Recycling in Purley on Thames
The Repair Cafe in Purley on ThamesOperates monthly on the second Saturday of each month |
The importance of recycling correctly
It is important to know that placing incorrect items into a recycling collection can result in the entire batch of items being destroyed rather than recycled. Please check the information below to see exactly where to recycle your items. If in doubt leave it out.
In general, items need to be empty, clean and dry in order to be accepted for recycling.
Where to recycle in Purley on Thames
For residents of Purley on Thames, recycling facilities are available kerbside, at local council-run facilities and also at collection points run by local residents and community groups.
Kerbside recycling collections
For an easy-to-use leaflet that details all of the items that can be collected kerbside please click here.
For more information on kerbside collections and to order additional bins and bags, please visit the recycling section on the West Berkshire Council website.
Council-run recycling facilities
The closest Household Waste Recycling Centre to Purley on Thames is located in Padworth. From 1st February 2022 the paper permit for display in you windscreen has been replaced by a car permit. You can apply for a car permit to use the site, find a full list of the items that are accepted and book a slot for your visit here.
There is also a Mini Recycling Centre at a number of locations in West Berkshire including Cotswold Sports Centre and Theale. Cardboard, plastic bottles, tubs and trays, cans, textiles and small electricals can be taken to these sites.
Click here for more information about Mini Recycling Centres.
Community-run collections point in Purley on Thames
Purley Sustainability Group (PSG) accept hard-to-recycle items at 7 Beech Road, Purley on Thames, RG8 8DR. The collection is open every second Sunday of the month from 8 am until 4 pm. Please place your items in the green wheelie bins at the end of the drive.
Recyling Dates:
Sunday 13th August |
Sunday 10th September |
Sunday 15th October |
Sunday 12th November |
Sunday 10th December |
This collection is run entirely by volunteers. As sorting the recycling is very time-consuming, please help out by making sure that your items are empty, clean and dry. Please also sort them into the separate schemes listed below. You could use empty bread bags or paper bags to do this.
- Terracycle schemes – please see below for more details
- Clean tin foil – please roll into tennis ball size
- Milk bottle tops – foil and plastic (but not the plastic seal please)
- Stamps (used or unused)
- Empty tablet blister packs (these can also be taken to Superdrug in Broad St Reading)
- Natural corks (e.g. from wine bottles) (plastic corks cannot be recycled)
- Books
- Any jewellery and watches (including broken items)
- Coins and currency (UK or foreign and of any age)
- Mobile phones, cameras and gadgets (e.g. sat navs, games consoles, games and accessories, iPods, MP3 players, tablet computers)
Examples of items collected by PSG (in addition to Terracycle)
If you are unsure whether an item is suitable for recycling, please email purleysustainability@gmail.com and they will help you out.
Money raised from the collected items is donated to local groups, including Long Lane Primary School, Buscot Ward at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and Purley Sustainability Group projects, including the Repair Café, Community Allotment and Community Orchard.
Plastic recycling via Terracycle®

Terracycle® recycle waste that is not processed by local councils, such as crisp and confectionary packets. Once collected, the waste is shredded, washed, melted and transformed into plastic flakes or pellets that are then turned into products such as outdoor furniture. You can find out more about Terracycle® here.
Each Terracycle scheme is sponsored by a specific manufacturer and the rules over what is and what is not accepted can be complicated and may change from time to time. Please see the tables below for details. Ultimately, it would be great to reduce our dependence on single-use plastic; please contact Purley Sustainability Group (PSG) for help if you would like to reduce the amount of plastic you buy but are unsure where to look for alternatives.
As noted above, please ensure items are clean, dry and try to separate into the categories listed in the table. Packing items into a ‘brick’ as shown below with the confectionery and crisp packets is a great way to pre-sort your Terracycle items – or you could use separate bread bags for each scheme.
Examples of pre-sorted items for Terracycle®
TERRACYCLE® Food and Drink Packaging Schemes
BREAD |
|
BAKED GOODS |
|
CHEESE |
|
CRISPS |
|
KP SNACKS |
|
CONFECTIONERY |
|
FERRERO PRALINES |
|
BISCUITS AND SNACKS |
|
LAVAZZA ECO CAPS |
|
TERRACYCLE® Non-Food and Drink Packaging Schemes
AIR FRESHNERS |
|
CLEANINIG |
|
DISHWASING |
|
HANDWASHING |
|
LAUNDRY |
|
GLOVES |
|
PERSONAL CARE |
|
DENTAL CARE |
|
MAKE-UP |
|
WRITING INSTRUMENTS |
|
For any items not detailed above, you can use the Recycle Now website to identify local collection points.
Soft plastics (such as carrier bags, food wrappings, pet food packaging) can be taken to local supermarkets including Tesco, Portman Rd, Coop Tilehurst & Pangbourne, Waitrose, Sainsburys