Recycle Week 2025 kicks off in Derry and Strabane

Derry City and Strabane District Council have launched this year’s Recycle Week – the UK’s biggest annual celebration of recycling – with a powerful call to action to recycle more of the everyday items we often miss.

Now in its 22nd year, this nationwide celebration is all about taking action, tackling waste, and giving everyday items a second life. This year Recycle Week will run from September 22 - 28.

This year, we’re shining the spotlight on those items around the house you might forget about – the bottles, tubs, and containers that too often end up in the black bin when they belong in your blue bin. These are the everyday recyclables we all forget about – and it’s time to change that!

Just one wrong item in the blue bin can ruin an entire lorry load of recycling. But the good news? One more right item can make a huge difference too! That’s why Council is calling on everyone across Derry & Strabane to level up their recycling game.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairí McHugh, launched this year’s campaign at today’s Nappucino event in Foyle Arena. Talking about the week-long initiative, he said, “We’re already doing a fantastic job when it comes to recycling in Derry and Strabane — but we can do even more. If each of us recycled just a few more kitchen or bathroom items — like handwash, shampoo, and conditioner bottles — we’d see a real impact.

Those everyday items like yogurt pots and aerosol cans really add up. Let’s keep them out of our black bins and into our blue bins where they belong. Together, we can push our recycling rates even higher and build a cleaner, greener future for our community. Let’s keep up the great work and make Derry and Strabane recycling champions!”

Catherine David, CEO of WRAP, added “Recycle Week continues to be a powerful moment to inspire action across the region, and this year is no exception.

By highlighting overlooked everyday items, we’re helping people see how small changes can have a big impact. Thanks to innovation and teamwork, more of these items can be recycled than ever before. Let’s rescue them from the rubbish and give them a second life!”

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To help everyone in the district recycle smarter, Derry City and Strabane District Council is sharing some top tips for getting your blue bin right. Start by giving your recyclables a quick rinse and letting them dry before placing them in the bin — this helps prevent bad smells and reduces contamination. Always empty any remaining liquids from bottles, and make sure everything goes into the bin loose, clean, and dry.

Avoid putting smaller items inside larger ones, as sorting machines can’t separate them properly. Items like shampoo and conditioner bottles, handwash containers, detergent bottles, yogurt pots, and aerosol cans are all recyclable and should go in your blue bin. However, make sure to keep out non-recyclables such as nappies, plastic bags, crisp packets, and sweet wrappers, as these can contaminate the entire load.

Residents are encouraged to download the Derry Strabane Recycles App today – available on Google Play and iOS.

The app includes bin collection reminders, a full list of what you can recycle, opening hours for local recycling centres and much more.

For more information, please visit www.derrystrabane.com/recycling 

To find out more about Recycle Week, please visit www.recyclenow.com/RecycleWeek