A to Z household guide - reduce, reuse and recycle

On this page:

What to do with your waste

This A to Z guide on what to do with your waste will provide you with the information you need to help preserve the environment and to reduce, reuse and recycle items, which would otherwise go to waste.

How to use the A to Z directory:

  • Every item is listed in alphabetical order; so for clothes - look under C.
  • Where private companies have been listed this does not mean an endorsement from Bristol City Council.
  • Bristol City Council does not take any responsibility for the content of external sites.

For further information on recycling items that do not appear on this list contact our Customer Services Centre

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A

Aerosols

Reduce

  • Use pump sprays instead of aerosol cans.

Recycle

Aluminium

Reuse

  • Try to pass aluminium pans on to a charity.

Recycle

Aluminium cans

Everyday 80 million food and drinks cans end up in landfill!

Recycle

Aluminium foil

Reuse

  • It is possible to clean, flatten and put foil back in the drawer for next time.
  • Containers can be used as seed trays.
  • Aluminium foil is also great for art projects.

Recycle

  • Aluminium foil can go in your green box  - please keep it separate from aluminium cans.

Antifreeze

Reuse

  • Give to your neighbour or a local mechanic if you have any left over that you will not use yourself.

Recycle

Architectural salvage

Recycle

You can take salvage to:

Olliff's
St Werburghs (by appointment only)
Tel: 0800 7317883
Olliff's website

Rose Green Tiles and Reclamation
206a Rose Green Road
Fishponds
Bristol
BS5 7UP
Tel: 0117 952 0109
Rose Green Reclamation website

Variety of old flooring, oak beams, cast iron guttering, down pipes, radiators, cast iron baths, variety of roofing slate and tiles, flagstones, old imperial bricks, stained glass, doors (Victorian and Edwardian), garden ornaments, troughs and more. Will collect large quantities – please contact to check.

Bristol Stripping and Reclamation
3 Park Road
Southville
Bristol
BS3 1PU
Tel: 0117 9532111

Take Victorian and Edwardian doors 1930 and older only, floorboards, variety of old timber and period fireplaces. Items can be collected – please contact to check.

Robert Mills Ltd
Architectural Antiques
Narrowways Road
Eastville
BS2 9XB
Tel 955 6542
Robert Mills Ltd Website

Asbestos

Asbestos is not suitable for recycling - it can be taken to either of Bristol’s Household Waste Recycling Centres for safe disposal.

Ash – wood

Recycle

  • Ash can be sprinkled lightly into a compost heap or around your garden.

Ash – coal or clinker

Reuse

  • Coal ash or clinker can be used for garden paths, but don't put it on plants or soil. Coal ash is bad for the garden due to the levels of tar.

Attic clearance

Reuse

  • Consider whether you could donate, sell or swap the item. There is a good chance that there is someone not too far away who will be after exactly the thing you are trying to throw away!
  • There are lots of publications and resources which can help you find takers for your unwanted items - some allow you to sell your items or place them up for auction. Others are designed for advertising items that you want to give away. Listed below are some of these resources - but please let us know if you find any others!

Trade-it
Freecycle
Ebay
Bristol Gumtree
Sofa Project

Autumn leaves

Do not burn leaves, as they produce highly carcinogenic smoke.

Recycle

  • Put wet leaves in a plastic bag, stab a fork in to make some holes, and a year later you’ll have leaf mould.
  • You could pick the leaves off the lawn with a mower, which will mix grass cuttings and chop the leaves up, and you’ll have a leaf mould more quickly.
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B

Baby goods

Reuse

  • Good condition clothes and equipment can go to second-hand shops and charity shops. Please note that shops may not take things like baby seats, or toys, for reasons of safety.

Recycle

Bathroom fittings and furniture

Reuse

  • See Architectural Salvage.
  • Sinks, soil pipes and even old toilets (and chimney pots) can be used for plants. A sink in the ground is useful for containing mint and other invasive plants.
  • Consider selling or donating to architectural salvage yards

Barrels (beer, wine etc)

Reuse

  • Contact the original supplier of the barrel - barrels can be easily reused.
  • Can be cut in half to make plant containers.

Recycle

Batteries – car

Car batteries are routinely recycled in the UK.

Recycle

  • They are collected at garages and scrap metal facilities.
  • Car batteries can go with your black box for recycling - please place next to your box
  • Car batteries can be recycled at Bristol's Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Batteries – household

The UK generates 20,000 – 30,000 tonnes of batteries every year but less than 1,000 tonnes are recycled.

Reduce

  • Otherwise, use rechargeable equipment or rechargeable batteries and a battery charger. You can now get CD or cassette tape walkmans, radios, torches and toothbrushes etc which use rechargeable batteries.
  • Cut down on batteries – use the sun! Buy solar powered, or wind up equipment. Otherwise, use rechargeable batteries and a battery charger.

Here are is a useful web site on solar powered equipment:

www.cat.org.uk

Recycle

  • Some manufacturers will accept spent nickel-cadmium batteries if returned to them.
  • Household batteries can go in your black box.
  • Household batteries can be recycled at Bristol's Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Batteries - Rechargeable

Recycle

Rechargeable batteries can be sent to the following companies for recycling:

VARTA
FREEPOST
154 Staines
Middlesex

Ever Ready Recycling
FREEPOST
LOL 2311
Dunstable
Bedfordshire
LU5 4YY

Panasonic UK Ltd
Panasonic House
Willoughby Road
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 8FT

Bedding and blankets

Reuse

  • Can be reused as dust sheets.
  • You can also donate bedding to the following organisations:

Cyrenians Day Centre
1 New Street
St Jude's
Tel: 0117 909 6311

Salvation Army
Ashley Road
St Paul's
Tel: 0117 942 4607

Julian Trust
Tel: 0117 924 4604 (Mon, Wed, Fri mornings)

Bristol Dogs Home - Blankets only please
Tel: 0117 977 6043

Recycle

  • Non stuffed bedding can be recycled in your black box.
  • Non stuffed bedding can be recycled at Bristol's Household Waste Recycling Centres.
  • Charity shops such as Oxfam, SCOPE, St Peter’s Hospice etc will accept clean, good quality bedding.

