TORRIDGE District Council is introducing changes to its recycling services from April 1, 2026.

From April, cartons (Tetra Paks) will be accepted as part of the district's kerbside recycling service, in line with simpler recycling requirements. This includes items such as juice cartons, long‑life milk containers, soup cartons and other liquid food packaging.

Residents should place cartons in their brown recycling bag, with caps left on, as they can be recycled together.

At the same time, the council will no longer accept batteries in its weekly kerbside recycling collections. It says that the change is ‘essential to address the serious fire risks and environmental hazards posed when batteries are mixed with general recycling materials.’

Justifying the change, a spokesperson for Torridge District Council said: “Batteries can ignite if damaged or exposed to certain conditions during the recycling process, creating a significant fire hazard for collection crews, recycling facilities and the wider community. They also contain chemicals that can leak and contaminate other recyclable materials, making them unsafe and unsuitable for standard recycling streams.”

In addition, the council urged residents to 'wash and squash' all plastics before placing them in the green recycling box, which helps to maximise space and increase the amount that can be recycled.

Cllr Chris Leather, lead member for operational services at Torridge District Council, said: "Safety and sustainability are at the heart of these changes. Removing batteries from kerbside collections is essential to prevent fires and protect our crews, facilities and residents.

“At the same time, we're delighted to introduce carton and Tetra Pak recycling, making it easier for households to recycle more of their everyday packaging. We encourage everyone to use the brown bag for cartons and to continue taking batteries to the dedicated drop‑off points across Torridge, helping ensure these materials are dealt with safely and responsibly."