Batteries and small electrical items, such as mobile phones, vapes, and hairdryers, must not be thrown away in your household waste or recycling bins, as they often contain hazardous materials which can start a fire when the items are crushed during the collection and sorting process.
If you live in Arun, Adur and Worthing, Crawley, Horsham, or Mid Sussex you can recycle them alongside your kerbside collections. Collections vary slightly so it is important to check your local councils website for more information on how to make use of this service.
If you live elsewhere in the county you can take them to your local Recycling Centre or return them to any shop that sells batteries
To find out more, visit our page on Small Electricals
 During the winter holidays, there can be a huge increase in household recycling and waste, including packaging, bottles and cans, and even decorations. It's important to know what you can and cannot recycle, that's why we have put together this helpful A-Z Guide on our website.
Remember, all household recycling needs to be:
- Clean - free from food and drink leftovers
- Dry - please keep your recycling bin lid shut
- Loose - not in plastic bags
During bad weather, rain and frost can get into your recycling bin, causing the material to be spoiled, or potentially even contaminating the entire bin. During the sorting process at Ford Material Recycling Facility, wet cardboard can stick to metal, glass and machinery making it harder to sort. Please make sure your bin lid is closed tight, and remains out of direct wind so that we can make the most out of your hard work and recycling.
 Did you know that we have reuse shops at both Billingshurst and Worthing Recycling Centres? They operate as part of our dedication to reducing waste and encouraging reuse where possible.
The reuse shops provide an opportunity to purchase preloved goods and also accept items for donation. Not all items are suitable for donating to reuse, so it's always best to check with a member of staff, for example, the shop staff cannot repair or clean items, so anything donated needs to be in good working order.
The shops are able to accept a range of items, from books, board games and puzzles, to crockery and cutlery. Larger items such a bikes, small furniture, and sports equipment can also be accepted.
You do not need to book an appointment to visit either reuse shops. You can find out more information on our website.
 Progress on protecting the environment
From cutting over 200 tonnes of carbon emissions from our buildings to improving active travel options and bus services, the county council is turning climate ambitions into real-world results.
During the 2024 to 2025 financial year the county council:
- Rolled out more energy-saving LED traffic signals
- Installed hundreds of electric vehicle chargepoints
- Boosted biodiversity and tackled local flooding
- Saved nearly 50 tonnes of food from going to waste through our Community Food Hubs
- Launched Reuse Shops and the Community RePaint scheme
- Continued to run our busy 13 Recycling Centres and waste prevention education programmes
You can explore all the details in the Climate Change Progress Report.
Interested in hearing more? Sign up for the monthly Environment and Climate Change eNewsletter - packed with updates, tips, and ways you can get involved.
Take a sneaky peek at the December edition.
Throughout West Sussex, we are proud to work alongside a team of passionate waste prevention and recycling 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, please 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.
January / February events
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Saturday 24 January (1pm–3pm) - Community People Community and Volunteers Fair, Haywards Heath College, Harlands Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1LT
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Saturday 31 January (10am–12pm) - Community People Community and Volunteers Fair, East Court, College Lane, East Grinstead, RH19 3LT
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Saturday 31 January (10am–2.30pm) - Sussex Green Hub, United Reform Church, 45 Springfield Road, Horsham RH12 2RG
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Friday & Saturday 20 & 21 February (4pm–9pm) - Chichester Laser Light Show, Chichester Canal Basin, Chichester PO19 8DT
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Saturday 28 February (9:30am–12:30pm) - Haywards Heath Baptist Church Eco Fair, Sussex Road, Haywards Heath RH16 4DZ
See a full list of events, over on our website.
Finally, we know that if you receive this email, you are passionate about waste prevention and recycling.
If you find these emails helpful, why not share it with a friend and get them to subscribe to the West Sussex Recycles newsletter as well.
To hear more about how the county council is tackling climate change and helping protect the environment in West Sussex, why not sign-up to receive the regular Environment and Climate Change eNewsletter too! View the December edition here.
Help us spread the message and get more people on board to make West Sussex a strong, safe, and sustainable place to live.
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