste is a growing problem and does affect us all so it is important for all of us to be accountable for the waste that we produce. NHDC would like to thank all residents for their efforts and interest in recycling.
Useful Phone numbers:
- Recycling enquiries at NHDC: 01462 474000
- Enquiries regarding Herts County Council run Household Waste Recycling Centres (Blackhorse Road, Letchworth and Beverley Close, Royston) call 08457 425 000 or visit Waste Aware
for opening times and locations - Missed bin collections or for due collection days: Veolia on 0800 3286023
Q: How is my waste collected in North Hertfordshire?
A: Non recyclable waste is collected fortnightly via a 240 Ltr wheeled bin for most residents. Please place the bin at the boundary of your property by 7.30am on the day of collection. A variation to this is flats where there may be a communal waste storage facility. Your recycling boxes are collected on your recycling week along with your brown bin. Both your brown and grey bin should be presented on their respective collection days with the lids closed.
Q: How do I know which day my waste is collected?
A: Please see the Waste and Recycling Collection Calendar or contact Veolia on freephone 0800 3286023. You can also use this number if your wheeled bin or blue / black box has gone missing. Replacements will be delivered within 7 working days.
Q: How can I dispose of excess waste?
A: If you have recycled as much waste as possible and still have some left over (e.g. you have had a clear out or have excess packaging from a newly delivered appliance) this can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) at Blackhorse Road, Letchworth, or Beverley Close, Royston. Please note that these centres are operated by Herts County Council and will not accept commercial, builders or demolition waste.
Alternatively NHDC can provide a “bulky” item collection service but there is a charge of £18 for the first item then £8 per item thereafter. If on benefits the price is £18 for the first item then £4 per item thereafter. Please contact 0800 3286023 to book a collection.
Q: What can I dispose of at the HCC waste / recycling centres?
A: The Herts County Council run centres are provided for the disposal of excess domestic waste only and as a general rule this would include any household items which you would reasonably expect to take with you if you were moving house.
The centres will not generally accept builders and demolition waste. This is because all such waste is classified as industrial waste and therefore private arrangements must be made for disposal either at a suitably licensed facility or via a waste disposal contractor. However while the County Council has no obligation to accept and dispose of waste from construction, demolition or excavation, it does take the pragmatic view that householders may have difficulty in arranging for the disposal of small quantities of such materials. It will, therefore, accept a small quantity of these materials at its Household Waste Recycling Centres for disposal.
This ‘small quantity’ is defined as the amount that would fit into the boot of a normal saloon car in a single visit. To aid operators in accepting the correct volume of material the County Council has taken some common construction, demolition and excavation items and set quantities that are deemed appropriate.
Please note that the County Council will not accept material delivered in quantities larger than these, either in single or multiple visits to any one, or more than one, Recycling Centre. Neither will several part loads be accepted.
Each of the following is considered to comprise a bootful but even these amounts will not be accepted if they form part of a larger load.
| A bathroom suite – 1 sink, 1 toilet and 1 bath, 1 cistern |
| 4 internal doors |
| 4 window frames |
| 1 small greenhouse |
| 2 double kitchen units / 4 single kitchen units |
| 3 fence panels and 4 posts |
| 6 small bags of rubble or a bootfull |
| 6 small bags of soil or a bootfull |
| 1 small shed (maximum size 6’x 4’) |
Larger quantities are considered to be in excess of the limit and private arrangements must be made for disposal as previously stated. Details of suitable disposal contractors and skip hire companies are available from the relevant section of Yellow Pages and details of private disposal sites from the same source or the Environment Agency on 01707 632300.
At the HWRCs, recycling containers are also available for paper, cardboard, glass, cans, textiles and shoes, plastic bottles, tyres, white goods etc.
There are two HWRCs in North Herts. One in Letchworth (Blackhorse Road) and one in Royston (Beverley Close, off York Way). For information on their opening times visit the WasteAware website.
Q: I have some building waste, how can I dispose of this?
A: If you have waste that is not classified as domestic (e.g. rubble from building a new patio, old window frames or units from a refurbished kitchen) you can dispose of this by hiring a skip, skip bag or local commercial waste company (see Yellow Pages for local firms).
Where possible, if you are having building work done at your property agree with who ever is doing the work that waste removal will be part of the cost of the work and ensure that they dispose of the waste in a legal and responsible way.
