West Sussex County Council - recycling

Let’s SCRAP Fly Tipping!

Reduce your plastic waste with Plastic Free July

The West Sussex Waste Partnership - formed of the County Council and all the district and borough councils in West Sussex – has partnered with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Sussex Police, the Environment Agency, and others, in order to highlight and reduce the problems that fly tipping causes. The partners are also helping residents and businesses to avoid unknowingly contributing to fly tipping within West Sussex.

One example of how the partners are working together is through trialling joint operations across various locations in West Sussex. With the intention to both deter and disrupt fly tippers and avoid other waste crimes, officers from a range of partners have been stopping vehicles that may be carrying waste, checking compliance, and interviewing drivers. Various vehicles have been seized, and drivers fined, for a range of offences. Due to the success of the trial operations all partners have committed to extending the operations, on a rolling programme through West Sussex.

Businesses that carry waste can apply for a waste carrier license online. Residents should remain vigilant and continue to follow the SCRAP code:

• Suspect waste carriers

• Check they are licensed

• Refuse unexpected offers to dispose of waste

• Ask how the carrier will dispose of the waste

• Obtain Paperwork

More information on duty of care and correct disposal of household waste can be found on our website.

Here at West Sussex Recycles we’re supporting Plastic Free July and we’re asking residents to join us. Last year, over 80 tonnes of plastic was recycled in West Sussex (that’s the weight of a space shuttle!). Whilst recycling your plastic is great, this Plastic Free July, why not try and reduce this where possible. Choose to refuse and pledge to make swaps that will help to reduce your plastic waste. These swaps can be as easy as using reusable shopping bags or using a reusable container to store leftovers. Or, if you have young children in nappies, why not try switching to reusable nappies. Our team have been busy exploring alternatives to plastic, you can find out more about the swap’s we’re making this July by visiting our website.

Learn to Think Before you Throw and visit our updated website

Curious about how recycling works in West Sussex? Find out how you can Think Before You Throw and keep an eye on our social media pages for information on the West Sussex Waste Partnership, what can and can’t be recycled and how to reduce your waste even more. As part of our new campaign were updating our website so it has a new and improved look. Why not head over to our website and check it out?

Updated guidance on the disposal of single use vapes

Due to the lithium batteries contained in disposable vapes, it is important they are not disposed of in your general waste and recycling bins. This is because mixing these batteries with other waste streams is a fire hazard and can cause fires in collection vehicles and our waste plants.

Previously, we advised that vapes could be disposed of at our Recycling Centres in the small electricals’ container. We have since introduced separate containers for the disposal of vapes, these will be introduced to all of our Recycling Centres within the next week and all residents will be asked to leave their disposable vapes in a collection tray and from there they will be safely collected by site staff and processed for recycling.

Alternatively, all of the District and Borough councils in West Sussex offer kerbside small electrical collections.

For more information on these collections visit your local authority’s webpage:

Adur and Worthing Councils