Why Recycle?
Recycling saves on energy, raw materials, waste disposal costs, trees and reduces the need for Landfill Sites. Recycling reduces the amount of litter strewn around our streets and hedgerows, and can even create jobs in your locality. We would encourage everybody to develop a recycling mentality and segregate your household waste – after all waste disposal hits you in the pocket. The Polluter Pays Principle means that the more you recycle the less your household waste disposal bill will be.

What can be Recycled?
Much of the material you dispose of in your waste bin (or wheelie bin) can be recycled or reused. We understand that an average household will produce approximately 100 Kgs. of “dry recyclables” per annum, if we assume that Newbridge currently consists of 7,000 houses this equates to 700 Tonnes of recyclable material which should be going for recycling and not to the local landfill site.

The most common household items which can be readily recycled are:
Back to top
Paper Products:
Newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes, tetra packs, junk mail are ideal items for recycling into cardboard boxes, egg boxes, toilet rolls, and can even be used as animal bedding. All waste management providers serving the Newbridge area take paper products for recycling. Please flatten all cardboard boxes, and remove any plastic packaging from your recyclables or tetra packs.

Glass (Bottles & Jars):
There are three glass recycling banks in Newbridge; they are located at Dunne’s Stores, Tesco’s, and behind the Newbridge Sports Centre. Please ensure that you sort your glass bottles and jars by colour (clear, brown and green) and place them in the correct container, removing caps or corks from bottles prior to depositing in the recycling container. Place only glass bottles & jars in the containers – flat glass, ceramics and drinking glasses are not acceptable. Once received at the recycling centre the glass is crushed, and used as a raw material for the production of new glass jars and bottles, or even as road building materials.

Glass recycling in Newbridge has increased substantially over the last number of years (our appreciation to Kildare County Council for these statistics).


Plastics:
Some plastic containers are suitable for recycling, and some are not. However the vast majority of soft drink bottles are suitable for recycling, as they are manufactured from Polyester (Polyethylene Terephthalate). Plastics displaying the reference grades 1, 2, and 4 or the codes PETE, HDPE, or LDPE are possible to recycle. Enfo (The Environmental Information Service) estimate that in excess of 70 Million such bottles are sold onto the Irish market annually, think of the benefit to the environment if all of these were recycled rather than deposited in our hedgerows!

Farm Plastics (sheet plastics and fertilizer bags etc) are also recyclable. We are aware of one company who provide a collection service for farm plastics.
Shabra Plastics & Packaging Ltd. Castleblayney. Tel: 042 9749444
Email: Shabra
Web: www.shabra.com

Approximately 6% of our total waste recyclables comprises of plastic products at present – there is considerable room for improvement.

Metals / Cans:
Both ferrous and non ferrous metals have been recycled for many years, and while the majority of metal products being recycled at present come from industrial sources, you can recycle your aluminium drink cans & “tin” cans in which some foodstuffs are packed (please wash all cans prior to placing in recycling bin).
Back to top

White Goods:
So called “white goods” such as washing machines, fridges, cookers, microwaves, computers etc [all electrical or electronic goods] can be recycled. Now that the WEE charge applies all reputable retailers now provide a recycling service, alternatively you can bring your old or obsolete kitchen / household appliance for recycling at Council approved facilities in Silliot Hill [and its FREE].

Clothes & Textiles:
Good quality clothes and fabrics can be recycled for reuse, or indeed for use as upholstery stuffing etc. There are clothes recycling facilities located at the Dunne’s Stores, Tesco’s recycling banks, in addition to this there are a number of “charity shops” in the town including The Sue Ryder Shop (Georges St), CASA (Charlotte Mall), Mrs. Quinn’s Blind Shop (Eyre Street). Please only donate clean re-usable clothes to these facilities.

Batteries:
All batteries, both the domestic kind used in toys and household appliances, and industrial or car batteries can be recycled. Most of the local Primary Schools have battery recycling facilities for domestic batteries. Battery recycling facilities are also provided in the Kildare County Library Headquarters in Newbridge. Returnbatt Ltd. who are located in Kill provides the battery recycling service.
The batteries are taken to the recycling plant where the acid is neutralised, and the metal battery parts are shredded for transportation to a smelting plant. The lead is eventually reused in the manufacture of new batteries.
Returnbatt Ltd. Tel: 045-878080
Email: Returnbatt
Web: www.returnbatt.ie

Print Toner:
Print toner cartridges can be refilled or recycled when returned to the manufacturer, most reputable retailers now provide a recycling service and take your empty print cartridges for recycling. Contact Cartridge World, Cutlery Road who refill and remanufacture all sorts of ink cartridges.

Tesco are accepting used inkjet cartridges, and re-useable mobile phones for recycling during 2005. This scheme will result in more recycling and a donation to your local Hospice www.hospice-foundation.ie
for each item accepted for recycling. Please contact your local Tesco Store for a recycling envelope (freepost) or phone 1800 933 616. Details of this worthwhile recycling scheme can also be obtained from: www.recyclingappeal.com/hf
Back to top

Fluorescent Tubes:
Fluorescent lighting tubes can be recycled at Silliot Hill Civic Amenity Site.

Mobile Phones:
It is estimated that there are in excess of 10 million old and unused mobile phones in Ireland. The Jack & Jill Foundation, a charity which provides care for babies born with developmental problems, are calling on people who have old mobile phones to donate them to the charity. The Jack & Jill Foundation can recycle these phones, and use the funds raised from this initiative to fund their activities. Phones can be donated by calling 1850 525 545 . Many local mobile phone retailers also accept old phones and batteries etc. so when replacing your phone please recycle your old one.