Q: Where can I dispose of unwanted house paint?
A: If there is only a small quantity left in the bottom of a tin leave the lid off until it dries hard, the tin can then be placed in your refuse bin. If there is a significant amount the paint can be disposed of at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Larger amounts can be given to a community re-paint scheme for re-use by community projects, for your nearest re-paint collection point visit Community RePaint . It is also worth asking local organisations e.g. Scouts if they would have any use for it.
Q: Where can I dispose of used car engine oil?
A: Used motor oil can be disposed of at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Q: Where can I dispose of car and household batteries?
A: Car batteries can be disposed of at your local household waste recycling centre. Household batteries should be returned to the manufacturer where possible. We would also advocate the use of rechargeable batteries, as this is a good reuse philosophy.
Q: Where can I recycle energy saving light bulbs?
A: Low energy light bulbs can be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre for recycling. If you break a low energy light bulb you can still take it for recycling, just bag it up securely and take it to your nearest HWRC.
Q: Where can I recycle TVs, video recorders and other electrical equipment?
A: Household waste recycling centres will take waste electrical items. Sometimes old computers can be donated to schools, local community groups or specialist charities (search on the internet for more details of these groups).
A: We are running out of space in landfill sites so need to reduce the amount of waste that is disposed in this way. As a result central government has set local authorities strict targets as to how much waste has to be recycled and composted.
Reasons to Recycle;
- Landfilled waste accounts for over a quarter of UK methane emissions (greenhouse gases)
- Valuable non-renewable resources are wasted if they are landfilled
- We are running out of holes in the ground i.e. landfill space
Q: What would happen if nobody recycled?
A: We recycle to save the world's resources. For example, there is a limit to the amount of oil from which we can make plastic, and aluminium ore to make drinks cans. Resources that run out are called 'finite resources'. By recycling these materials we can save finite resources for the future.
By recycling, we also reduce the amount of rubbish which ends up in landfill sites. If no one recycled, we would eventually run out of space to bury rubbish as no one wants to live next to a landfill site or incineration plant. There would also be serious environmental consequences.
Q: How can I recycle in North Hertfordshire?
A: The Council currently offers the following recycling schemes:
- Bring sites: over 50 recycling sites conveniently situated across the District. The types of material that they can take vary but they all take glass, most take paper, cans (steel & aluminium) and textiles. Some banks also have facilities for plastic bottles, food and drink cartons, shoes and books. Please see the recycling points list for locations and details.
- Kerbside: The Council provides a fortnightly kerbside collection of paper and mixed glass and cans from all domestic properties in the District. This can take newspapers, junk mail and catalogues (remove hard covers) and mixed colour glass and aluminium and steel cans. Residents are requested to place the paper, glass and cans in their blue and black boxes and place it on the kerbside outside their premises for collection by 7.30 am on their collection day.
- Food waste,cardboard and garden waste : Brown bin: Meat, fish, dairy products, fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, egg shells, bread, pasta, beans or cooked food leftovers, cardboard, grass cuttings, leaves and hedge clippings, twigs, cut flowers / dead headings, pot plants (without pots), real Christmas trees, yellow pages (torn into a few parts), Financial Times newspaper, hair, pet straw, sawdust, wood shavings and straw.
Q: I've heard about the Council's Blue / Black Box Scheme, do I have to have these boxes?
A: At the current time North Herts District Council does not force residents to use the recycling boxes. However, there are many good reasons for recycling and in the future there may be enforcement compelling residents to do so. If there are specific issues which are discouraging you from recycling , please contact us so we can see if we can help.
Each household should have one blue and one black box: If you require either of these please contact Veolia on 0800 3286023.
Q: Why don’t my boxes have a lid?
A: Our research into similar schemes across the country shows that the majority do not use lids with the boxes as they:
- Frequently get lost or blown away
- Encourage residents to use the boxes for purposes other than recycling
- Significantly increase the time spent collecting the boxes as well as increasing the cost of the scheme
Your boxes are able to be stacked within each other i.e. the blue one containing papers should be placed underneath with the black one containing glass and cans on top. This will help any concerns of paper blowing away.
Q: I have a very small kitchen, where can I keep my boxes?
A: If you are not able to keep the boxes in the kitchen many people store them in utility rooms, garages, garden sheds or outside the back door. The black box can be stacked on top of the blue box.
Q: I am elderly / infirm and can not move my bins or recycling boxes, can you help?