Beds

See Furniture.

Beverage cartons

See Cartons.

Bicycles

Reuse

The following companies will reuse your old bicycle:

Life Cycle Uk - BikeBack
Tel: 0117 929 0440
www.lifecycleuk.org
Takes workable bikes in good order, but not drop handlebars or small-wheeled bikes

Hartcliffe Youth Club
Tel: 0117 964 0888
Would prefer BMX and mountain bikes, may use other bikes for spare parts

Emmaus Bristol
Tel: 0117 954 0886
www.emmaus.org.uk/bristol
Take your unwanted bike to the Emmaus Shop

The Bristol Bike Project
Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QY
www.thebristolbikeproject.org
Provides free bicycles to underprivileged groups that would not otherwise have the opportunity to own a bicycle. People that would like a bike come to their workshop space and to work with the project overhauling their own bike which they may then take away with a quality lock and lights.

Jole Rider
Office 243, 3 Edgar Buildings, George Street, Bath, BA1 2FJ
Tel: 0870 609 2007
www.jolerider.org
Ships bikes to Africa and also in UK

Re-cycle
Unit A, Global Park, Moorside, Colchester, Essex, CO1 2TJ
Tel: 01206 86 3111
www.re-cycle.org
Re-Cycle's mission is to collect second hand bicycles and ship them to Africa

Somerset Wood Recycling
Unit 4 Mixon Estate
Oldmixon Crescent
Weston-super-Mare
Somerset
BS24 9AX
Tel: 01934 642294
Email: info@somersetwoodrecycling.co.uk
Waste wood collection service and wood shop. Has a sustainable transport policy and loans bikes to all volunteers to travel to and from work.

Bike recycling
This is a national organisation that may want to reuse your bike.
www.bikerecycling.net

Blockboard

You should not burn composite woods like blockboard because of the resins and glues, which are toxic.

Reuse

Body Shop Containers

Recycle

  • All items bought at The Body Shop can be returned for recycling.

Books

Reduce

  • Use your local library. Bristol Libraries also accept donations of books, CDs and DVDs in good condition

Reuse

  • Books in good condition can usually be sold to second hand book shops. Otherwise you could donate books to a charity shop.
  • You could also try using a site like www.readitswapit.co.uk where you can swap your old books for someone else’s.

Recycle

Bottles - Glass

Almost 200 glass jars and bottles are thrown away in Britain every second.

Reuse

  • Bottles and Jars have many uses. They can be used to contain food or small household items.

Recycle

Bottles - Plastic

Recycle

Bricks

Reuse

  • Cleaned bricks have many possible uses in the garden. Use them in barbecues, to line paths, to support water troughs etc.

Recycling

Brushes

Reduce

  • Buy good quality brushes and look after them by cleaning them properly after use.

Reuse

  • Trim the ends off old brushes and use them for cleaning jobs.

Bubble wrap

Reuse

Building materials/rubble

Reuse

  • If you are planning any building projects you will need some rubble for hardcore: store it in a corner until needed. It is also useful for landscaping foundations in the garden too.
  • Advertise it locally it may be useful to somebody! Give it away free to anyone willing to take it away.
  • Consider selling any wood, metal, or building materials to a reclamation yard or donating it to a community project.
  • Don't forget that you might find the materials useful in any work you may be carrying out. For example if you are renovating your house, bricks and stone can be used in the garden.

Recycle

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C

Cans

Recycle

Cardboard

Reuse

  • Large cardboard sheets are useful in the garden as a weed-suppressing mulch. Ideally, cover it with compost.
  • Easton Community Childrens Centre Russelltown Avenue (City Academy Site) Tel: 939 2550 . Will take various pieces (must be clean) - phone to check

Recycle

Cards

Reuse

  • Re-use as gift tags, or postcards

Recycle

Carpets

Reduce

  • Collins & Aikman Ltd South Wales. Tel: 01495 290290. Manufacture carpets from recycled fibres - take back their own carpets and also PVC-backed or bitumen-backed carpet tiles.

Reuse

  • Use in the garden to stop weeds or cover compost heaps.
  • Sofa Project may collect if in reasonable condition.
  • Take to charity shops.
  • Advertise in Trade-It or sell it at car boot sales.

Carrier Bags

Reuse

  • Reuse as bin liners.
  • Donate to charity shops or local crafts people.
  • Use the Bag for life scheme at most supermarkets who will replace your bag free of charge when it is worn out.

Recycle

Cartons

Reuse

  • Cartons can be used as plant pots – on their sides for seedlings and upright for single plants.

