May 2025 news

View our news items from May 2025.

What do the different recycling logos mean?

According to last year's recycling survey, 43% of respondents wanted to learn more about what the different recycling logos mean. Triangular recycling logos are called plastic resin codes. These codes indicate to manufacturers which type of plastic a product is made from.

Despite popular belief, they do not indicate whether or not an item can be recycled at home in West Sussex. To keep things simple, we ask residents to disregard the logos on the back of packaging and to recycle only:

  • plastic bottles (with their lids), pots, tubs and trays
  • cartons (Tetra Paks)
  • foil
  • glass bottles and jars
  • paper and card
  • metal cans and aerosols

Everything else should go into the general waste bin, or to a Recycling Centre.

If you're unsure whether something can be recycled at home, check out our A-Z recycling guide or download your local district or borough's app where available (see more later on in the newsletter).

You can watch our video below for more information on recycling logos:

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The Big Fix returns to West Sussex!

This May, we're encouraging West Sussex residents to help reduce waste by repairing and reusing items rather than throwing them away.

The Big Fix is all about promoting local repair cafés and reminding us that when we throw something away, we're also wasting the land, energy and other resources it took to make it. By repairing broken items, you're not only saving money but also helping protect the planet.

Launched by Recycle Devon in 2019, The Big Fix has grown into a national movement - in May 2024 alone, an impressive 3,177 items were repaired across the UK, including 132 items right here in West Sussex!

West Sussex County Council is proud to support The Big Fix by sharing details of local repair cafés, hosting an online forum for repair tips and tricks, and helping more people embrace a repair-and-reuse lifestyle.

Find out more about local repair cafés and tips for repairing at home on our website.

Reuse more at our Recycling Centres

At West Sussex Recycling Centres, we prioritise reuse wherever possible. Did you know we have two reuse shops? Biffa, on behalf of West Sussex County Council, operates reuse shops at both Billingshurst and Worthing Recycling Centres, as part of our commitment to reducing waste and encouraging reuse.

The reuse shops provide residents with the opportunity to purchase preloved goods and can also accept items for donation. Not all items are suitable for donation, so it's always best to check with a member of staff. For example, shop staff cannot repair or clean items, so anything donated must be in good, clean, working order.

You do not need to book an appointment to visit the reuse shops; however, you will need to book if you are looking to donate.

We have also joined forces with Community RePaint (sponsored by Dulux) to offer opportunities for donating and collecting unwanted paint, helping to reduce waste and benefit individuals and families. This service is available at all of our Recycling Centres.

Residents can donate paint for reuse as long as it is in good condition (for example, it has not dried up) and the container at the centre has capacity to accept it.

For more information on Recycling Centre reuse, visit our website.

Does your local district or borough council have an app?

Some districts and boroughs in West Sussex have a free council app. These apps help you check what can and can’t be recycled and they can send helpful notifications to remind you when to put your bin out!

They can also notify you of changes to your bin collection days, such as during bank holidays or in the event of last-minute disruptions. The apps offer a range of other useful council services too, including local news, reporting features and a find my nearest tool.

Download the app from your local council’s website (where available):

Connect with us

Here at West Sussex Recycles, we are passionate about reducing waste and encouraging recycling! That's why, on our social media channels we post multiple times a week, featuring fun facts and the latest updates.

Why not join our community, keep up to date and share your top tips on waste prevention and recycling?

Waste prevention events

Throughout West Sussex, we are proud to work alongside a team of passionate recycling and waste prevention volunteers. They attend public and private events to promote waste prevention, reuse, and recycling and are eager to answer questions about the county's recycling services and waste reduction initiatives.

In addition to the public events listed below, we are participating in numerous privately hosted talks and events for local community groups, schools and other organisations. If you would like our team to give a talk, visit your school, attend an event, or if you would like more information, contact us at waste.prevention@westsussex.gov.uk.

We also support our partners at the district and borough councils with community outreach in selected areas, engaging residents on both recycling and waste prevention topics.

May and June 2025 events

  • Friday 2 May (9.30am to 11.00am) - Waste Prevention Information Stand at Haywards Heath Community Food Hub, Ascension Church, Haywards Heath, RH16 4JS
  • Sunday 4 May (11.00am to 4.00pm) - Vintage Revival Festival, Waste Prevention Information Stand, Steyning High Street, BN44 3RD
  • Saturday 10 May (10.00am to 1.00pm) - Waste Prevention Information Stand at Burgess Hill repair café, The Kiln, Burgess Hill, RH15 9NN
  • Saturday 17 May (11.00am to 4.00pm) - STEM in the Park 2025, Waste Prevention Information Stand, Memorial Gardens, Crawley
  • Saturday 17 May (2.00pm to 4.00pm) - Waste Prevention Information Stand at Partridge Green repair café, Partridge Green Village Hall, High Street, Partridge Green, RH13 8HX
  • Friday 23 May (10.00am to 12 noon) - Mid-Sussex Science Week Finale, Waste Prevention Information Stand, Kings Centre, 33-35 Victoria Road, Burgess Hill
  • Saturday 24 May (12 noon to 4.00pm) - Barnham and Eastergate May Fair, Waste Prevention Information Stand, Barnham Community Hall, Yapton Road, Barnham
  • Monday 26 May (11.00am to 4.00pm) - Steyning Country Fair, Waste Prevention Information Stand, High Street, Steyning
    Saturday 31 May (12 noon to 5.00pm) - Lindfield Village Day, Waste Prevention Information Stand, Lindfield Common
  • Saturday 31 May (12 noon to 4.00pm) - Yapton and Ford May Fair, Waste Prevention Information Stand, Yapton and Ford Village Hall and Village Green
  • Saturday 7 June (10.00am to 12 noon) - Waste Prevention Information Stand at Adur repair café, The Circular Space, Ham Road, Shoreham-by-Sea
  • Saturday 7 June (1.30pm to 4.30pm) - Durrington Festival, Waste Prevention Information Stand, Pond Lane Recreation Ground
  • Sunday 8 June (10.30am to 3.30pm) - Lancing Green Dreams, Waste Prevention Information Stand, Clothes Swap and Make Do and Mend, Lancing Beach Green
  • Friday 13 June (2.00pm to 4.00pm) - Clothes Swap and Information Stand at UKHarvest Community Food Hub, The Chapel, Graylingwell Drive, Park, Chichester
  • Saturday 21 June (10.00am to 6.00pm) - Chilli and Cheese Festival, Waste Prevention Information Stand, Oaklands Park, Chichester
  • Sunday 22 June (10.00am to 5.00pm) - Chilli and Cheese Festival, Waste Prevention Information Stand, Oaklands Park, Chichester
  • Sunday 22 June (11.00am to 3.00pm) - Burgess Hill Summer Fayre, Waste Prevention Information Stand, St John's Park, Burgess Hill
  • Friday 27 June (10.00am to 12 noon) - Clothes Swap and Information Stand at Haywards Heath Community Food Hub Multi Agency Support Event, Ascension Church, Haywards Heath at Food Hub