A: Where there is no "able bodied" person in residence who may be able to offer assistance, NHDC offers an assisted collection service. With this service a resident’s box is collected and returned empty to an agreed point within the property.
If you feel you require this service please contact the Veolia on 0800 3286023.
Q: Can I recycle domestic shredded paper?
A: Because of potential litter problems when collecting shredded paper at the kerbside we ask that you wrap it inside newspaper to ensure it can not blow around or weigh it down securely. You are also welcome to recycle it in one of our paper bring banks.
Q: Why can’t yoghurt pots and other containers be collected with plastic bottles?
Yoghurt pots and other containers are made from different types of plastic to those used in plastic bottle manufacture. Many are made from polystyrene or a blend of different polymer types. These have a very different structure and composition to the PET, HDPE and PVC plastics used for bottles. Market demand for these plastics, particularly mixed plastics, is currently limited.
Q: Why haven't I got a brown bin?
A: All residents with a garden were provided with a brown bin in 2006, with the exception of flats (without gardens). If you have not got a brown bin and you do not live in a flat please contact Veolia on 0800 3286023 to request one.
Q: Where can I dispose of / recycle cardboard?
A: Cardboard (corrugated etc) can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres at Blackhorse Road, Letchworth, or Beverley Close, Royston. Provided the cardboard is cut up it can also be put into brown bin or home composted. For information on subsidised home composters visit our home compost bins page .
Q: Why can I now put my food waste into my brown bin again?
A: A new processing plant which can accept food waste has been built which composts at temperatures higher than 70 degrees and it is therefore compliant with the Animal By Products Regulations' requirements.
Q: My brown compost bin smells / is full of maggots, what can I do?
A: During long hot spells it is possible that your bin may start to smell. We would advise you to keep the lid firmly closed at all times and once emptied to wash the bin out, preferably with a disinfectant such as Jeyes Fluid.
There are also private companies who operate wheeled bin cleaning services. You can find them in the Yellow Pages or the internet.
Q: What happens to the the food, garden waste and cardboard that is collected in the brown bins?
A: The waste is transported to Cumberlow Green Farm near Baldock where it is turned into a soil conditioner (compost) by the "In vessel" composting method. This is then sold retail or wholesale as "ACE of HERTS" compost.
Q: Where can I buy "Ace Of Herts" soil conditioner?
A: Ace of Herts can be bought from local garden centres including :
| Bickerdike's Garden centre, Letchworth | Tel. 01462 673333 |
| Vanstone Park Garden Centre, Codicote | Tel. 01438 820412 |
| T Brooker & Sons Ltd, Hitchin | Tel. 01462 434501 |
| Sales of Sandon | Tel. 01762 288206 |
| Tapps Garden Centre, Baldock | Tel. 01462 896302 |
For further information or for bulk sales enquiries, contact "Ace Of Herts" on 01763 281223
Q: I have some excess garden waste, what should I do?
A: You can dispose of it free of charge at your local household waste recycling centre operated by the County Council. These are at Blackhorse Road, Letchworth and Beverley Close, Royston. However, even better is to home compost it which you can do by using a home composter or a compost heap. For some more information on subsidised home composters visit our page.
Q: Where can I send items for reuse?
A: There are many charity shops and organisations which will accept most items for reuse. Some examples are: clothes, shoes, books, household goods, spectacles, mobile phones, etc.
Q: Where can I buy items made out of recycled materials?
A: Most shops / supermarkets these days have products made out of recycled materials such as toilet and kitchen roll, stationery, etc. Some products would have been made entirely from recycled products and some would have only a certain percentage but this information should be part of the labels.
However you can also do a search on an internet search engine for recycled products if you prefer online shopping.
Q: How can I complain about my waste or recycling service?
A: If your complaint is regarding an operational failure (i.e. missed collection or missing bin / blue or black box) please contact our contractors, Veolia, direct on freephone 0800 3286023.
If you are not satisfied with the response from Veolia please contact the waste management unit at NHDC on 01462 474000.
Q: Most products have too much plastic packaging, what should I do?
The best thing is to avoid packaging, especially plastic packaging, as much as possible. This can be easily done by buying loose fruit and vegetables, by buying in bulk etc. However, if you think that a particular product is over packaged you can complain to Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506, who are part of the Trading Standards, and they will investigate with the supermarket / manufacturer etc.