Building Waste:
Your building waste can be reused, once crushed, blocks and concrete can be used as a sub base for new roads, thereby reducing the amount of freshly quarried stone required for these major road building projects.

Composting:
If you have a garden you can use a compost bin to compost (recycle) your uncooked vegetable peelings, tea leaves, grass clippings, garden refuse and paper products such as egg boxes etc. Naturally-occuring bacteria break down the waste and turn it into compost The compost bin if used correctly will not cause bad odors, and will provide you with a continuous source of natural mulch or fertilisers for your garden. Kildare County Council supply composting bins (with instructions on correct use) for a nominal price and local schools can get one free.

Don’t forget Kildare County Council provide a Christmas Tree Recycling (shredding) service in January each year, and the resultant bark mulch is used by the Council as fertiliser in parks and along the trees on our motorways.

Oils, Paints & Detergents:
Most oils can be recycled including engine lubricating oil, kitchen cooking oils etc. These are recycled for use as low grade industrial lubricating oil. Household oils, paints and detergents can be safely recycled at the Silliot Hill Civic Amenity Site. Never pour oily substances “down the drain” as it can end up in your local river causing major pollution and even fish kills.

Bring Centres

Locations in Newbridge

Dunne’s Stores, Tesco’s, and Newbridge Sports Centre.

Silliot Hill Integrated Waste Management Facility

Kildare County Council operate a Bring Centre or “Civic Amenity Site” at the Silliot Hill Integrated Waste Management Facility, which is open to the public Monday to Saturday (excluding Bank Holidays). Telephone 045 481946 for current opening times.
Both Domestic and Commercial (Industrial) recyclables are accepted at Silliot Hill. There may be a small (nominal) charge for disposing of some types of recyclables so please contact Silliot Hill for details.

Examples of items you can recycle at Silliot Hill:
Waste paper, cardboard (all grades), newsprint and magazines, plastic (all grades), glass bottles and jars, aluminium and metal cans, car batteries, waste oil, fluorescent tubes, paint & varnish, obsolete medicines, pesticides, solvents, aerosols, scrap metal, electrical goods, chemicals, textiles, green (garden) waste, even your old scrapped car.
Back to top

Please Note:
When visiting your bring centre or civic recycling site please ensure that you:

Place bottles, textiles, paper etc. in the correct containers.

Do not leave any litter – bags or boxes in the vicinity of the containers.

Do not leave bags / boxes of bottles on the ground, if the containers are full please bring your recyclables home and return another day.

Kerbside (Green Bin) Collections
Generally the following can be recycled in your green bin (please check the label on your contractors green bin to ensure all of these recyclables are permitted):

Newspapers & magazines, cardboard packaging, drink (aluminium) cans, steel / tin food cans (washed), Tetra-Pak milk and juice cartons (washed), plastic bottles (mineral / milk / juice)

The kerbside recycling bin cannot presently be used for:

Glass, plastic bags, green waste (garden or food)

At the time of preparing this guide to recycling the following provide recycling facilities in Newbridge - if there are any other licensed operators please let us know at:Newbridge Tidy Towns Association

Kildare County Council Web: www.kildare.ie/countycouncil
AES Waste Management Tel: 045 981613
Oxigen Environmental Web:www.oxigen.ie


Householders:
Segregate your household waste and recycle as much as possible in your “green bin”.

Bring recyclable materials to your local bring centre (Silliot Hill – Tel: 045 481946), and bring your glass & textile waste to the local recycling sites at Tesco’s, Dunne’s and glass only to The Newbridge Sports Centre. If you don't have enough to make a trip to the recycling bank or bring centre worthwhile on a weekly basis why not "pool" your recyclables with a neighbour or friend, and take turns bringing recyclables to the bring bank or Silliot Hill Civic Amenity Site.

Compost kitchen waste (uncooked only) and garden clippings.

Encourage your children or grandchildren to recycle household batteries through their schools Returnbatt programme.

When shopping - bring your own shopping bag with you, and reduce the number of plastic bags used.

Shop sensibly - Only choose containers that you can reuse – choose refillable containers and reduce waste packaging. When you are purchasing goods packaged in plastic check the base of the container (or wrapper) to see if it has the symbols 1, 2, 4 or the letters PETE, HDPE, LDPE . Ask your shopkeeper for packaging that is readily recyclable to be provided!

Buy Eco-label or recyclable products in preference to non-recyclable products.

Business & Industry:
Making a "Small Change" with your business waste will make a big difference to your bottom line and to the environment. Can you recycle more of your waste?

Have you considered the "Small Change Programme" (Small Steps to Manage Waste) published by Race Against Waste / Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government / Chambers of Commerce of Ireland?

Larger Companies should consider adopting the Race Against Waste / Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Governments waste reduction / recycling programme "Action at Work".

Both of these guides and guides on other topics are available free of charge from:
Race against Waste: Tel.: 1890 667 639
Web: www.raceagainstwaste.ie
Email: Race against Waste

For Further Information on Recycling contact:
Kildare County Council - Environment Section, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park Naas. Tel.: 045 980 588
Web: www.kildare.ie/countycouncil
Email: Kildare County Council - Environment Section

Enfo (The Environmental Information Service) Tel.: 1890 200 191
Web: www.enfo.ie
Email: Enfo