Recycle

Cartridges - Ink jet, toner and laser

Reuse

Printer cartridges can be refilled several times. The following places refill printer cartridges:

  • Cartridge City, 94 Queens Road, Clifton, BS8 1NF Tel: 0117 973 6411
  • Cartridge World, 53 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8AD Tel: 0117 924 8888
  • Cartridge World, 184 Wells Road, Totterdown, BS4 2AL Tel: 0117 971 9305
  • Cartridge World, 9 Regent Street, Kingswood, BS15 8JX Tel: 0117 967 6767
  • Smart Cartridge, 15 Straits Parade, BS16 2LE Tel: 0870 759 4363

Recycle

  • There are several charities that will give you freepost bags so that you can send them your cartridges. The charity then sells them to companies that reuse or recycle them. For example see the inking about Africa website

Try your favourite charity, some charities that collect cartridges are listed below:

  • ActionAid Recycling Unit 14, Kingsland Trading Estate, St Philips Road, St Philips, Bristol, BS2 0JZ 0117 304 2390
  • British Red Cross
  • Oxfam
  • Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
  • Childline 0800 091 0696 - Will take individual cartridges - proceeds to helpline@Childline - HP, Cannon, Lexmark, etc. Must be original inkjets.
  • Byte Back Computer Recycling 0117 3706456 - Recycle cartridges and mobile phones and supply discounted new cartridges.
  • Winston Wish 01242 51 5157 - Recycle phones and ink jet cartridges. Call to request freepost recycling pouches. If you have a large amount of cartridges or phones, please contact Accuten on 01279 401404, and they will arrange to collect them from you.
  • Tonerflow Ilford 0870 4435353 - Operate national collection service, take cartridges, fill and re-manufacture, sell back at low prices, also offer printer maintenance and servicing.

Cassette Tapes - Audio

Reuse

  • Avon Talking Magazines, 0117 952 5121 - Collect only in large quantities (over 50) in very good condition and not professional ones.

Christmas cards

Recycle

  • W H Smith, Boots, Marks & Spencers, and TK Maxx collect Christmas Cards after Christmas in partnership with the Woodland Trust.
  • Card can be recycled in your green box 

Christmas trees

Reuse and Recycle

Artificial trees can be reused year upon year which makes them a great resource.

However, if you want the real thing buy a tree with a root ball - you can use this tree year after year or you can plant it in your garden instead.

Clothes

Reuse

  • Reuse as rags / stuffing

Recycle

Compact Discs and DVDs

Reuse

  • Hang in the garden or allotment as bird scarers.
  • Use as reflectors in your drive.
  • Cut up and stick to a ball to make a disco ball!
  • Use as coasters for drinks.
  • Sell to record shops.
  • Donate to a charity shop for reuse. Bristol Libraries also accept donations of CDs in good condition. Unfortunately Bristol Libraries are not able to accept DVDs.

Recycle

  • Compact discs and DVDs can be recycled in the book bank at your local Recycling Centre.
  • Compact discs and DVDs can be recycled in the book bank at Bristol's Household Waste Recycling Centres.
  • Children's Scrapstore, 0117 908 5644.
  • Local company Tapes UK Ltd will take away your unwanted DVDs and CDs. For more information please visit the Tapes UK website or contact them on 0117 941 5030
  • Some firms now collect CDs and their cases for recycling.
  • Polymer Recycling accept CDs and CD ROMs for 100 percent recycling. They can provide destruction certificates for CDs containing sensitive data. Call 0151 707 3684 for more details or post to:

Polymer Recycling Ltd
Peninsula Business Park
Reeds Lane
Moreton
Wirral
CH46 1DW

  • The Beacon Press will also take CDs for recycling. Send them to:

The Beacon Press
Brambleside
Bellbrook Park
Uckfield
East Sussex
TN22 1PL

Computers

See also IT Equipment

Reuse

The following computers will take your computer and reuse them:

  • Bristol Computer Recycling, 07900 903902.
  • TJ Computers Ltd, St George, 0117 902 0033. PC monitor and repair service. Really interested in large amounts but will take individual ones. No CRT monitors are collected.
  • Recycle IT Luton, 01582 492436. A free collection service (minimum 10 pieces), pass on to schools, charities. Take Pentium 2's and above.
  • Byteback IT Solutions Ltd - Sales and Servicing, offer affordable computer services to the community, local groups and Small Business in Bristol and surrounding areas. They provide low cost refurbished computer systems, computer repairs, servicing and upgrades, new and used second user parts, custom built computer systems and designing, installing and maintenance of computer networks.  Visit www.bytebackitrepair.co.uk, email info@bytebackitrepair.co.uk or call 0117 3706 375 for more information.

Cookers

Reuse

  • Sofa Project, 9543567. Electric cookers only (must be in working order).
  • Advertise in Trade-It.
  • If it cannot be reused we offer a Bulky Waste Collection Service as a small charge. To book a collection please call 0117 922 3838.

Cooking Oil

Recycle

Cork

Reuse

  • Reuse your corks, cut up for notice boards, use on top of canes in garden - contact garden centres or allotments.
  • Children's Scrapstore, 0117 908 5644 Will take variety (off-cuts, bottle corks etc) if clean.

Crockery

Reuse

  • Use saucers for plant pots.
  • Give to charity shops.
  • Sofa Project, 0117 954 3567 - Will collect if part of a job lot, otherwise take in to the shop.
  • Cyrenians Day Centre 1 New Street, St Jude's. 0117 909 6309

Crutches

Reuse

  • Return to a physiotherapy department at hospital.

Cups

Reuse

  • Cyrenians Day Centre 1 New Street, St Jude's. Tel: 0117 9096309
  • Take to a charity shop.

Curtains

Reuse

  • There is now a network of shops buying and selling old curtains, check There is a shop in Bath.
  • Donate to a local charity shop.

Cutlery

Reuse

  • Cyrenians Day Centre 1 New Street, St Jude's. Tel: 0117 9096309.
  • Donate to a local charity shop.
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D

Detergents

Reuse

  • Use refill schemes such as Ecover, who produce vehicle and household cleaning products as well as washing powder and hand soap. These are available at:

Harvest, 224, Cheltenham Road, 0117 942 5997
Better Food Company, Proving House, Sevier Street, Bristol BS2 9QS, 0117 935 1725
Wild Oats Redland Road, Redland, 0117 973 1967
Fresh and Wild, 85 Queen's Road, Bristol, BS8 1QS, 0117 910 5930

DIY materials

Recycle

  • Advertise in Trade-It.
  • Donate to a local community group, like the Scouts.

