Sell or donate locally to a charity shop, or online using Freegle.
Small electrical items (up to a maximum size of 58cm wide x 21cm deep) can be taken to a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) drop off point.
Use reusable cloths to clean worktops and mop up spills instead of paper towels. Keep a mop, some old towels/t-shirts handy – they can be used to clean almost anything.
Sheets of kitchen roll cannot be recycled but the cardboard inner tube of kitchen rolls can be placed in your green recycling bin.
Cannot be recycled in your recycling bins because they are made of thin fibres that make recycling extremely difficult. They are also very often contaminated spills or messes, the food waste, grease or dirt which also makes them non-recyclable. Place in your black/grey waste bin.
If your scissors or knives aren’t cutting very well, they can easily be sharpened to make them last longer. Contact your local Repair café to find out if they are able to offer scissor or knife sharpening.
If your scissors or knives are damaged beyond repair, they can be safely recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Wrap the blade carefully in cardboard or fabric, such as a tea towel, to transport safely to the HWRC and hand to site staff. They will place the scissors or knife in the ferrous metal bin for recycling.
Fluorescent tubes and energy saving light bulbs should be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.
You can also take your energy saving light bulbs to shops and stores listed on Recycle Now.
These bulbs contain small amounts of mercury and hazardous materials so should not be put in your wheelie bin.
Traditional light bulbs can be placed in your black/grey waste bin at home, but please wrap them first to keep waste collection crews safe from injury.
Consider laying new insulation on top of your old insulation, for additional protection.
Loft insulation can be disposed of at the Household Waste Recycling Centre. Please double-bag loft insulation when transporting it, to prevent fibres floating into the air.
Try reading magazines online instead of printed copies.
You could use these for collages, or donate locally for use on art projects. Donate magazines to schools, waiting rooms, libraries or community centres.
Catalogues and magazines can be put in your green recycling bin.
Buy only the make up products you need or buy products with minimal packaging.
Try buying make up that you can refill.
Make up items can be recycled at retailers, such as Boots or Superdrug, check terms and conditions online before returning to retailers.
Please place in your black/grey waste bin.
This will be sent to the Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) to produce electricity, which is fed back to the national grid and is still the best option, environmentally, for non-recyclable waste.
If they are in good conditions and not stained, you could sell or donate locally to a charity shop or online using Freegle.
Many shops also offer take back schemes for mattresses when you buy a new one, some have partnered with charities to reuse mattresses.
Mattresses cannot be recycled. You can dispose of them at the Household Waste Recycling Centre or collected via our bulky waste collection service (fees payable)
There is a special collection for clinical waste. Contact us on 01256 844844 for more information.
Please do not dispose of clinical waste in your black/grey waste bin.
The mercury in these thermometers is a hazardous substance and should never be placed in your household waste bin or in your recycling. You can dispose of mercury thermometers at the Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Sell or donate locally to a charity shop or online using Freegle.
You can take mirrors to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Keep your phone for as long as you can before upgrading and use a protective case and screen protector to prevent damage.
Donate old phones down to family members or children or donate to charities, such as St Michael's Hospice.
Sell online using www.webuyanyphone.com or www.compareandrecycle.com
When you buy a new mobile phone in a shop, ask how you can recycle your old one.
Once the device has come to the end of its lift, they can be recycled at one of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) drop off points.
Do not pour engine oil down drains. You can recycle it at the Household Waste Recycling Centre in a sealed container.
A maximum of 10 litres can be deposited per household per six months. If you have more than the accepted amount, please contact a private disposal company.
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