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A - Z of Recycling?

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

A

ALUMINIUM CANS can be recycled at most recycling centres and is accepted in the green wheelie bins which most households have. Please squash or crush your cans to save space in your bin and to save energy during transportation (which can be good stress relief!)

ALUMINIUM FOIL (CLEAN) (such as takeaway carton bases) can also be recycled in any can bank at recycling centres.

ASH from wood burning fires is an excellent form of waste to add to your compost, or as a soil fertilizer due to it containing valuable minerals essential to healthy plant growth such as nitrogen and potassium and potash.

AEROSOLS can be recycled in the green bins with your cans and tins, or in the yellow can banks at recycling centres but please do not squash or pierce the container (they can explode)

B

BATTERIES- All houshold batteries can be recycled at the Household Waste Site on Crossgates Road

Wherever possible use rechargeable batteries, solar powered devices, or mains electricity.

B00KS which are in good condition will be gladly accepted by your local library or charity shop, freecycled, or may be placed into the book bank at your local recycling centre. If they are not reusable, paperback books may be recycled with your normal paper waste, however with hardback books please remove the cover prior to recycling.

BLUE GLASS can be placed in the green recycling bank or in the green household wheelie bins.

BICYCLES -if broken beyond repair, bikes can be recycled in the scrap metal skip at the houshold waste site, or, even better, the bicycle charity can be repaired , reused locally or sent to less developed countries - see the re-use pages for more information.

BRITTA WATER FILTERS - can be sent back for recycling free of charge (in batches of 6 at a time please) -send to: Brita Recycling, Freepost TK1917, Sunbury on Thames TW16 5BR.

C

CARDBOARD cannot be recycled via the green bin household collection scheme apart from very light, white card (for example cereal boxes). Anything corrugated or thick will not be accepted, as this type of cardboard has already been recycled  many times and the fibres within the wood pulp will not break down anymore to make recycled paper. However, you can recycle cardboard at the household waste site, or add it to your compost bin to aerate the material.

CARRIER BAGS can be recycled in store at most large supermarkets in town. However, the best way to reduce plastic bag waste is to reuse the bags, buy reusable cotton bags or a ‘bag for life’ - Sainsburys and Tesco now offer 'points' every time you reuse a bag.

CLOTHING AND TEXTILES can be recycled in your local recycling centre.  Items in reasonable condition are sent to the third world for reuse, and other items are turned into rags. For good quality items your local charity shop would also be a good option.

COAT HANGERS - your local dry cleaners/ironing service may be glad to receive them. Even better, politely refuse hangers in shops.

COMPUTER DISCS will be willingly accepted for reuse via schools and community art programmes at 'Worcestershire Resource Exchange' Unit K, Gregory's Bank Industrial Estate, Worcester, WR3 8AB (Tel: 01905 726796). If they are saleable please donate to your local charity shop or place in a book bank. If you grow vegetables at home then they can be hung on string to act as a bird 'scarer'. A further option is to send them to this company - see this link for more information http://www.plasticwaste.co.uk/ourservices.htm

COMPUTERS can be donated to Worcestershire Lifestyles. telephone 01905 731352 - see the re-use pages for more information.

CORKS are very good for your compost heap, and don’t forget to recycle the bottle they came in!

D

DRINKS CARTONS - can now be recycled in dedicated waxed carton banks in Sainsburys, Morrisons, B&Q and Headless Cross Shopping Centres.

DOG FOOD cans can be recycled - but please do not try and recycle the plastic pouch versions. Please rinse out and push the lids..

DOG POOP can be recycled in a 'green cone' (www.wastemissionimpossible.co.uk)

DUSTERS-can be made from your old fabric rags or stained t-shirts. When they are past good use, if the material is natural, such as cotton, you can compost this material.

DVD's - please see CD's

E

EGG BOXES made from cardboard are fully compostible or can be recycled at the Household Waste Site. Egg Shells can be added to your compost heap, or crushed can also deter slugs from eating your plants, just sprinkle around the base/stems.

Energy Waste can be reduced by using energy efficient light bulbs, which can reduce your lighting bill by £10 a year, and last longer than ordinary light bulbs. For more information visit www.est.org.uk

F

FOOD WASTE can be disposed of with a Food Waste Disposer or Green Cone (www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk). Grants are available (www.wastemissionimpossible.org).

FOIL can be recycled if it is clean,in any can bank. However, crisp packets cannot be recycled as they are really plastic coated foil which you cannot separate. With any type of foil, such as foil lids on cream cheese, scrunch the material in your hand, and if it holds its shape, you can recycle it.

Film - see Polythene Film

G

GARDEN WASTE is best used for composting at home. If you have a large volume of woody material, call Shredderman to come and woodchip it! Alternatively you can take this kind of material to the household waste site for recycling, for free.

GLASS is the best material to be recycled as it can be recycled indefinitely, and bottles and jars can be recycled at all recycling sites across the borough and through the household collection service. Please note sheet glass is not accepted.

GRASS-can be composted very effectively providing that it is mixed with equal quantities of other material, for example scrunched up newspaper.

GREASEPROOF PAPER (used and scraps) can be composted if ripped up first or in small amounts.

H

Hairspray and other canned aerosols can be recycled in the can bank at the recycling centres, or put out in the basket if you are in a household recycling collection area.

Hay-or pet bedding can be added to your compost heap so long as your pet is vegetarian.