Duvets

Reuse

  • Cyrenians Day Centre 1 New Street, St Jude's, 0117 909 6311
  • Julian Trust 0117 924 4604 (Mon, Wed, Fri AM)
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E

Egg Boxes

Reuse

  • Sometimes they can be reused by the producer.
  • Reuse as seedling trays/pots or compost cardboard ones.
  • Donate to play groups or schools.

Recycle

  • Compost cardboard egg boxes.
  • Place your cardboard inside or next to your green box 

Electrical goods

Reuse

  • Sofa Project 0117 954 3567. Collects most appliances (large), but no fires - phone to check.
  • Emmaus Bristol 0117 954 0886 Barton Manor Off Midland Road. Will collect small electrical items.
  • British Heart Foundation - 0844 248 9129. Collects unwanted electrical items that are in a good and saleable condition. Free collection on small electrical items is at the discretion of the Store Manager.

Recycle

Repair

  • BSC Electrical 77-79 Stokes Croft. Tel: 9429313. Repair small appliances i.e. kettles, toasters shavers etc.

Engine oil

Recycle

Envelopes

Reuse

  • Many charities produce envelope re-use labels. An example:

Friends of the Earth sell 100 reuse labels for £2.50.

Recycle

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F

Fabric

Reuse

  • Take to a local charity shop.
  • Spike Sculpture, Spike Island, 133 Cumberland Road, BS1 6UX, 0117 9292266. Artists/Sculptors may reuse in their art.
  • Easton Community Childrens Centre, Russelltown Avenue (City Academy Site) 0117 939 2550.
  • Childrens Scrapstore 0117 908 5644. Will collect large amounts from commercial outlets, you can also take any upholstery and dress making materials to the Childrens Scrapstore.

Feathers

Reuse

  • Reuse for stuffing.
  • Spike Sculpture, Spike Island, 133 Cumberland Road, BS1 6UX. 0117 9292266. Artists/Sculptors may reuse in their art.
  • Childrens Scrapstore 0117 908 5644.

Fireplaces

See Architectural salvage

Fluorescent tubes

Recycle

Foil (not crisp packets)

Recycle

Folders

Reuse

  • Childrens Scrapstore 0117 908 5644. Will take and collect - phone to check
  • Donate to schools.
  • Take to a local charity shop.

Food waste

Reduce

Recycle

Food containers

Reuse

  • Reuse for storage.

Fridges and freezers

Reuse

  • Sofa Project 0117 954 3567. Will collect - phone to arrange. They also de-gas broken fridges.

If your unwanted fridge or freezer cannot be reused please contact our Customer Services Centre on 0117 9222100 and arrange for a bulky waste collection. There is a small charge for this service.

Recycle

Fruit

Recycle

  • Place in your kitchen waste bin for recycling.
  • Put apple cores and fruit peelings in a compost heap or wormery

Furniture

Reuse

  • Emmaus Bristol Tel 954 0886 Barton Manor Off Midland Road St Philips. Will collect furniture and small electrical items.
  • Kingswood Furniture, Kingsgate House, Church Road BS15 4AU, 0117 961 6226.
  • Sofa Project 0117 954 3567. Will collect if in good condition, sofas and armchairs must conform to fire regulations, i.e. post 1990.
  • Sue Ryder 0117 924 4910. Will collect most furniture but must conform to fire regulations, i.e. post 1990. May collect large items - phone to check.

If your unwanted furniture cannot be reused please contact our Customer Services Centre on 0117 922 3838 and arrange for a bulky waste collection. There is a small charge for this service.

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G

Garden seeds

Garden waste

Reuse

  • Clippings can be sawn up for firewood or stacked as wildlife habitat areas.
  • Save useful sticks for plants to climb up, especially peas and beans.

Recycle

Gas cookers

Reuse

  • Advertise in Trade-It or phone second-hand shops

Gas cylinders

Do not place gas cylinders in your dustbin because they may explode if they are crushed.
Gas cylinders are not waste.

Reuse

  • Gas cylinders should be returned to the retailer or supplier so that they can be reused. To find your nearest collection point call the Cylinder Retrieval Scheme on 0845 050 0056.
  • Calor Gift of the Gas Campaign - For every unwanted Calor gas cylinder returned to your local participating Calor Gas Direct Outlet, Calor will donate £5 to Childline. For details of your nearest participating Calor Gas Direct Outlet please call 0800 662 663.

Do not place gas cylinders in your dustbin because they may explode if they are crushed.

Glass

Reuse

  • Flat glass can be cut down to make smaller panes, or made into cloches or cold frames for the garden.
  • Advertise in trade it or freecycle.

Recycle

Glass bottles and jars

Recycle

Glasses/spectacles

Reuse

  • Unwanted glasses can be taken to Boots Opticians who send them to communities in developing countries via the Sightsavers Project.
  • Other opticians may run similar schemes. They can also be donated to the World in Sight campaign for older people by dropping them into branches of Dolland & Aitchison or Help the Aged charity shops.

Recycle

  • Glasses and spectacles can be recycled in your black box.

Greaseproof Paper

Recycle

  • Greaseproof paper is compostable, but does take quite a time to break down, so rip it up and scrunch it first.

Greeting Cards

See cards.

Growbags

Reuse

  • Add to your compost heap or just sprinkle on top of you soil.
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H

Hair

Recycle

  • If it has not been dyed, compost it.

