Commonly Recycled Materials

Recycling aerosol cans

Aerosol cans, both steel or aluminium are valuable materials that can be recycled to reduce waste.

How are aerosol cans recycled?

Once collected, aerosol cans are typically sorted at recycling facilities and separated them from other materials. The cans are then crushed to reduce their size, making transportation more efficient.
During the recycling process, both steel and aluminium aerosol cans are melted down.. The melted metal is then manufactured into new products, such as household appliances, automotive parts, or even back to new aerosol cans.

Important things to remember when recycling aerosol cans

It's important to note that plastic lids should be removed from aerosol cans before recycling, and disposed of separately with the rest of your recycling. Do not pierce or attempt to crush the cans. When recycling, it's also necessary to ensure aerosol cans are as empty as possible to avoid any hazards during the recycling process.

Recharge the future: Battery waste and recycling

Did you know each year in the UK we throw away around 600 million batteries? Laid end-to-end these batteries would reach from the UK to Australia and back again. That is a lot of batteries!

Batteries play a huge part in our everyday lives and can be found in every room in the house. They are used in electrical and electronic items, such as, remote controls, mobile phones, toys, clocks and even doorbells. In fact, every person in Britain uses around 10 batteries a year.

If you have any other great ideas please feel free to email them to us!

Click on the above link for further information and for the address to send your items to. If you have any other great ideas please feel free to email them to us!

Are blister packs recyclable?

Where can I recycle my unwanted bras?

Unwanted or old bras don’t have to end up in landfill. If your bras have plenty of life left in them, you could donate them to your local charity shop. Alternatively, there are a number of recycling schemes that will take your unloved bras and help support charities along the way.

Here are some examples:

• Find your nearest ‘bra bank’ and donate them to the Bra Appeal
• You can donate unwanted/old bras at any Bravissimo UK shop. For every kilogram of bras they receive, they donate to Coppafeel, a breast cancer awareness charity

Where can I recycle my old broad band router?

Some broadband providers, such as BT and Virgin Media, offer a service where you can return your old Hub and TV equipment to them and they will recycle it for free. Visit their websites for further information.

Many local authorities also offer recycling facilities for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Enter your postcode into our recycling bank locator to find your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Local authorities may also provide a kerbside collection for small electrical items; however, we recommend you contact your local authority directly or visit the website to find out - contact details can be found on our recycling bank locator.

Can unwanted and used car tyres be recycled?

Yes, tyres can be recycled! Old tyres are commonly processed by being shredded into small pieces. Once shredded this material can be used in road construction, or as filling material for playgrounds and pavements. Additionally, they can be used as a sustainable fuel source in industrial boilers.

Tackling cardboard waste

Cardboard waste in the UK has increased over recent years. With the rise in trend for online shopping and with changes to packaging demands, the need for cardboard packaging has escalated.

Unfortunately, this has resulted in a significant growth in cardboard waste being generated by both households and businesses. If left unaddressed, this can have negative effects on the environment, contributing to deforestation, pollution and climate change.

What can we do with old carpets and rugs?

• You can re-use your CDs to make funky drinks coasters
• Why not buy a clock kit and create a stylish CD clock!
• Sell your CDs, DVDs and games on Music Magpie and make some cash!

Advice:

Re-use your old CDs and DVDs by taking them to a charity shop. If they are unable to take them, you may want to consider selling them on ebay or give them away through sites like Freecycle

Recycling real Christmas trees

Real Christmas trees can be recycled from home. Alternatively, you can use collection or drop off points organised by your local council. It is worth checking your local council's website or social media pages at the end of December or early January to find out what recycling options are available.

Can you recycle coffee pods and capsules? How to dispose of them responsibly and sustainably…

• Includes: bricks, asphalt, glass, metals, plastics, soil and wood
• Most of this waste is created by the construction industry
• Architectural salvage yards take some items for resale and old bricks, and timber can often be re-used

Advice: 

Contact The Association for Environmentally Conscious Building for further information.

