A substantial amount of newspapers recycled from household waste are collected from ‘bring’ systems such as paper banks. These banks are generally situated in convenient locations such as supermarket, library and local amenity car parks. If you are using a car, include a visit to the paper bank during a journey which you are already planning - recycling is easy and effective if it is convenient.

How can you help?

Over 1.5 million tonnes of newspapers and magazines are recycled each year, primarily into more newspapers, although a significant amount will also be used by the packaging sector. Newsprint manufacturers get their used newspapers and magazines from local authority household waste collections, paper banks, and kerbside collections.

Newsprint is a high volume, low margin commodity, and manufacturers need to be able to obtain large and steady volumes of clean recovered material. More than any other papermaking sector, newsprint manufacturers need the support of the general public.  

If your newspaper is put straight into the dustbin, it will probably end up in a giant hole in the ground in our surrounding countryside. There are a number of ways in which you can ensure that newspapers enter the recycling waste stream.

Some local authorities also provide dedicated recycling centres and special bins designated for paper collection. It is really important that the instructions on the bin are followed. This 'segregation at source' is the key to successful recycling because the industry needs fresh, dry newspapers. Left-over food and other materials such as glass, plastic and dirt, contaminate the paper. If these contaminates should find their way through the system, they will contaminate the papermaking machines too! 

Please take any plastic bags home and reuse them - do not place them in the paper bank. 

Local authorities are introducing kerbside collections whereby householders are given a receptacle for particular items of waste such as glass, aluminium cans and newspaper. These are collected on particular weekdays and collection may be fortnightly. Again, it is crucial to follow carefully the advice you are given regarding the sorting of materials.

Most local authorities have a Recycling Officer who will be able to tell you whether or not there is a kerbside collection scheme in your area. The name and contact details can be found on the local authority's website, or in the Yellow Pages.