Hats

Reuse

  • Put them in children's dressing up boxes.

Recycle

Hazardous waste

Hazardous waste includes:

  • Pesticides
  • Preservatives
  • Poisons
  • Battery acid
  • Toxic paint
  • Paint stripper
  • Household cleaners
  • Pressurised gas cylinders
  • Weed killers
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Asbestos

See our hazardous waste page for full details.

Hearing aids

Reuse

  • The Lions Clubs International Hearing Aid Bank Program (HARP) aims to address the hearing needs of children and others around the world and to establish an international hearing aid recycling program to promote the collection, refurbishing and distribution of donated hearing aids. They collect old, used and unused hearing aids (regardless of size, condition or age).

Send these aids to:

HELP THE CHILDREN HEAR
PO Box 98
Caldwell, NJ, 07006

For more information visit The Lions Clubs website

Household equipment and items (see also Furniture)

Reuse

Many organisations and charities welcome donations of household equipment and items. Items can be sold to second-hand shops and many companies or auctioneers will undertake house clearances. For a full list of companies consult the local telephone directory. If the item is beyond reuse please contact our Customer Services Centre on 0117 922 3838 to arrange disposal or visit our Bulky Waste Collection Service page.

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I

Ink Jet Cartridges

See also Cartridges

Reuse

  • Printer cartridges can be refilled several times. The following places refill printer cartridges:

Cartridge City
94 Queens Road,
Clifton,
BS8 1NF
Tel: 0117 973 6411

Cartridge World
53 Gloucester Road,
Bishopston,
BS7 8AD
Tel: 0117 924 8888

Cartridge World
184 Wells Road,
Totterdown,
BS4 2AL
Tel: 0117 971 9305

Cartridge World
9 Regent Street,
Kingswood,
BS15 8JX
Tel: 0117 967 6767

Smart Cartridge
15 Straits Parade,
BS16 2LE
Tel: 0117 965 8657

Recycle

  • There are several charities that will give you freepost bags so that you can send them your cartridges. The charity then sells them to companies that reuse or recycle them. For example see the inking about Africa website.

Try your favourite charity, some charities that collect cartridges are listed below:

Visit Action Aid's website

Visit British Red Cross' website

Visit Oxfam's website

Visit Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' website

Insulation - loft

The most eco-friendly materials for loft insulation are those derived from renewable natural resources (animal or vegetable). These include rolls of sheep’s wool called Thermafleece, Natilin, which is made out of flax fibres and Warmcel made from recycled newspaper.

Paper recycling firm Excel Industries specialises in making loft insulation from 100% waste paper. It provides high performance insulation - thickness for thickness it gives better protection against heat loss because it is based on paper which is a natural insulating material. It can also be disposed of safely without creating toxic waste.

Excel Industries Limited
Maerdy Industrial Estate,
Rhymney,
Gwent
NP22 5PY
Tel: 01685 845 200
Fax: 01685 844 106
Email: sales@excelfibre.com
Visit Excel's website

Recycled newspaper DIY loft insulation can also be bought from the Natural Collection.

For more information visit Natural Collection's website

IT Equipment

See also Computers

Recycle
Consider carefully before replacing an old computer. Is it really necessary, or can you consider upgrading? If you really do need to dispose of an old computer there are many organisations in Bristol that recycle them. Various companies offer collections of IT equipment for a small fee. Choose if you want your old computer to be recycled in the UK or to be refurbished for reuse in Africa!

Bristol Computer Recycling
Tel: 07900 903902

Computer Aid International
Redland
Tel: 0117 924 8549
Visit Computer Aid's website

Computers for Life

The Byte Back Computer Recycling Project
Knowle.
Tel: 0117 903 9782 / 07919 595 612

TJ Computers Ltd
St George
Tel: 0117 902 0033

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J

Jars

Reuse

  • Jars are ideal for storing nuts and bolts, for mixing paint or cleaning paint brushes, as mini-cloches over seedling or for keeping slugs off young plants.
  • As jars are airtight they are perfect for storing dried foods, herbs and seeds in the kitchen. They are also useful for bottling home made jams and chutneys.
  • You can buy glass paints from most craft shops to decorate your jars.
  • If you have no use for jars give them to friends, children’s playgroups, or local farm produce stalls.

Recycle

Jam jar lids

Reuse

  • Jam jar lids can be used to raise plant pots off the ground to let water drain away.

Recycle

Jiffy Bags

Reuse

  • Save them and reuse, by buying labels that can be stuck on old envelopes making them reusable.
  • Friends of the Earth sell 100 reuse labels for £2.50.
  • Check your favourite charity they may also sell them.

Recycle

  • Compost, Jiffy bags are made from brown paper and often padded with shredded newsprint, this type are 100% compostable if they are too damaged to be reused.

Jigsaw puzzles

Reuse

  • Donate unwanted Jigsaw puzzles to schools, playgroups, residential homes, or take them to charity shops or jumble sales.

Junk Mail

Reuse

  • Reuse the envelopes that are enclosed in junk mail.

Reduce

  • You can take action and stop junk mail by signing up with the Mail Preference Service. The Mailing Preference Service is a free service, which enables you to have your name and address removed from mailing lists. You can so this online by visiting the Mail Preference Service website. Alternatively you can telephone them on 0207 291 3310.
  • Unaddressed mail can be stopped by contacting Royal Mail. Door to door is the Royal Mail’s direct marketing service that delivers unaddressed mail – such as flyers, circulars and supermarket leaflets. Registering will stop these being delivered to your door, however it does not stop mail addressed to ‘The Occupier’ as the Royal Mail are legally required to deliver these. To receive an an opt out form write to: Freepost RRBT-ZBXB-TTTS, Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Outs, Kingsmead House, Oxpens Road, Oxford, OX1 1RX.
    Or email: optout@royalmail.com
    Find out more about Door to Door Opt Outs on the Royal Mail website.

