Two recycling schemes in Amersham have come to an end in a development dubbed ‘very disappointing’.

Amersham Town Council has confirmed that residents will no longer be able to dispose of toothpaste tubes or plastic pens and felt tips. Specsavers is the collection point for toothbrushes, however it will no longer accept toothpaste tubes.

Meanwhile, make-up and Pringles tubes can still be dropped off at St Michaels and all Angels Church, but plastic writing implements will no longer be able to be disposed of at this location.

The town council oversees the recycling schemes and collection points together with the charity Medic to Medic, which supports health workers in developing countries.

In a statement it said: “Over the last three years we have been successful in not only recycling the above items, which would otherwise be disposed of as domestic waste, but also in raising money for Medic to Medic, a charity which raises money to train healthcare workers in Malawi.”

It added: “We are very disappointed by the ending of two very successful recycling schemes. We would like to thank you very much for your support with these recycling schemes.”

Colgate, which was part of the toothpaste scheme, no longer recycles the tubes as it now makes a recycled toothpaste tube.

Since 2021, some 400 kilos of items have been collected by Amersham residents, raising £400.

The town council stressed that it is also still collecting Marigold gloves and Ferrero Rocher boxes at Amersham Post Office.