Tonbridge borough residents recycled almost 25,000 tonnes of waste in Tonbridge and Malling last year (2024), that’s one of the best in Kent! But recycling continues to take up around 35% of general refuse bins. Household waste reduction is key to reducing our impact on the environment.
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to recycle your everyday household items. Recycling reduces waste, saves valuable resources, and helps protect the environment for future generations.
What can you recycle?
You can recycle a wide range of materials from your home Here’s a list of what can be placed in your recycling bin:
- Paper and cardboard - This includes newspapers, magazines, books, cereal boxes, and cardboard packaging. Make sure it's clean and dry before putting it in the bin.
- Plastic bottles, tubs, and containers - You can recycle plastic bottles, tubs (like margarine containers), and other plastic packaging. Please remember to remove lids and rinse before recycling.
- Glass bottles and jars - Glass bottles and jars are recyclable. Simply rinse them out and remove any lids before recycling. No need to remove labels!
- Tins and cans - Most metal food and drink cans are recyclable. Just give them a quick rinse and place them in your bin.
For more on what you can recycle and how, check out our A-Z guide.
There are some items that cannot be recycled, check out our guide on what goes in each bin.
How to prepare your recycling
- Rinse and clean - Give your items a quick rinse to remove any food or drink residue. This helps to keep your recycling clean and ensures it can be recycled properly.
- Flatten cardboard - Flatten any cardboard boxes to save space in your bin. This also makes it easier for us to collect and process your recycling.
- Remove lids - Take the lids off bottles, tubs, and containers before placing them in your bin.
What about food waste?
Tonbridge borough residents recycled 2,755 tons of food waste in Tonbridge and Malling last year, but food waste continues to take up around 27% of general refuse bins.
We offer a food waste recycling service as part of your usual collections, please take advantage of it to reduce waste.
When do you collect?
We collect your recycling fortnightly.
Please put your recycling bin out by 7am on your scheduled collection day. If your collection day falls on a bank holiday, we will let you know about any changes to your usual service.
Need a new bin?
If you need a replacement bin or recycling box, or have recently moved to the area and need a set of bins see - Request new bins and repairs.
Together, we can make recycling easy and keep Tonbridge & Malling green!