Knife amnesty boxes at our recycling centres

Knife amnesty boxes have been installed at four recycling centres in Nottinghamshire, giving residents a safe way to surrender unwanted knives and help prevent them from reaching the streets.

The secure boxes will be available at household waste and recycling centres in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Worksop, Newark and Beeston. They have been donated by Nottinghamshire Police following work with Nottinghamshire County Council and Veolia, which operates the sites on the council’s behalf.

Two of the boxes will also commemorate people who lost their lives as a result of knife crime. The Kirkby-in-Ashfield box will be dedicated to Daniel Castledine, while the Beeston box will be dedicated to Joseph Witchurch.

How to use the knife amnesty boxes

Anyone taking a knife to one of the sites should first wrap it in several layers of thick cardboard or cloth, secure it firmly with strong tape, and place it in a sealed bag. This will help ensure it cannot be easily accessed and is safe to handle. Knives must never be carried openly, and carrying a bladed article in public without a good reason or lawful authority is an offence.

Veolia staff will be there to help residents use the boxes. Local neighbourhood policing teams will monitor and empty the boxes once a month or more often if required.