B

What can and can't be recycled beginning with B

Baby wipes

Wet wipes, baby wipes, cosmetic wipes, bathroom cleaning wipes and moist toilet tissues are not recyclable and are not flushable either even though some labels say they are. They should always be placed in your black general rubbish bin.

Bags

Bags of unrecyclable household waste should be placed in your black general waste bin for collection.

Baking trays - metal

If your baking trays are in good condition, you may be able to donate them to charity. Alternatively, you should take them to your your local recycling centre.

Baths and basins

Bathroom suites can be taken to your local recycling centre providing any renovations have been done yourself. Please note these items are chargeable. Cast iron baths are also accepted by scrap metal dealers or salvage companies. 

Batteries - car 

Car batteries can be taken to your local recycling centre. Car batteries are classed as 'hazardous waste' so cannot be disposed of in your black general waste bin at home.

Batteries - home

We no longer collect batteries in your kerbside recycling box. They are still accepted at recycling centres or at some supermarkets. 

Beds

We provide a bulky waste collection service which is an additional chargeable service. Bulky waste can be taken to a recycling centre, and if the item is re-usable then some charities such as Refurnish will happily take them. Unwanted beds can also be advertised on a site such as GumtreePrelovedFreegle or Freecycle.

Bedding and blankets

Clothes and textiles can be put in your green bag for recycling again. We can accept dry, undamaged clothes, undamaged shoes (in pairs) and undamaged blankets and bedding sheets

Please note, unfortunately we can't take wet or worn-out clothes and shoes. We also can't accept duvets, pillows, sleeping bags or heavy curtains.

Bikes

Bikes are accepted at your local recycling centre, and will either be placed in the reuse shop or recycled depending on the condition.

Bioplastics

All food waste in North Devon is treated at an anaerobic digestion plant (AD). Bioplastics cannot be treated by AD. In fact, bioplastics entering a food waste stream destined for AD will be mechanically removed before treatment and disposed of as general waste. As the vast majority of the UK’s commercial food waste is processed by AD, this significantly restricts opportunities to dispose of bioplastics as intended. The best way to dispose of bioplastics is to put them on a compost heap and let them break down naturally there. If you do not have a compost heap, they need to go in your black bin.

Birthday cards

Can be recycled in your green recycling bag. Please make sure there are no cards containing glitter, foil or synthetic materials which cannot be recycled. Many charity shops operate Christmas card collections to help raise money. 

Biscuit tins

Can be recycled in your recycling box. Please remove any plastic packaging around or inside the tin.  

Bleach

Chemicals eg. weed killers, pesticides, white spirits, bleaches, old medicines and any other household chemicals must be taken to your local recycling centre and must be in a securely labelled container to be placed in the hazardous waste store. There is a limit of 5 litres.

Blister packaging (tablet packaging)

We accept blister packaging as they are mostly plastic. Don't worry about removing the metal cover, just pop it in your black/green recycling box with your other plastic items.

Bones - food waste

Bones (from kitchen waste) can be recycled through your food waste caddy. 

Books - soft back

Soft back books can be taken to a charity shop or local recycling centre.

Books - hardback

  1. Hard back books can be taken to your local recycling centre or to charity shops. 

Bottles - glass

These can be recycled in your blue recycling box. Please rinse. Crown bottle tops can be placed loose in your black/green recycling box. Alternatively, glass bottles can be taken to your local recycling centre.

Bottles - plastic

Plastic bottles can be put in your black/green recycling box, please rinse and squash before loosely replacing the lids. Alternatively they can be taken to a recycling centre or one of the plastic bottle recycling banks located across the district.

Bric-a-brac

Good quality bric-a-brac can be given to charity shops for re-sale. Alternatively items can be taken to your nearest recycling centre. Try ReFurnish if the goods are still in working order.

Brochures

These can be recycled as part of your household collection by placing in your green bag. Alternatively you could recycle them at your local recycling centre.

Broken plates

Please wrap carefully and place in your black general waste bin. It's really important for the safety of our crews that customers do this. 

Brown paper

Brown paper can be recycled along with your cardboard in your brown bag.

Building rubble

Rubble/hardcore, soil and general construction waste can be taken to a recycling centre. This is classified as chargeable waste.

Bubble wrap

Bubble wrap can be recycled along with plastic film and carrier bags at collection points such as supermarkets.

Bulbs

There are three main kinds household light bulb; old-style filament bulbs, energy-saving bulbs (CFLs), and LEDs. None of these can be recycled alongside glass, but can be brought to a recycling centre. Some energy-saving light bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, so these should be recycled wherever possible. LED bulbs last longest, have the smallest environmental impact, and don't contain dangerous chemicals.