Waste and Recycling
Black
Box Recycling Scheme
Dover District Council operates a fortnightly collection of 'dry' recyclables to almost all residents in the district. The collection takes place all year round and stops for two days over the Christmas period, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. To find out your collection day please use our collection day finder.
Dover District Council operates at fortnightly collection of ‘dry’ recyclables to all residents in the district. The collection takes place all year round and stops for two days over the Christmas period, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. To find out your collection day please use our collection day finder.
How to use the scheme
A black box can be obtained from any area office or at the Dover District Council offices at Whitfield. If you are unable to collect a black box one can be dropped off to you by contacting us on 01304 872428 or emailing waste@dover.gov.uk.
Your recycling should be placed in the black box for collection. Although you do not have to use carrier bags to sort your waste please try and ensure that your box is tidy and sorted for the collection crew, ie paper at the bottom or to one side with cans and glass on top.
Alternatively why not ask for an additional box to keep some materials separate. It’s a good idea to keep one box outside with glass and cans inside and another in the shed or kitchen cupboard with paper in to keep it dry until collection day.
On the day of collection please ensure that your box(es) is / are out by 7am on the kerbside or edge of your property if you do not have a kerb.
What can I put out for collection?
Yes please
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- White directories
- Junk mail
- White envelopes
- Shredded paper
- Holiday brochures
- Store catalogues
- Food tins and their lids
- Drink cans
- Biscuit tins
- Sweet tins
- Clean tin foil
- Clean take away / metal pie containers
- Metal jar lids
- Glass bottles (any colour)
- Glass jars
No Thank You
- Cardboard
- Plastic bottles and containers
- Broken window glass
Why recycle this waste?
A recent waste audit in the Dover District shows that we are throwing away a large amount of rubbish that could be easily recycled at the kerbside. These items are currently being disposed of in landfill sites in the county of Kent, which is not only a waste, but is also thought to contribute to the effects of global warming.
Some questions that you may have…
Is a bigger box available?
- The black box is one of the largest on the market for this purpose. If you have too much recycling for one box we will happily give you another. Please call the recycling helpline on 01304 872428 or email waste@dover.gov.uk, to order extras or replacements.
Whose box is it anyway?
- The box remains the property of Dover District Council, but we would like you to give it a home and fill it with suitable materials for recycling.
Why doesn’t the box have a lid?
- When the scheme was introduced, many local authorities told us that the lids did not fit securely on the top of the box, especially when the box is full and that they often blow away. If recycling is packed into the boxes properly it should not escape!
What happens to the paper, glass and cans after our black box is put out for collection?
- A dedicated recycling crew empties the contents of your box into the side of the recycling vehicle. It is sorted into three separate compartments on the vehicle, one for paper, one for cans and tins and the third for glass. Once the vehicle is full or finished its collection round it returns to a depot within the Dover District where your materials are tipped separately into big bins.
Your paper is taken to be turned into newsprint at Aylesford Newsprint near Maidstone, Kent.
Your glass is taken to Berrymans in Faversham, where it is ‘bulked up’ and sent on to be recycled back into new glass bottles and jars.
Your metal cans and tins are taken to a company called Reclamet in Birchington where they are sorted, shredded and bailed and sent on to be recycled in to new cans or metal objects.
Will my assisted collection for refuse be extended to include the black box collection scheme?
- Yes, this will automatically be transferred over. If you can not carry your black box out for collection and are not on the assisted collection list then please contact us on 01304 872428 or email waste@dover.gov.uk
Any other questions, we are here to help!
- The Customer Services team are always happy to offer their assistance with any matters concerning the black box collection scheme or other recycling services. Please feel free to contact us should you have any question sor like to comment on the scheme.
Recycling Helpline – 01304 872428
E-mail: waste@dover.gov.uk
Dover District Council Wasteline: 01304 872428
E-mail: waste@dover.gov.uk