I

INKJET CARTRIDGES can be recycled and many charities (e.g. Scope) and schools will gladly recycle them on your behalf.

J

JUNK MAIL can be very annoying and wasteful. You can contact the Mail Preference Service on 02072913310 or mps@dma.org.uk to remove yourself from mailing lists which are used by many companies. The website (for more information) is www.mpsonline.org.uk

JARS made from Glass can be recycled - and their lids can be recycled in the green bin with the cans and tins.

K

KITCHEN WASTE may be composted, just avoid cooked food or meat products.

KITCHEN ROLL TUBES-can be composted or recycled as cardboard.

KITCHEN UTENSILS - Metal utensils and saucepans can be recycled at the Houshold Waste Site

L

Light bulbs cannot be recycled at present, although flourescent tubes must be taken to the household waste site for proper disposal, as these tubes are hazardous. Please use energy efficient light bulbs which last ten times longer than an ordinary bulb, and can be recycled at the Houshold Waste Recycling Centre on Crossgates Road.

M

MAGAZINES can be recycled as paper.

METAL can be recycled at the Household Waste Site as Scrap Metal.

MOBILE PHONES can be recycled for charity: for example Ozfam's "Bring Bring" Scheme where each donated phone can raise around £5 for Oxfam.  You can either take them to your local shop, or send to Oxfam Bring Bring Scheme, FREEPOST, LON16281, London W5 5BR.

Alternatively unwanted handsets and accesories can be returned directly to 02, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodaphone outlets. They will be either sold to developing countries, recycled or broken down and disposed of safely.

MEDICINES - glass medicine bottles can be recycled with your other bottles, however for all other medicines can be taken to any Boots store where the medicines are disposed of safely and the bottles are recycled into new ones.

N

NAPPIES can take up to 500 years to decompose, but now there are real alternatives to disposable nappies. Please visit the Real Nappies section of this webpage for full details.

O

OIL should not be poured down drains as it can contaminate drinking water and cause problems for wildlife. Please seal in an appropriate, watertight container and dispose of in your wheelie bin. If  you have a compost bin you can dispose of small quantities of cooking oil in it.

P

PAINT must not be placed in your wheelie bin, as when crushed it can cause unsightly spillages as well as leaking into the mechanical section of the refuse truck before drying. For small quantities of paint, please either allow to dry on newspaper or cat litter and then placed in your wheelie bin, or take large amounts to the Household Waste Site.

PAINT will also be willingly accepted for reuse via schools and community art programmes at 'Worcestershire Resource Exchange' Unit K, Gregory's Bank Industrial Estate, Worcester, WR3 8AB (Tel: 01905 726796)

PAINT BRUSHES can be transformed by trimming the bristles with scissors, saving you money.

PILLOWS – can be taken to a charity shop, or the inner feathers/down can be composted, and the fabric recycled as textiles.

PLASTIC- We have facilities for plastic bottles and household food plastic packaging at the three main supermarket site and at Headless Cross and B&Q Recycling Centres. -please contact Waste Management for further information.

POLYTHENE FILM - can be recycled if you post your clean film (e.g. magazine packaging) to:

Polyprint Mailing Films

MACKINTOSH ROAD, RACKHEATH IND. EST.,

RACKHEATH, NORWICH, NR13 6LJ

R

READING GLASSES can be sent for free to the World in Sight appeal which sends spectacles to people in the less developed world. Please send your unwanted spectacles to

World in Sight Appeal

FREEPOST

LON131109

S

SHOES -can be recycled in the textile banks at  most recycling centres. However, why not consider getting shoes mended, which is much cheaper than buying new ones. There is a cobbler stall at Redditch Market, and Timpsons also do shoe repairs.

STEEL tins can be recycled in green bins or the can banks

STAMPS - you can send your used stamps (please tear off the envelope) to the League of Friends at the Alexandra Hospital who raise money for vital equipment. Please send directly to League of Friends, Alexandra Hospital, Woodrow, Redditch. Alternatively you can send stamps to: RSPB Stamps, PO BOX 1, Chesham HP5 2YJ.

T

Tape cassettes

If you post your tapes, dvd's or Cd's to the address below they will be recycled..

Keymood UK Limited

Wolf Business Park

Alton Road

Ross-on-Wye

Herefordshire

HR9 5NB

TETRAPAK - SEE DRINKS CARTONS

TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES can be put into your green bins or the paper banks at your local recycling centre.

TISSUE PAPER will be gladly accepted for reuse in any charity shop for wrapping delicate items and china

TOWELS (as well as old pillow cases, sheets and blankets) are needed in a clean condition by the WYCHBOLD SWAN RESCUE charity - please contact Jan on 07813916509.

U

Umbrellas. If you are able to detatch the fabric canopy you could recycle the metal element in the scrap metal skip at the Houshold Waste Site.

V

VACCUM DUST– can be added to your compost heap.

W

WATER BUTTS are a great way of conserving water for watering your plants. Call your local water supplier for more information on subsidised butts.

X

XMAS TREES – can be recycled at the Household Waste Site, where it is shredded and made into compost.

Y

YELLOW PAGES can be placed in your green bin or be recycled in most recycling centres.

YARN – unused yarn will be gratefully accepted at your local charity shop.

Z

Zero tolerance to unnecessary waste in Redditch, looking towards a brighter future for us all.