Recycling covers a huge range of collections, facilities and services, so this section has been split into two- Kerbside Recycling Collections, which covers the Recycling Box and Brown Bin collections, and Recycling Centres & Points.  

Kerbside Recycling Collections
This covers all the recycling collections available in East Lothian, whether they happen on a regular basis or you have to phone and arrange a collection date. 
Kerbside recycling collections exist to make it easier for everyone to do their bit and take part in recycling.  There are two types of regular collection, and a few others which you have to phone to book a date for.  Many different materials can now be recycled through these collections- making it easier than ever before to recycle more of your waste. 

Recycling Box Collection
From Monday 2nd June you can put cardboard, envelopes and Yellow Pages in your blue box!  For more information please open the cardboard recycling link in the list to the right.
Currently 93.5% of households in East Lothian have access to the fortnightly recycling box collection. Each household covered by the collection is provided with two recycling boxes- a green one for their glass, cans and plastic bottles and a smaller blue one for paper, cardboard, envelopes and Yellow Pages. Recycling box covers are also provided- these can be secured to the boxes by feeding the ties through the holes in the handle of box. When presenting boxes on the kerbside on the day of collection, please stretch the cover over the top of the boxes to make sure the contents are secure and stack the blue box on top of the green box. Extra boxes are available to households that have too much material to fit into the boxes provided, but please squash cans and plastic bottles if you need more space before requesting an extra box.

What can I put in my Blue Box?

What can I put in my Green Box?

Where does it all go?
After collection, the material is bulked up in East Lothian and then transported to the Greenstar sorting plant in Lancashire. Visit their website at www.greenstar.co.uk/Recycling_Facilities.aspx to view a short video clip on how the material is sorted out before it is sent for recycling. Once separated the material is used in different ways- the glass and crockery is broken up and used as aggregate- for example in laying new road surfaces, the cans and aerosols are melted down and made into new cans and the plastic bottles are chipped and then used in the manufacture of our recycling boxes and some street furniture.

Contact Details
Verdant carry out the collection on East Lothian Council's behalf. If you wish to find out if your area is covered by the collection, need a replacement box or cover, or if you have any questions about the collection please contact East Lothian Council's Recycling Helpline on 01620 827 215, or email letsnotwaste@eastlothian.gov.uk. If your box has not been emptied or you would like to request an assisted collection please contact Verdant on 0845 270 2880.

Brown Bin Collection
91.7% of households in East Lothian are offered the chance to take part in the regular collection for garden waste. This collection uses a brown, wheeled bin to collect garden waste every fortnight, with all the material collected being sent for composting. The compost is the used for landscaping or used or sold as a soil conditioner. Some local garden centres sell the compost, or it can be obtained by calling Green Goodness on 0131 339 5554.
It is optional to take part in the brown bin collection and households covered by the scheme are sent information through the post inviting them to request a brown bin before the collection begins. We hope to be able to expand the collection in the future.

What can I put in my Brown Bin?

Contact Details
If you would like to find out if your area is covered by this collection, need a calendar of collection dates, or want more information please call East Lothian Council's Recycling Helpline on 01620 827 215 or email letsnotwaste@eastlothian.gov.uk.

Irregular Kerbside Collections
Garden Waste Collections
Areas not covered by the regular garden waste collection can still have their garden waste collected for composting thorough our phone-up collection. You can arrange a collection by calling 01620 827 391. We ask that all garden waste be placed in bags, or tied in bundles no longer than 4ft or 1.2 meters in length, to make it easier to uplift. There is a maximum of 20 bags or bundles per collection and all bags are emptied and returned to the householder (as these can't be composted). In more rural areas reusable garden waste sacks are available to store your garden waste prior to collection, or help you transport it to one of our Recycling Centres; if you would like to request these please call the Recycling Helpline on 01620 827 215.
White Goods
Household white goods are also collected for recycling. Fridge-freezers are collected separately to be de-gassed before they are dismantled and the components reused in other products. Other items, such as cookers, washing machines, dishwashers, tumble driers etc. are currently collected for recycling, with some of the components, such as metal being reused in other products. You can book collections for these items by calling the Special Uplift line on 0906 5151 523 (calls are charged at £1.50 per minute from a BT landline, charges from other network providers may vary).

Recycling Centres & Points
This covers all the facilities in East Lothian where you can take material to be recycled.  By using these facilities you will reduce the volume of material sent to landfill sites and help the environment, so why not locate your closest Recycling Centre or Point and start recycling today?
There are over 80 places in East Lothian which accept a variety of materials for recycling.  We currently have Recycling Centres at Macmerry, North Berwick and Dunbar and Kinwegar, near Wallyford Toll.  Use this link to find out more about Recycling Centres.  In addition, East Lothian has a network of facilities where you can recycle glass, cans, paper and textiles - use this link to find out about your local Recycling Point .