Recycling A-Z
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Aerosols
Gases that replace CFC’s in aerosols are almost as damaging to the atmosphere. Try to use refillable pump action sprays instead.
However, if you do have aerosols for deodorant, hairspray or furniture polish etc you can now put these into your recycling bin.
Please make sure that they are empty, that the plastic lids have been removed and that they are not pierced or squashed.
We cannot take aerosols with orange hazard symbols such as those containing insecticides, oven cleaner, paint or automotive spray. These need to go in your refuse bin.
Aluminium (foil/cans)
The ore in aluminium (bauxite) is dug from tropical rainforests using mechanical diggers, so it’s important to recycle.
- Foil:charity shops may collect aluminium foil to raise money, or place it in your nearest can bank (not in your kerbside bin).
- Cans: Place in your black recycling bin. Please rinse them out first.
Appliances (e.g. toasters, kettles, washing machines)
Buy a good quality appliance and maintain it well. Some charity shops take unwanted electrical equipment – check first. Or, give it away or sell it.
Asbestos
Asbestos can be dangerous and must be handled with great care. Asbestos can only be taken to Portsmouth or Basingstoke tips (Household Waste Recycling Centres) for disposal – please ring in advance.
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Baby/children's clothes and equipment
Pass on baby items or contact local clinics, playgroups or the local midwife. Alternatively you can put clothing in the textile banks around the district or at local tips (Household Waste Recycling Centres). Remember your obligation to check equipment is in good working order if you intend to sell it.
Batteries
All batteries are hazardous. Handle carefully, and dispose of thoughtfully.
- Car Batteries: When buying a new battery ask the retailer to recycle the old one or they can be taken to your local tip (HWRC).
- Household Batteries: Buy rechargeables – they’re expensive, but will quickly pay for themselves. Old non-rechargeable batteries can be recycled at any tip (Household Waste Recycling Centre).
The average home uses 21 batteries annually. Hardly any of these are recycled. Although modern batteries are much safer than their old mercury and lead-containing predecessors, they still contain substances which are environmentally harmful.
Bicycles
Repair and sell, or try part-exchange at bike shops for a newer bike. Donate to charity, or take to your local tip (Household Waste Recycling Centre) - the metals are recyclable.
Bills
Shred and compost your household bills to recycle them and protect your identity and security. Paper improves the compost.
Books
Give them away, or sell at jumble or boot fairs. Buy used books. Look out for book banks around the district. If beyond reading/repair, remove hard covers and place the pages in your recycling bin, or take to the paper banks at your local tip (Household Waste Recycling Centre). Or shred and compost at home.
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Cans
Rinse all cans and place in your black recycling bin. Or take them to a recycling point.
Cds and Cd cases
Take them to your local charity shop for them to sell, or try www.reuze.co.uk, or www.plasticwaste.co.uk
Cardboard
Flatten and place in the black bin for recycling, or take to your local tip (Household Waste Recycling Centre). Try not to buy unnecessary packaging – politely refuse it.
Carrier bags
Keep reuseable cotton bags or used carriers in the car, or your handbag, instead of taking more from the shop. Use old carriers as bin liners or take them back to the supermarket – many have carrier bag recycling banks.
Clothing
Donate unwanted clothing to charity, or sell it. If completely worn out, please place in one of the textiles banks around the district or at your local tip (Household Waste Recycling Centre). Bag up clothes and tie pairs of shoes together. Jumble sales rely on old clothing donations, and theatre companies can use vintage clothing.
Compost
About 33% of refuse can be composted. Compost vegetable waste, garden waste and household bills.
You can buy a compost bin from only £14 through recycle for Hampshire via www.hants.getcomposting.com or by telephoning 08445714444 and quoting reference HANTS01L
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Egg boxes
Compost cardboard egg cartons, or place them in your black recycling bin. Plastic/polystyrene cartons are made using CFC-type gases, and can’t be recycled, so avoid buying them if possible.
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Fridges and freezers
If not disposed of properly, the CFCs leak out and destroy the ozone layer further. EHDC offers a bulky waste collection service, although there may be a charge. You can also take them to your local tip (Household Waste Recycling Centre).
Furniture
Sell, give to friends or donate to charity. You can take furniture to your local tip (Household Waste Recycling Centre). The Furniture Helpline collect unwanted furniture which they repair then give to families in need.