• or your nearest oil bank phone 0800 66 33 66 or visit the Oil Bank Campaign website
• According to the Environment Agency (EA), oil accounts for 25% of all pollution incidents
• Do not pour oil into drains as most drains link to watercourses which become polluted

Can festive decorations be recycled?

During any festive season, whether it's Christmas or Diwali, taking good care of your decorations is key to ensuring they can be used year after year.

Waste not, want not: How to reduce food waste in your home

Food waste in the UK is a growing problem, with a large majority being produced by us in our homes. 

We often buy more food than we need, which means a lot of it goes to waste. To help combat this waste issue we explain what food waste is, why it’s a problem and how you can help to prevent it. We also explain how your local council might handle food waste once it has been collected at kerbside.

hat can we do with unwanted or old furniture?

When it's time to part ways with your furniture, consider donating it to your local charity shops, schools, or even community groups. These organisations often welcome donations of unwanted items and can give them a new purpose.

However, before donating sofas and chairs, ensure they have the BSI Kitemark, which demonstrates they meet British Safety Standards. This mark indicates that the furniture is safe and compliant with regulations, ensuring the safety of future users. To ensure your donated furniture finds a suitable, make sure it's clean and in good condition before donating.

Suggestions for reuse and the upcycling furniture

Get creative: Make your creative ideas a reality. For example, an old wooden ladder can be transformed into a stylish bookshelf, or a vintage suitcase can be turned into a unique side table

DIY projects: Get creative with DIY furniture projects! Repurpose old furniture by sanding, painting, or staining them to give them a fresh new look. You can also add decorative elements like stencils or attach new handles

Online: Join online groups such as Freecycle or local buy/sell groups on social media to give away or find free furniture items. It's a convenient way to pass on items you no longer need or find your own find pre-loved pieces for your home

Check out our blog on essential tips for donating or upcycling old furniture, for more ideas!

Remember…

Old furniture may be very useful to someone else! By donating unwanted items where possible, you're not only decluttering but you are also helping support communities and those in need.

• Bottles and jars are usually separated by colour: brown, clear and green
• Place in the correct colour bin (Unless there is a mixed colour glass collection)
• Recycle your blue glass with your green glass
• Wash out bottles and jars, remove caps and corks before recycling (avoid wasting water, use your washing-up water)
• Light bulbs, Pyrex-type dishes, windowpanes etc. should not be put into glass banks
• For further information about glass please visit our glass recycling page

Advice:

Re-use jars for storage. Most supermarkets have glass banks; therefore, recycle alongside your weekly shop. Please visit our recycling locator to find out where you can recycle near you!

Can greetings cards be recycled?

Birthdays, moving house, engagement, Christmas, Valentines Day, passing a test. There’s lots of reasons to celebrate and pass on best wishes by sending someone a card. When they are no longer wanted, should we recycle them?

Collection points for unwanted hearing aids can be found at a variety of places like doctors surgeries, hospital audiology departments and some charities and charity shops.

The NHS will take back any unused hearing aids they originally provided, with the newer models being refurbished to then be used by other patients.

Hearing aids donated to charities are repaired, refurbished and sent overseas for re-use in developing countries. The Lions Club has information on their website about collecting unwanted or broken hearing aids. They might be worth contacting to find out more!

Did you know you can recycle your hot water bottles?

When the weather gets colder and the cost of heating our homes is becoming more expensive. We all look for alternatives to keep the chill at bay, and hot water bottles have been a popular choice over many years.

But did you know that hot water bottles have a shelf life of 3 years? As the rubber may perish, they could become unsafe to use. The manufacture date can be found on the neck of the bottle. There will be a daisy shaped symbol showing a number, this indicates the year in which the hot water bottle was made, and the number of petals specifies what month.

