When this content has been published
Published on 19 September 2016
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Nappies
Nappies should be placed in your black general waste bin. You only use disposable nappies for a few hours but they can take hundreds of years to break down in landfill sites. If you have to use disposable nappies, choose ones that are dioxin free and/or unbleached (this should be marked on the packaging). A better alternative is to use Real Nappies which can be reused over and over again.
Needles
We offer a weekly clinical waste collection service for sharps. Needles are hazardous to those that come into contact with them so cannot be collected with your general waste.
Newspaper
By using recycled paper and recycling waste paper you will help to protect our environment. You can recycle any white coloured paper, newspapers, white paper directories, magazines, junk mail, and holiday brochures in your reusable sack for paper. Paper must be kept dry, so please keep the bag folded over if it's raining. Alternatively, paper can be taken to a recycling bank or your local recycling centre.
Night storage heaters
Night Storage Heaters containing asbestos may be disposed of free of charge at the recycling centre, but must be booked in advance. The whole heater must be double wrapped in plastic and sealed. Please contact Devon County Council Waste Management on 0345 155 1010 to book.
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Office paper
You can recycle any white coloured paper, newspapers, white paper directories, magazines, junk mail, and holiday brochures in your reusable sack for paper as part of your household kerbside collection. Paper must be kept dry, so please keep the bag folded over if it is raining. Alternatively, paper can be taken to a recycling bank or your local recycling centre. Please note the kerbside recycling scheme is for household waste only. Trade waste should be disposed of by other means, please see our Commercial Waste page for details.
Oil
Pouring oil down the drain is not only illegal but also harmful to humans and the environment. A lot of surface water drains lead to the nearest stream and oil may cause pollution, affect aquatic life and contaminate water supplies. It is also harmful to put oil in the soil or in sewers. Your local recycling centre can take oil and harmful chemicals as long as they are bottled and clearly marked. It is best to ring them first to check the item can is accepted at your nearest recycling centre, as some do vary. Vegetable oil can be taken to the Brunel Road recycling centre.
Oil tanks
Waste oil and oil tanks are considered to be hazardous waste, whether oil from home, cooking or engine. The tanks are from oil central heating systems in older houses. They will only usually need disposing of when the system is replaced with an alternative energy source such as gas. We would advise that often the best way to get rid of an unwanted oil tank is to advertise it in the small ads of a local paper. Recycling centres will not accept central heating oil tanks. They are not counted as normal household waste.