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So much can be recycled these days that it can be hard to keep track of what we can and what we can’t recycle – and when we can, how we can go about it. Our handy A-Z guide should take the mystery away and enable you to be like CSH Environmental and be a star recycler. For more information about recycling or our other waste management services like skip hire, trade waste or waste collections, simply contact us today.
Aerosols can be easily recycled with cans and tins by kerbside collection, as long as they are empty.
Asbestos cannot be recycled or re-used. It is considered a hazardous material and should always be disposed of by an experienced professional.
Baby wipes (along with similar products like wet wipes) are not recyclable and should always be disposed of with general waste. Never flush them down the toilet as they can accumulate and cause serious blockages.
Bathroom fittings such as sinks, toilets and baths should be taken to your local recycling centre for disposal. If you have someone fitting a new bathroom for you, and they have removed the old one, then they are required to dispose of it for you.
Although there are some councils who collect batteries for recycling, usually you’ll need to take them to your local recycling centre. Some supermarkets have special collection points as well.
The battery packs used in things like mobiles, laptops and power tools can be recycled. Do not dispose of them with general household waste, as they can be a fire hazard.
Most bikes can be refurbished or repaired into a usable state, so before disposing of your old bike, see if anyone else can use it. Otherwise, being made of metal, bikes are easily recycled, so can be taken to your local recycling centre.
Birthday and other greetings cards can easily be recycled by kerbside collection.
Biscuit tins can easily be recycled by kerbside collection.
Blankets can usually be recycled in clothing and textile banks available at recycling centres, some supermarket car parks and other recycling points.
Books can easily be recycled by kerbside collection, or if in good enough condition they can be donated to a charity shop for resale.
Bottles and jars can be cleaned and easily recycled by kerbside collection.
Bricks, building rubble and plasterboard will not be collected by your local council, but they can all be taken to your local recycling centre. If you’re going to have a large amount, it will probably be easier to hire a skip and have it taken away.
It is not usually possible to recycle bubble wrap by kerbside collection. However, many of the larger supermarkets offer collection points for the recycling of carrier bags and bubble wrap can also be left there.
If you don’t want to keep buttons for your own use, then they can usually be donated to a charity shop.
Carpets and rugs that are not in a usable condition are not recyclable, but can be disposed of at your local recycling centre. If they are in a usable condition, then they can be donated to a charity shop or made available for others on a website such as Freecycle.
Being made mostly of metal, cars are relatively easy to recycle and should be disposed of at a scrap dealer. Alternatively, there are charities like Charity Car and Giveacar that will be more than happy to take your unwanted vehicle off your hands.
It is illegal to dispose of car batteries with general household waste, so they should be taken to your local recycling centre or perhaps a scrap metal dealer. If you are having a new battery fitted, the company doing it will usually also dispose of your old battery for you.
Cardboard tubes can easily be recycled by kerbside collection.
It is not usually possible to recycle plastic carrier bags by kerbside collection or at household recycling sites. However, many of the larger supermarkets offer collection points for the recycling of carrier bags.
CDs and DVDs are rarely accepted at your local recycling centre, but it could be worth checking. Otherwise, they can usually be donated to charity shops for resale, or you could try reselling them yourself.
Cling film is not recyclable and should be placed with general waste.
If they are not suitable for donation to a charity shop, clothing and textiles can usually be recycled via clothing banks at your local recycling centre, at some supermarkets or other recycling points.
Coat hangers are difficult to recycle, but charity shops are likely to be able to make use of them.
Coffee cups are generally not recyclable by kerbside collection, but might be recyclable in food and drinks carton banks at your local recycling centre.
Small amounts of cooking oil and fat can be disposed of with other food waste. It should never be disposed of down a sink, as it can congeal and cause blockages.
Natural cork cannot be recycled, but is compostable. Synthetic corks can be recycled by kerbside collection with other plastic waste.
Cotton wool is not recyclable and should be disposed of with general waste.
Crisp packets are not recyclable and should be disposed of with general waste.
Crockery and cutlery cannot be recycled, but if they’re in good condition you can donate them to charity shops.
Drink cartons can easily be recycled by kerbside collection.
Duvets and pillows cannot be recycled, although it might be worth asking local animal charities if they would like them to use as bedding for the animals. Otherwise, they should be disposed of with general waste.