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Glass bottles/ jars
Put these in your kerbside collection box or take them to the bottle banks. Remove lids and rinse out first.
Return milk bottles to your milkman - they are re-used over 20 times.
- Other glass (mirrors, light bulbs, windows, Pyrex) melt at much higher temperatures than normal glass and must not be placed in the bank for recycling. One piece of Pyrex in the glass bank could mean the whole bank’s contents must be landfilled.
- Low energy light bulbs and flourescent tubes should be taken to your local tip (Household Waste Recycling Centre) for recycling or to a retailer who operates a take-back scheme.
In the unlikely event you should need to dispose of a broken CFL the following advice is issued by the Health Protection Agency:
• Ventilate the room
• Wipe the area with a damp cloth, place that in the plastic bag and seal it
• Sticky tape can be used to pick up small residual pieces or powder from soft furnishings and then placed in a sealed plastic bag. The plastic bag doesn't need to be air tight, but should be reasonably sturdy.
• Place it in another, similar bag and seal that one as well (this minimises cuts from broken glass).
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Junk mail
Write to the Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 29 LON20771, London W1E 0ZT asking for your name to be deleted from mailing lists. The MPS runs the same service for unwanted sales calls at home, or unwanted faxes at work. Royal Mail can remove your details from their mailing lists too.
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Mobility aids
Walking frames, crutches, etc., may be appreciated by nursing homes, hospitals or charity shops – have a look in the phone book.
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Oils
- Engine Oil: Can be recycled at your local tip (Household Waste Recycling Centre) or taken to a garage. It is illegal to put used engine oil down the drain or burn it, which can incur a £20,000 fine or imprisonment. Ring 0800 6633666 for disposal advice.
- Cooking Oil: Don’t mix this with engine oil as it is a contaminant - it can’t then be recycled. To compost cooking oil at home: mix it with plenty of paper and cardboard.
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Packaging
Refuse excessive packaging – choose a different product or a different shop. Buy loose fruit and vegetables, and use your own bags.
Papers and magazines
Pass them on or donate old magazines to hospitals, doctors, dentists, senior citizens' homes or playgroups.
All paper and card can be put into your black recycling bin, or taken to a paper or card bank at your local tip (Household Waste Recycling Centre). See separate entry for telephone directories.
You can also use old papers to improve your compost – simply shred, add, and mix well.
Plastics
Did you know it only takes 25 two-litre drink bottles to make an adult’s fleece jacket?
All plastic bottles can be placed in your black recycling bin. Please take lids off, then wash and squash bottles to save space. Please put the lids in your refuse bin - they'll be used for incineration with energy recovery to power local homes.
To recycle other plastic products, try www.plasticwaste.co.uk/ourservices.htm.
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Real Nappies
Washing real nappies at home can save around £600 per baby!
www.bebeco.co.uk/ have a local representative. Or you can buy second hand: www.usednappies.co.uk, or the Real Nappy Exchange.
You can have your nappies cleaned by local laundry service Nifty Nappies, call 01420 521248.
Shoes
Saleable items can be taken to charity shops, or tie together in pairs and place in any textile bin or those located outside some shoe shops and cobblers.
Spectacles
Boots Opticians Ltd collect unwanted spectacles to send to developing countries.
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Telephone directories
Put in your black bin for recycling, or shred and compost, or shred and use for animal bedding. Yellow Pages can also be reycled via your black bin.
Textiles
Towels, clothes, blankets, cushions, bedding, curtains, etc., can be donated to charity shops, or put in a textiles bank for recycling even when beyond repair. They are made into cleaning cloths, new mattresses, car dashboard stuffing, etc.
The RSPCA always need old towels and blankets for animals. For further information please see www.stubbingtonark.org.uk.
Tools
Sell at car boot sales, give away to friends or family, or donate to charity. "Tools for Self-Reliance", a charity based in Southampton, collects tools for people in developing countries. See www.tfsr.org
Toys
Give away or sell unwanted toys. Ensure any electrical items are in safe working order first. Playgroups, doctors’ surgeries, dentists etc. may be grateful for donations.
Tyres
Buy reconditioned instead of new, or retread existing tyres. Your local tip will not accept tyres, you will need to contact a private contractor who will recycle them. You can find one here: www.wastedirectory.org.uk
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Wool
Take left over wool to local charity shops. Wool can be composted at home if it is beyond use – the natural fibres improve the compost.