We need you …..
to help us…..
to help you!

Every year the average family produces an amount of waste equivalent to the weight of a family car.

Almost 80% of that waste could be recycled or reused. Recycling is easy - just keep the waste that can be recycled in a separate bin, bag or box and take it to your local Recycling Centre. You could also home compost to minimise the garden and kitchen waste you throw away.

By recycling these materials you are helping to preserve and protect your environment.

We ALL need to take responsibility for our waste. Next time you throw something away stop and ask yourself "can it be recycled"

 KENT'S YEARLY HOUSEHOLD WASTE:-

• Totals three quarters of a million tonnes - nearly one and a half tonnes every minute of every day!
• Would fill all three lanes of the M25 with refuse lorries parked nose to tail!
• Would fill Wembley Stadium to a depth of 100ft every month!

The District Councils in Kent are responsible for weekly collections of domestic waste from houses, while Kent County Council is responsible for arranging disposal of the waste.

Collection of Bulky Household Waste

If you are unable to deliver your waste to one of KCC's sites, your District Council operates a collection service for which a charge may be made. For more information contact Tonbridge & Malling District Council on 01732-844522 Ext: 6202.

(Note from TOTI webmaster - In addition, the Tonbridge and Malling Council provide dustwagons which are made available several times a month at several places in the Tonbridge area).

WHY?
Waste is increasing. Space is decreasing. Every year the residents of Kent generate three quarters of a million tonnes of household waste - one and a half tonnes of waste every minute of the day. It is crucial this amount is reduced: both for the benefit of the environment and because of the cost involved.
We must take responsibility for this problem which our consumer sodety creates. We can all help to ensure that we do not leave a legacy of pollution for future generations.
General Waste says "Remember To:-

• Reduce
• Reuse
• Recycle   your   waste

 
HOW CAN I HELP TO REDUCE PACKAGING
· Choose products in recycled packaging or packaging that can be recycled.
· Re-use carrier bags by taking them with you when you go shopping, or use them as bin liners.
· Use crates or boxes to take home your shopping or support "Bag for Life" schemes at your supermarket.
· Ask retailers to take back packaging from bulky items.
· Avoid over-packaging. Is there a local doorstep delivery service which can provide vegetables, milk and other fresh produce?
· Buy products loose. Do you really need to put bananas etc. in a plastic bag?
· Buy products sold in refill packs or concentrated products.
· Use one multi-purpose cleaner. Avoid lots of different cleaning products.
· Complain to Head Office about excessive packaging.
· Use a re-useable lunch box and flask instead of throw away bags and bottles
· Crow your own vegetables.
· Avoid unnecessary waste. Only buy as much perishable food as you will need.

 
GARDENING
· Don’t bin garden waste. Compost it at home or use KCC’s Household Waste Recycling
Centres.
· Cut grass often enough to enable cuttings to be left on lawns.
· Think about what can be reused. Cut-down plastic bottles can be reused as mini "greenhouses" for young plants. Yoghurt pots are good for seedlings.
· Make mulch or kill weeds with old carpets, cardboard or newspapers.

SAVE PAPER
· Stop junk mail. Write to the Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London WiE 7EX.
· Cancel unwanted catalogues.

AT WORK/IN THE OFFICE
· Make better use of notice boards for shared information.
· Use the phone, e-mail or a personal visit rather than paper.
· Don’t waste paper Reuse paper for scrap.  Do you really need that photocopy?
 
REUSE
· Support your local charity shops and jumble sales.
· Swap items that you’ve finished with, or give them away.
· Sell items via a second-hand shop, small ads in the local paper or local newsagent.
· Attend car boot sales or hold your own garage sale.
· Can you mend clothing, furniture and equipment rather than throwing it away?
· Save wrapping paper for reuse.
· "Scrap Stores" may he available to your local school. Have you any material that they
could make use of?

RECYCLE
· Buy products made from recycled materials.
· All District Councils and the County Council promote recycling. Phone your District Council Recycling Officer to find out about local Recycling schemes.

USE YOUR BUYING POWER
· Avoid "disposable" products like plastic or paper cups and plates.
· Use long-life light bulbs.
· Try to avoid buying electrical items which require throw away batteries.
· Choose products which are solar powered or use the mains:
· If buying batteries, choose rechargeable ones.
· Consider buying second-hand, if practical.
· Consider hiring items that you use only infrequently - or share purchases with friends/family/neighbours.
· Use washable nappies - consider using a nappy laundry service: cut down on disposables.

There are two local Waste Recycling Centres which cater for the Tonbridge area

• North Farm Industrial Estate, Tunbridge Wells.  (Virtually behind Comet).
• Tovil Green, near Maidstone.

Opening times for both sites :

Monday to Saturday inclusive 8:00am to 4:30 pm
Sunday and Bank Holidays     9:00am to 4:00pm

For further information, and information on Toxic Waste disposal, please contact the War on Waste Helpline: 01622-605972

The content of this webpage is taken entirely from two publications issued by KCC Strategic Planning Office, Waste management Unit.  Whose helpline telephone number is 01622 696977.

Tonbridge on the Internet wishes to thank the KCC for providing this information.