Some councils will take small electrical items as part of their kerbside collection, otherwise your local recycling centre will have a dedicated area for the disposal of electrical goods, including kettles, lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners and many more.
Used engine oil can be placed into a sealed container and recycled via an oil bank at your local recycling centre.
All envelopes, including those with a window, can easily be recycled with other paper products by kerbside collection.
Fire extinguishers are classified as hazardous waste and should therefore be taken to your local recycling centre for safe disposal.
Household foil and aluminium trays can be cleaned and easily recycled by kerbside collection – it’s best to scrunch it all up together into one big ball, as this makes it easier to recycle.
Food cartons can easily be recycled by kerbside collection.
Food tins and drinks cans can easily be recycled by kerbside collection.
Some councils provide special caddies for collecting food waste, while in some areas it can be included with garden waste to be composted.
These cannot be recycled, but charity shops may accept them for resale.
If in working order, white goods can be accepted by some charity shops or offered on sites like Freecycle. Councils usually offer a collection service for bulky items, although they will charge for it. Otherwise, white goods should be taken to your local recycling centre.
Most furniture can be recycled relatively easily. It should be taken to your local recycling centre or you can arrange for the council to collect it, although there will usually be a charge for this. If it can be refurbished, some charities will be more than happy to take it off you.
Many local councils provide a special bin (usually brown) for the kerbside collection of garden waste. Otherwise, your local recycling centre will have a special container dedicated to garden waste.
Unless they are beyond repair, even old gardening tools are likely to be able to be re-used by others. Otherwise, they can usually be recycled at your local recycling centre.
Gas bottles cannot be recycled by kerbside collection or at recycling centres, but should be returned to the supplier for re-use. They should not be placed in general waste at home or at a recycling centre as they may explode if they are crushed.
Glasses and spectacles cannot be recycled by kerbside collection or at recycling centres, but can be donated to some charities.
Recycling centres will take many forms of hazardous waste, but if you are unsure, do check first. It should always be placed into a strong, sealed container first to prevent any risk of spillage during transportation.
Hearing aids cannot be recycled by kerbside collection or at recycling centres, but collection points can be found at some doctors’ surgeries, hospitals and charities.
Inhalers cannot be recycled by kerbside collection or at recycling centres, but can be recycled at participating pharmacies.
These are generally not recyclable by kerbside collection, but may be accepted at your local recycling centre. Alternatively, some charities and schools collect them to raise funds, or you can send them to The Recycling Factory who will donate any money raised to a charity of your choice.
Ironing boards are usually made from materials that can be recycled, such as metal, so they should be taken to your local recycling centre.
Jewellery and watches cannot be recycled by kerbside collection, and can usually be donated to a charity shop for resale or resold by yourself.
Modern fluorescent lightbulbs are recyclable at your local recycling centre, but the older incandescent style bulbs should be disposed of with general waste.
Magazines can easily be recycled, along with other paper products like catalogues and brochures, by kerbside collection.
Unused and out-of-date medicine should be returned to a pharmacy for disposal.
Metal keys can be taken to your local recycling centre, where they can be placed in the mixed metals container.
Metal pots and saucepans cannot be recycled by kerbside collection. If they are in good condition, they can be donated to charity shops for resale, otherwise take them to your local recycling centre.
Plastic milk bottles can easily be recycled with other plastic products by kerbside collection. If you receive glass bottles delivered to your door by a milkman, you should return them for re-use.
There are a number of options for making good use of old mobile phones when you have finished with them, but before you do anything, make sure you have removed all your private data. Charities will often accept them whether they are working or not, or you might be able to sell them if they are still in good working order. Otherwise, you can dispose of them in the small electrical devices section at your local recycling centre.
Musical instruments are generally difficult to recycle, although some may have metal parts suitable for recycling. If they are in usable condition, donate to a charity shop or try to sell online.
Disposable nappies are generally not recyclable and should be disposed of with general waste.
Newspapers can easily be recycled with other paper products by kerbside collection.
Packaging can usually be recycled by kerbside collection, but do make sure you separate and sort it beforehand.
If you have leftover paint after decorating, some recycling centres may accept it for re-use rather than recycling. Otherwise, do not dispose of it in liquid form; you should harden it with sawdust, soil or sand before taking it to your local recycling centre. Things like white spirit, paint thinner and solvent-based paint should be treated as hazardous waste.
