Dispose of items properly whether trash or treasure

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
It's often said that one man's trash is another mans treasure, but sometimes you can have too much of a good thing - and when it's time to let it go, you've got to know where to get rid of it.

While RAF Mildenhall has its own recycling center, there are certain things that cannot be accepted. Thankfully, there are several household waste recycling centers in the local area where people can take items to dispose of them, if they are not suitable to dispose of in household black, blue or brown bins which are collected weekly by the local council.

There are 18 HWRCs across Suffolk, with the nearest at Folly Road, Mildenhall, near the Five-Ways roundabout, just off the Brandon/RAF Lakenheath exit, on the A1065.

Another is at Depot Road, Newmarket, off Exning road, on the B1103.

The base recycling center accepts items from individuals and families, and squadrons. From households, they accept many items including the following:

-- Paper, shredded paper, magazines, newspapers, catalogs and glossy flyers

-- Food/soda cans

-- Plastic

-- Glass

-- CDs

-- Toner/inkjet cartridges

-- Scrap metal

They accept all of the above from squadrons, plus other items including empty 55-gallon drums and wooden pallets.

Furniture will not be accepted, even if broken down. Also, televisions, computer monitors, and any other items containing cathode ray tubes are prohibited from disposal. These items should not be thrown in the trash.

However, local recycling centers provide more options to dispose of items, including fluorescent tubes, engine oil, car batteries, bicycles refrigerators and freezers, mobile phones and household batteries.

HWRCs are open every day, except Christmas Day, Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. Until March 31, opening hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; April 1 to Sept. 30, hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Nov. 1 to Jan. 31, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The centers are self-service facilities provided by Suffolk County Council for residents in Suffolk to take their household waste for recycling and disposal. They are free to use, but those using them are required to separate waste as much as possible.

Additional HWRCs can be found in Bury St. Edmunds, on the opposite side of the A14 to Sainsburys; and Stowmarket, on Old Bury Road.

Local councils offer a bulky items collection service, picking up items such as fridges, freezers and washing machines, ranging from 20 pounds per item to 20 pounds for five items, depending on the council.

For more information, call the base recycling center at 238-5551 or the Suffolk County Council at 0845 6066067, or visit www.suffolk.gov.uk, then click on 'environment,' 'rubbish, waste and recycling,' and ''household waste.'