If you no longer want your hot water bottle or feel it isn't safe to use, they can be recycled! Rubber is easily recycled, and all you need to do is remove the brass screw that helps forms the stopper and place it in the metal recycling, then find your nearest collection for the rubber bottle. This might be included in your household recycling collections or you may have to find your nearest recycling centre. Rubber is a valuable product, which is getting more expensive to produce, but if it is recycled it can be transformed into many items. Such as, playmats, rubber flooring, plumbing fitting and tyres.

Reuse ideas for unwanted hot water bottles 

You could also reuse the hot water bottle and turn it into something else you might need, here are a few examples:

• Cut your hot water bottle into squares and use them as jam jar openers or as non-slip mats for your plant pots
• Cut up you hot water bottle into smaller strips and place them at the bottom of your plants pots for drainage
• Fill your hot water bottle with material such as re-used foam chips and create a kneeler for your gardening

PLEASE DO NOT burn your unwanted hot water bottles in your fire. When burned they can produce very harmful gasses.

• It is estimated that ink cartridges take approximately 450 years to decompose
• Ink cartridges can be refilled and laser cartridges remanufactured
• There are many organisations where you can donate used ink cartridges including:
  • The Recycling Factory
  • Recycle 4 Charity

You can use companies like Cartridge World to refill your cartridges instead of throwing them away.

If you are a school, collecting empty ink cartridges can raise invaluable funds for projects, resources or charities! Recycle Ink will help you get started!

• Oxfam shops can be contact directly with any enquires about donations of your unwanted jewellery. Their contact details can be found on their website oxfam.org.uk or call their Shop Support Team on 0300 2001 333
• Alternatively, you could donate your jewellery to your local charity

Advice:

For more information please check out www.oxfam.org.uk

• Keys can be recycled with mixed / scrap metal at many household waste recycling centres
• Make sure that you take off any tags (and addresses!)
• Visit the recycling locator to find your nearest recycling site

Advice:

Do not forget your metal allen keys, these can also be recycled with mixed metals too.

Can LED fairy lights be recycled?

Some of us choose to decorate our homes during festive celebrations such as Christmas, Diwali, birthdays, weddings, etc with LED fairy lights. And some of us like to use them all year round to create an ambient glow. But can they be recycled?

LED fairy lights are classed as small electrical items and can sometimes be recycled at kerbside or at specific collection points. Many local authorities will collect small electrical items at kerbside along with other household recyclable waste. However, local authorities may require these items to be bagged and kept separate from the rest of your recycling. It is best to check by visiting your local authority website or by referring to their recycling flyer.

You can also recycle your lights at any household waste recycling centre that will accept waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Enter your postcode into our recycling bank locator and select small electronics from the drop-down menu to find your nearest collection point.

If your set of lights are no longer working and they use batteries, need charging, have a plug or the crossed out wheeled bin symbol on them, they can be recycled

• Light bulbs should NOT be put into glass banks
• Energy efficient light bulbs can be recycled at your local recycling centre. Incandescent 'older style' light bulbs can't be recycled and should be disposed of in your normal household waste
• Check out our light bulb recycling section for details on how, why and where to recycle your energy saving light bulbs

Advice:

If a low-energy bulb gets smashed, the room should be vacated for at least 15 minutes. Use rubber gloves to place the broken bulb into a sealed plastic bag - and take it to the nearest appropriate recycling centre for disposal.

The safe disposal of medical waste

• Usually separated into: aluminium (drinks cans, foil trays, wrapping foil, caps and closures on glass bottles) - non-magnetic, and steel (food tins) - magnetic (aerosols can be made from either)
• You can use a magnet to identify steel from aluminium.
• Wash and squash cans before recycling. Only recycle clean aluminium foil. Never pierce or crush aerosols even when empty
• Only put empty aerosols in recycling schemes i.e. when you cannot get any more out by pressing the button
• Crisp wrappers (metallised plastic film) cannot be recycled. Metallised plastic springs back when scrunched
• Find your nearest recycling sites and kerbside information for metals on the recycle-more recycling locator

Advice:

