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Recycling banks are provided for the collection of glass, books, textiles and shoes, items which cannot be placed in the green recycling boxes.

All recycling banks, located at various locations across the district, are emptied according to a 4 week schedule. Regular site checks are carried out and extra emptyings can be arranged if banks are full.  For details on locations of recycling banks and what you can recycle please use our interactive map:

• Interactive map - recycling bank locations

Please take your recycling home with you if a bank is full and contact Public Amenities where arrangements can be made for the bank to be emptied within 48 hours, depending on the location.  You can report a full recycling bank using the online form below:

• Report a full recycling bank form

Alternatively contact Environmental Services.

The following types of recycling banks are provided:

Juice cartons (Tetrapaks)

There are now dedicated Tetrapak recycling banks at Thame Cattle Market car park, Chinnor Mill Lane car park, Henley Kings Road car park and the council offices car park at Crowmarsh Gifford. There are also banks at the County Council Waste Recycling Centres such as Oakley Wood and Redbridge.

The Tetrapaks, (such as juice cartons) are made up of different materials including cardboard, plastic and foil. These are collected and taken to a paper mill to make plasterboard lining.

Book Banks

Paper and hard-backed books are accepted in the Salvation Army banks. Good quality books are resold, whilst other books are sent abroad to help education programmes. Paper can also be recycled to form writing paper, copier paper, cardboard, tissues . Shredded paper can be used as a substitute for hay as it doesn't produce dust and so is suitable for animals with respiratory problems.

Glass Banks

Glass bottles and jars can go into the glass banks. Please remember to be considerate towards residents living near glass banks by not using them late at night. Recycled glass is used to make new bottles and jars, architectural glass block and paving slabs, glass fibre insulation, abrasives used for sandblasting and glass asphalt for road surfacing.

Shoe Banks

Any pairs of footwear including shoes, slippers, wellingtons may be put in these banks. Please ensure that each pair is tied or banded together. Most pairs will go to poorer countries for repair and re-use. The rest will be recycled.

Textile Banks

Clothes, blankets, pairs of shoes, curtains, handbags, may all be put in the textile banks. Anything that cannot be used locally will either be sent to help people in the UK and other countries or made into mattress filling, furniture padding, sound absorbent panels and wiper cloths.

Audio Banks

Any CDs, DVDs, videos, cassettes and records may be put in these banks, along with books.  Please only donate usable items.  All usable items are given to the charity shops for re-sale or reuse.  The audio banks are located in Henley (Tesco), Sonning Common (behind Somerfield), Thame (Waitrose entrance), Wallingford (Goldsmith's Lane car park) and Wheatley (Asda).