Recycle

Remember to remove any plastic wrappers before recycling.

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K

Kitchen foil

See Aluminium foil or foil.

Kitchen roll

Reduce

  • Buy recycled: always use kitchen roll made form recycled paper.

Recycle

  • Put used kitchen roll in the compost bin.

Kitchen waste

See Food waste.

Knitwear

Also see Textiles.

Reuse

  • Donate any knitwear that can be worn again to charity shops.
  • Unravel and use to make a new item.

Recycle

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L

Lamps

Reuse

  • Consider selling or giving them away using freecycle, or donating them to charity.

Light bulbs and light fittings

Recycle

Leaves

Recycle

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M

Magazines

Reuse

  • Donate magazines you have read to dentist and doctor’s surgeries, and hospitals. Residential homes and hospices will also use them.
  • They can also be used in children’s art classes so you may be able to donate them to local schools.

Recycle

Medicines

Recycle

  • Return unused medicine and medicine bottles to your chemists.

Metal

Recycle

Milk Bottles (glass and plastic)

Reuse

  • Return glass milk bottles to your milk supplier, they can be reused up to 30 times!

Recycle

Mirrors

Reuse

  • Donate to art projects or charity shops.
  • Some local artists will reuse materials in their projects. For example, Spike Sculpture, Spike Island, 133 Cumberland Road, BS1 6UX, Telephone 0117 929 2266.

Mobile phones

Recycle

  • You can recycle old mobile phones in your black box
  • You can return your unwanted mobile phone and accessories to over 1200 retail outlets throughout the UK, including supermarkets and mobile phone shops. Try O2, Orange, T-mobile, Vodafone, The Link, Carphone Warehouse. Drop them off at any store or request a Freepost envelope to send them away in.

Monitors

Recycle

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N

Nappies

Reuse

Disposable nappies cannot be recycled, and take hundreds of years to break down in landfill sites, why not try cotton washable nappies instead? You can buy your own cotton nappies and wash them yourselves. This saves approximately £600 for the first baby compared with the cost of disposables, including the cost of washing the nappies and depreciation on your washing machine. The same nappies can be used for 2 or 3 babies.

Buy your own cotton nappies or use a local laundry service. This works out about the same cost as buying disposable nappies

For further details go to:
Womens Environmental Network

Napkins

Recycle

Paper napkins will decompose so they can be used to line your brown food waste caddy - or added to your compost bin

Newspaper

Reuse

  • Newspaper can be used to line your food waste caddy and your food waste bin.
  • Newspapers can be used to line pet’s cages or to protect the floor from dirt.
  • If you can't use it yourself try donating it to local nurseries and schools for use in arts and crafts projects.
  • A thick layer of newspaper can be used in the garden as mulch, which will keep the weeds down.

Recycle

  • Add shredded or scrunched up newspaper to the compost bin.
  • Get a log maker, which turns newspapers in to briquettes to burn on the fire. These are available from the Centre of Alternative Technology, Tel: 01654 702 400
  • Newspaper can be recycled in your black box.
  • If you live in a flat, newspaper can be recycled in your Mini Recycling Centre.
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O

Oil (engine)

Recycle

Oil filters

  • Take to your local garage.

Organic waste

  • See food, and garden waste.
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P

Packaging

See plastic

Reduce

  • Join a Vegetable Box Scheme which uses items with least packaging such as fruit and veg.
  • Leigh Court Farm and Riverford deliver or you can by goods directly from farm.

Paint

Reduce

  • Try to avoid using toxic paints. Try to use natural paints where possible.

Reuse

Recycle

Paper (white, coloured, newspapers, envelopes)
See envelopes

Reduce

  • Use digital communication (emails etc) where possible.
  • Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by visiting the Mail Preference Service.

Reuse

Recycle

Peat

Our precious peat bogs are being destroyed by peat extraction. Peat bogs take thousands of years to form, and are a unique ecosystem. At the same time as we are destroying peat bogs, we are landfilling or burning materials (especially from our gardens) which we can compost to make a wonderful peat substitute.

Reuse

  • If you have any peat from bought-in plants it can be added to the compost heap or just spread in the garden.

Pesticides

Use safer and more effective biological controls in your garden and greenhouse instead of chemicals. Chemicals will kill the insects, which are more effective than anything at killing pests. There are plenty of alternatives to chemicals in the garden, many of which are now banned for use and a problem to dispose of safely.
If you have old pesticides or garden chemicals to get rid of, take them to Bristol's Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Recycle

Photocopiers

Reuse

  • If still in working order see if any local charities, community groups or schools want them.
  • Advertise on freecycle.

Plastic

Reduce

There are numerous ways to reduce the amount of plastic you throw away. Please check our reduce, reuse and recycle page for tips on how you can do this. Here are some more ideas:

  • Refuse plastic bags - most supermarkets now run 'bag for life' schemes.
  • Refill containers.
  • Purchase alternative products.
  • Avoid plastic cups - most wine shops offer glass hire services.
  • Contact manufacturers and retailers to let them know if you think their products are overpackaged.
  • You can also contact Trading Standards if you think a product is overpackaged.

In 2006, Britain's Environment Minister recommended that overpackaged products should be unwrapped in supermarkets and the packaging left at the checkout. This practise has been common in Germany for some time.

