Reducing, reusing and then recycling waste
We all have a part to play in what happens to our waste and things we no longer want. The choices we make every day really matter.
When we buy less, reuse more and recycle what we can, we protect the planet and save money too. And you’re already doing a great job. Let’s keep going, together.
Reduce your waste
Before you buy something new, stop and think: Do I need this? Can I use something I already have?
You can:
- Borrow or share things with friends or neighbours
- Repair things instead of buying new ones
- Buy fewer new items
- Choose good-quality things that last longer
- Buy from local shops when you can
- Make new dinners out of food scraps
Small changes like these save money and cut waste.
Reuse - give your items a second life
If you don’t need something anymore, someone else might.
You can:
- Give items to friends, family or neighbours
- Shop in charity shops or buy pre‑loved items online
- Swap single‑use items for reusable ones
- Donate good‑quality items at one of our household waste recycling centres
- Sell things online or pass them on for free
- Use old items of clothing for cleaning cloths, wrapping gifts, craft projects
Visit one of our reuse shops
Come along to one of our reuse shops to buy pre-loved items at affordable prices. We accept a range of donations from furniture and kitchenware, to toys and books, and even bikes!
To donate, you must book a slot. If you just want to browse the shop, there's no need to book.
Recycle - turn old items into something new
Recycling helps protect the planet by saving energy and resources.
You can:
- Put clean recycling loose into your kerbside bin, especially plastics
- Check what your local council collects
- Compost food and garden waste at home, or check what your council collects
- Take items to our household waste recycling centres
- Recycle old electrical items
- Use local drop-off points for:
- carrier bags
- coffee pods
- cat food pouches
- textiles
Every item you recycle helps Kent reduce waste. Check what you can and can't recycle.
What we do with your waste
We can use non-recyclable waste to generate electricity. A renewable energy source that makes sure that waste is put to good use. This is all done at a waste to energy plant in Allington.
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Read more about recovering energy from waste
Recycling different wastes
We make your waste work really hard:
- Food waste is converted to fertiliser and biogas, which powers homes.
- Garden waste is composted to create a peat-free compost suitable for use in farming and agriculture.
- Road sweepings are recycled and reused, mainly for aggregate in the construction industry.
Find out more about how we recycle your waste
Find out where your waste goes
We work together with other councils in Kent, known as the Kent Resource Partnership, to collect, dispose of and treat waste. We monitor and report on where waste goes and what happens to it.