Contact Alupro for details of their Every Can Counts scheme and BAMA for any aerosol queries

• Chemicals are used every day in the home and garden
• Community groups such as Community Repaint can use old or leftover paints. Visit the recycling locator to find your nearest paint recycling point
• Plastic bottles which have contained household cleaners can also be recycled (check instructions on the bottle)

Advice:

Use environmentally friendly chemicals. Most DIY stores stock them. Buy in bulk to reduce packaging

• Paper collection is usually separated into: newspapers, magazines, cardboard, and phone directories

• Unless specified, do not recycle catalogues, directories or envelopes which are gummed or glued together

• Juice and milk cartons cannot be recycled with ordinary paper as they are made up of several materials, to see where to recycle these please see the recycling locator choosing the option of 'cartons'
• Some facilities provide mixed paper and card collection

Reshaping the future: Plastic waste and recycling

Plastic is now integrated into our daily lives and is among one of the most popular materials used. However, plastic waste poses a substantial threat to our health and the environment due to its lasting presence in landfills and oceans.

• You can recycle your unwanted shoes at most recycling centres. Please visit the recycling locator for your nearest place to recycle them
• You could donate them to a local charity shop
• Refashioning or repairing old shoes can be far cheaper than buying new ones
• You could host a Swishing Party whereby you could invite friends and family to come along and swap clothes and shoes. You could end up with a whole new wardrobe without having to spend any money

Recycling stamps

What is the environmental impact of clothing?

The textile industry contributes around 10% of global greenhouse emissions and 20% of global waste water production. This is more than shipping and aviation combined. With proper collection and sortation, many items of clothing can be reused to give them a new lease of life.

The UK has the highest consumption of new clothing in Europe, with the average person buying 26.7kg of new clothes each year. The average lifetime for a piece of clothing is estimated to be 2.2 years leading to around 300,000 tonnes of used clothes either being burned or sent to landfills on an annual basis.

• Unwanted tools and equipment can be donated to Workaid who refurbish the items and send them to vocational training projects in developing countries. They accept any tools from hand tools to typewriters to welding machines!
• Tools For Self Reliance also refurbish quality second-hand tools to a first class standard. Click on the link to find out which tools they collect
• Tools With A Mission also collects tools for developing countries

Advice:

If your electric tools are beyond repair, check if your local tip recycles Waste Electrical Equipment or visit our recycling locator.

• Over 1 million cars are scrapped in the UK each year
• On average 75% of a vehicle is currently recyclable
• Scrap merchants are able to recycle old vehicles
• Fly tipping is an offence and abandoned vehicle owners can be traced through the DVLA!
• Visit www.gov.uk/guidance/elv for details of the End-of-Life Vehicles legislation
• Companies such as http://www.metrosalvage.co.uk offer details on how to depollute cars

Advice:

Abandoned vehicles can be reported to your local council, who can also provide advice on disposal.

• You can re-use your VHS cassette tapes at Freecycle
• Donate them to your nearest charity shop(s), we advise you check with the shop first

Recycling centres will rarely accept cassettes and VHS tapes, unfortunately sending them to landfill.

All Brita Water Filters can be returned to the manufacturer for recycling. Please visit: www.brita.net to find out more

Advice:

If you use a different brand, contact the company direct to find out where to recycle the water filters.

• The disposal of wood in landfill sites causes problems as it is often bulky and decomposes slowly
• Scrap wood is collected at Household Waste Recycling Centres for recycling
• Contact your local council to find out whether they recycle Christmas trees

Advice:

Many retailers now stock products made out of recycled wood or renewable wood sources. Visit the FSC website for further information

Can wrapping paper be recycled?

Wrapping paper that doesn’t contain foil or plastic is generally accepted by most councils as part of household kerbside recycling collections. An easy way to determine if wrapping paper is suitable for recycling is to perform the 'scrunch test.' If you can scrunch it and it stays scrunched, it can be recycled. However, if it returns to its original shape, it cannot be recycled.