Reuse

There are also many ways you can reuse plastic:

  • Use plastic bags to line your indoor bins (but don't use them to line your food waste bins, as plastic is not compostable!).
  • Reuse them for future shopping trips.
  • Re-use plastic packaging and bubblewrap for your own post.
  • Reuse plastic pots.

If you think that a product could be useful for childrens' art projects, contact The Childrens' Scrapstore or donate to a local charity shop.

Recycle

You can recycle your plastic in your green box

Send your polythene wrappers and bags to:

Polyprint Mailing Films Ltd
Mackintosh Road
Rackheath Ind. Est.
Rackheath
Norwich
Norfolk
NR13 6LJ
UK
01603 721807

Plastic bags

See carrier bags

Plastic bottles

Reduce

  • Recycling plastic is less environmentally friendly than, for example, glass. So if you have the choice, don't go for plastic bottles. Use glass bottles where possible - these can be recycled in your black box without any loss in the quality of the product.
  • By buying products (for example bin bags) made from recycled plastic, you can save natural resources. Check out Recycled Projects for a range of products like this.

Reuse

Plastic bottles are easily reuseable for a wide range of purposes. Here are just a few ideas:

  • Save your plastic bottles and refill them withdrinking water or juice.
  • Turn your old plastic bottles into plant waterers.
  • Use the neck of plastic bottles as a cloche to protect plants.

Recycle

You can recycle plastic bottles in your green box.

Plastic cups

Reuse

  • Wash out and reuse for parties, or put a hole in the bottom and use for growing seedlings and small plants.

Reduce

  • If you are having a party, you can usually borrow glasses for free from your local wine shop or supermarket, as long as you buy some wine from them.

Recycle

  • Used plastic cups from vending machines can be recycled into plastic rulers and pencils. So if you work in an office with a vending machine contact remarkable or save a cup for more information.

Plastic wrappers (from magazines, junk mail etc)

Recycle

  • Polyprint Mailing Films will accepts polythene envelopes for recycling. The sender must ensure that all sticky labels are removed. Please send any polythene packaging to Mackintosh Road, Rackheath Industrial Estate, Rackheath, Norwich NR13 6LJ. It is advised that you call 01603 721807 to check details first.

Plastic (hard)

Recycle

Polystyrene

There are no local recycling schemes for polystyrene at present.

Polystyrene balls (for beanbags etc)

Reduce

  • Flo Pack use recycled polystyrene for bean bags and packaging. For more information please contact them on 01280 70316.

Polythene

See plastic wrappers

Postcards

Recycle

  • Old postcards, used or unused, can be sent to Action Aid where they are sold to collectors to raise funds.

Postage Stamps

See stamps

Prams pushchairs and cots

Recycle

  • Sell or donate, advertise locally, consider putting on Freecycle.

Pyrex glass

This can not be recycled as it can explode when heated up in the glass recycling furnace. If you have broken pyrex glass, wrap it carefully and put it out with your normal rubbish collection.

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Q

Quilts

See duvets

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R

Radiators

Recycle

Radios

See electrical appliances

Rags

Reuse

Can be use for:

  • Floor/dish cloths
  • Cleaning
  • Painting
  • Car rags
  • stuffing for pillows

Rechargeable batteries

See batteries.

Records

Recycle

  • Can be donated to your local charity shop.

Refrigerators and freezers

See fridges

Rubber

British Rubber Manufacturers Association hold details on various aspects of rubber manufacture and recycling.

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S

Saucepans

Recycle

  • Donate you your local charity shop.

Sawdust

Reuse

  • Use as bedding in your pets cage.
  • Small amounts can be added to your compost heap.

Scrap metal

Recycle

  • Manor Scrap Company collects large quantities only, but can take small pieces if brought in to yard.
  • Sims Metals will collect, but only large tonnage - skip collection service available.

Sewing machines

Reuse

  • Tools for self reliance refurbish sewing machines and send them to developing countries. Just check which makes they want.

Sharps

See syringes

Shoes

Reuse

  • Donate old shoes to your local charity shop.

Recycle

Spectacles

See glasses

Stamps

Recycle

  • If you cut out used postage stamps from envelopes (with a border of about 1cm) you can give them to Oxfam for resale.
  • Otherwise, they can be recycled along with your envelopes in your black box.

Syringes

These need disposing of safely. If you require a collection from your home please see our Clinical Waste page.

If you find syringes anywhere do not touch them and contact the Sex and drugs litter hotline

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T

Tea bags

Recycle

  • Tea bags can go in your compost bin.
  • Tea bags can be recycled in your food waste bin.

Telephone directories

Recycle

Tetra-paks

See cartons

Textiles

See clothing and curtains

Recycle

  • Clothes, shoes, sheets, blankets etc can be recycled in your black box.
  • Clothes, shoes, sheets, blankets etc can be recycled at your local Recycling Centre.
  • Bristol Textile Recyclers purchase used clothing, accessories, curtains, bedding, soft toys and paired shoes from charity organisations throughout Southern England and South Wales. The garments are then recycled at our factory in Bristol before being exported to Africa to provide families with the clothing they so desperately need.

Tights

Reuse

  • Reuse as gro-bags.
  • Make in to juggling balls.
  • Use for polishing taps etc.
  • Use to store spring bulbs after they’ve been lifted from the garden. Then hang the tights in the shed - the air circulation stops the bulbs going mouldy.
  • Plait together six legs of tights/stockings, knot at both ends and use as pull toy for my dog - he loves it!
  • Use as stuffing for toys and cushions.
  • Cut into small ribbons for tying up plants in the garden.

Tiles

Reuse

  • Use broken tiles in mosaics or take to community art projects.
  • Good clean tiles in reasonable quantities can be sold or given away on freecycle, advertise locally or take to an architectural salvage yard.