Empty metal paint cans cannot be recycled by kerbside collection, but will be accepted at your local recycling centre.
Paper and cardboard can easily be recycled by kerbside collection
Bedding such as straw, hay or sawdust used as bedding for vegetarian animals will usually be able to be recycled with garden waste.
Pet waste, including used cat litter, should always be disposed of with general waste.
Your local recycling centre may be able to accept petrol and diesel, otherwise your council should be able to advise of other options.
Old photos and negatives are very rarely recyclable, although it might be worth checking with your local authority. Otherwise, they should be disposed of with general waste.
Pizza boxes can easily be recycled with other cardboard by kerbside collection, even if they are greasy (although do make sure that they are empty).
Plastic bags cannot be recycled by kerbside collection, but can be recycled via the plastic carrier bag collection points available at many of the larger supermarkets. This includes bread bags, bags used for loose fruit and vegetables and frozen food bags (e.g. those used for oven chips and frozen vegetables), but does not include biodegradable or compostable bags.
Plastic bottles can easily be recycled with other plastics by kerbside collection.
Plastic plant pots can easily be recycled with other plastics by kerbside collection, except for black ones which can’t be detected by the machinery that is used to sort plastics as part of the recycling process. Alternatively, garden centres, community gardens, or local allotments may have a use for them.
Plastic tubs and trays can easily be recycled with other plastics by kerbside collection.
Polystyrene is not commonly recycled, so is unlikely to be collected by your council, although your local recycling centre may take it. Otherwise, it should be disposed of with general waste.
The sort of plastic pouches used to hold things like coffee, baby food and pet food are not recyclable and should be disposed of with general waste.
Although pyrex is a type of glass, the treatment it needs to undergo to withstand high temperatures makes it unsuitable for recycling, so needs to be disposed of with general waste.
Shoes, boots and footwear in good condition can be donated to charity shops for resale. Otherwise, they can be left at special bins at your local recycling centre, or even at some supermarkets and other local recycling points. If placing them in a special clothing bank, remember to tie the laces together so the pair does not become separated.
Shredded paper can easily be recycled with other paper items by kerbside collection.
Stamps can easily be recycled with other paper products by kerbside collection. However, many charities collect used stamps, which they sell on to raise funds.
Sticky tape is not recyclable and should be disposed of with general waste. Where possible, try to remove sticky tape attached to things like cardboard boxes before recycling them.
Tea bags can be disposed of with food or garden waste recycling schemes. Some tea bags are also compostable, but many contain small amounts of plastic which makes them difficult to break down (although you could split them open and just compost the leaves).
Although they are made of paper, the nature of the fibres in tissues makes them unsuitable for recycling, so they should be disposed of with general waste.
Toothpaste tubes are difficult to recycle, so they will not usually be collected by your council. They will generally need to be disposed of with general waste.
Toys and board games in good condition can be donated to charity shops for resale, or perhaps given to a local children’s nursery. They might be accepted at your local recycling centre, but that will depend on what they are made of. Otherwise, they should be disposed of with general waste.
Tyres can usually be taken to your local recycling centre, although the number you can take may be limited and there may be a charge. Tyre replacement companies will usually dispose of old tyres as part of their service.
VHS tapes and cassettes are rarely accepted at recycling centres, but it could be worth checking. They are also rarely accepted by charity shops for resale anymore, as the market for them is so small these days. Otherwise, they will need to be disposed of with general waste.
Vinyl records cannot be recycled either by kerbside collection or at your local recycling centre. However, they are back in fashion with many music lovers, so if they are in a playable condition, you could donate them to a charity shop for resale, or try selling them yourself.
Although water filters are not recyclable by kerbside collection or at your local recycling centre, many Argos, Homebase and Robert Dyas stores have recycling collection boxes for Brita branded filters.
Wood ash is recyclable by kerbside collection or at your local recycling centre with garden waste. Please note that coal ash is not recyclable and should go with general waste.
Wood and timber are not recyclable by kerbside collection, but can be taken to your local recycling centre.
Wrapping paper is not usually recyclable with other paper products by kerbside collection. However, some councils do collect, so it is worth checking first.
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