How to recycle your rubbish in Dordogne

RECYCLING your rubbish ensures that you leave only footprints when holidaying in the Dordogne, as we all try and reduce our impact on the planet.

The recycling system in the Dordogne uses large coloured containers, but with a twist for non-recyclable rubbish that goes in black bin bags.

The system is overseen by the Syndicat mixte départemental des déchets de la Dordogne (SMD3) and the containers for black bin bags can only be opened by the use of a card the size of a credit card.

This needs to be passed across a reader before the hatch opens allowing you to place your rubbish inside.

These cards are only available to local residents who pay an annual fee, so if you are on holiday double-check with your property owner or management company that they will take away any black bin bags, because without a card you can not open the containers.

And sadly some bins have seen black bags left in front of them, which in the summer can create a smelly problem for the local authorities to deal with.

But you can do something about tidying up recyclable packaging, glass bottles and cardboard boxes that you may use whilst in the Dordogne.

What can you recycle in the yellow bins?

You will see large containers with yellow panels and flashes on them saying you can recycle emballages et papiers, this is packaging and papers.

So things like plastic bottles and containers, magazines and milk or juice cartons, metal trays, tins and crisp packets, yogurt pots and cheese wrappers, all these can go into the yellow containers.

You are best collecting them up over a few days and then emptying them into the container, but you will have to take them out of larger plastic sacks if that is how you have collected them because bars on the entrance of the bins prevent larger items being pushed through in one go.

What can you recycle in the green bins?

The green containers will take glass bottles and pots, so your beer and wine bottles can go in here.

First though take any plastic or metal lids off and place them in the yellow containers.

What can you recycle in the brown bins?

This is for larger pieces of cardboard for example items ordered for the home off the internet.

Using the tip for larger items

If you are on holiday then there is less chance you will need to get rid of larger items, or dangerous or polluting materials such as paints or building rubbish.

But if you are a property owner then these have to be taken to your local tip, or déchèterie, but again you could be asked to prove that you are resident to the area and offer your card as proof.

The déchèteries serving smaller villages are usually only open for a few days through the week, so it will be best to check with the local mairie for the opening times.