Recycle

Timber

Reuse

  • Use timber for repairs, furniture-making or DIY work.

Recycle

  • Timber can be recycled at Bristol's Household Waste Recycling Centres.
  • Buried Treasure for an agreed price will collect timber at your convenience or you can deliver by arrangement, saving you money on skip hire and landfill costs. The service is offered to large and small construction companies, community groups, statutory agencies, as well as private individuals.
  • Bristol Wood Recycling Project offer a collection service to construction sites, house clearances etc. They will collect your waste wood; off-cuts, defective timber, pallets, chipboard, floorboards; basically whatever wood normally ends up in the skip.

Tin cans

See cans.

Tools

Reuse
Tools for self reliance want the following tools to send to developing countries:

  • Blacksmiths tools – especially anvils, leg vices, hand operated pillar drills.
  • Carpentry tools – especially large carpenters’ vices, metal jack planes and tri-planes, drawknives.
  • Engineering and Metalworking tools – especially HSS twist drills, metric taps & dies, hand operated bench grinders.
  • Bicycle repair tools – especially spoke spanners.
  • Shoe repair tools – especially complete sets of individual lasts.
  • Auto mechanics’ tools – especially HD screw jacks, tyre pressure gauges, foot-pumps.
  • Electrical repair tools – especially multi-meters, desoldering equipment.
  • Arc Welders (240V).
  • Industrial quality power tools – especially drills and bench grinders.

Recycle

Toothbrushes

Reuse

  • Reuse as a cleaning brush for bikes, shoes etc

Toys

Reuse

  • Give to doctors' surgeries, playgroups, and local children's hospitals.
  • Contact your local Toy Library they may have a use for your old toys.
  • Give toys to a local church, playgroup or hospital – check what is suitable for their needs first
  • Friends, family or neighbours with younger children may appreciate them too
  • You could also try selling your toys - advertise in local papers or on community noticeboards.

Tyres

Reduce

  • Try to buy reconditioned tyres where available and carry out regular maintenance checks, such as tyre pressure, to extend the tyres’ life.

Reuse

  • Can be used to create wormeries, compost bins, flower or plant containers (fill with soil very good for potatoes).
  • Can be used for childrens swings and play equipment.
  • Use as boat fenders.

Recycle

  • Take to car dealer where bought or local garage, most garages will take unwanted tyres for recycling or safe disposal.
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U

UPVC

Recycle

  • Very difficult to recycle - reclamation firms are only interested in pre-consumer waste via manufacturing companies. Try second hand furniture shops or advertise in Trade-It as builders use both to obtain odd doors and windows
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V

Vegetables

Recycle

  • Put vegetable peelings in a compost bin or wormery.
  • Vegetables can be recycled in your food waste bin.

Vending cups

See plastic cups.

Video cassettes

Recycle

Local company Tapes UK Ltd will take away your unwanted tapes (and DVDs and CDs)

They currently charge 30p per kilo (excluding VAT)

For more information please visit the Tapes UK website or contact them on 0117 9415 030

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W

Walking sticks

Recycle

  • Take to old people's homes or charity shops

Washing machines

Reuse

  • The Sofa Project will take unwanted working washing machines.

If your washing machine cannot be reused please contact our Customer Services Centre on 0117 922 3838 to arrange for a bulky waste collection.

Water

Reduce

Water is being constantly recycled all the time. Do your bit to conserve water:

  • Have a shower rather than a bath
  • Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
  • Don’t wash up under running water
  • Install taps which act like showers, instead of delivering a solid stream
  • Install dual flush toilets
  • Put a brick in your toilet cistern so that it uses up less water
  • Water your garden at night so the water doesn’t evaporate but soaks in
  • Get water butts and save rainwater (water companies usually offer cut-price water butts, and also promote composting) See water butts.
  • Fit devices to down pipes and gutters to capture water – better for plants then chlorinated tap water

Recycle

  • You can use your sink and bath water to use in the garden.

Water butts

Bristol Water sell water butts at reasonable prices. To save on delivery charges you can buy one at Blagdon Lake Visitor Centre on Sunday afternoons in the summer.

Check other shops and garden centres. For example, Wilkinsons sell them.

Wellies

Reuse

  • Cut down wellies to use as slip-ons.
  • Plant things in them

Recycle

  • Give them to your local charity shop.

Wood

See Timber.

Wool

Reycle

  • If it is a moth eater or too old to reuse put it in your compost bin

Wormeries

A wormery is a container that you can keep inside or outside. It contains special worms that eat your left over food waste. The worms produce a rich compost and liquid fertiliser.

You can more your own wormey for more information visit Ollie Recycles.

Alternatively you can buy a wormery from Recycle Now and Wiggly Wigglers.

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Y

Yellow Pages


Reuse

  • Great for raising the height of your computer monitor!

Recycle

  • Yellow pages can be recycled in your black box.

Yoghurt pots

Some manufacturers have made their pots as thin as possible to minimise the plastic used, and strengthened them with an outer wrapping of cardboard, which can be removed for composting or recycling.

A few manufacturers have taken the opposite approach and have put their yoghurt in sturdy reusable pots. However, there are only so many you can use!

Reuse

  • As seed pots
  • Paint pots
  • For children’s play
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Z

Zimmer frames

Reuse

  • Donate to Social Services, old people's homes, hospitals or health centres.

Contact information

Recycling Services - Customer Services Centre
Freepost BS4341, Council House PO Box 595 Bristol, BS99 2BR
Opening Hours

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm.
Closed 2.30pm to 4pm on Wednesdays for staff training.

Date for review:  21/06/2013 | Short link: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/5067
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