 | car batteries
 If a car battery if disposed of at a landfill site or not disposed of responsibly, it may leak and could cause a great deal of damage to the environment.
 Do not buy a car battery from a supplier unless they will take your old one for recycling.
 It is currently estimated that 90% of lead acid batteries are recycled in England and Wales. Car batteries can be recycled at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre or many garages will operate a take-back scheme but they may charge for this service.
cardboard (all varieties)
Cardboard can be recycled at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
 Cardboard can be composted in your home compost bin and is a good way of reducing smells and increasing the effectiveness of your compost bin by providing air pockets and aerating the material.
cards
Try to buy recycled and unbleached cards whenever possible.
Old postcards used or unused can be sent to:
Actionaid
Ernie Roberts House
13 - 15 High Street
St Mary Cray
Orpington
Kent
BR5 3NL
Postcards are sold in their shop to collectors to raise funds.
Look out for card recycling facilities around Christmas in local shops and supermarkets. For more information contact Waste Minimisation.
You may also wish to consider sending an e-card instead. There are many websites that provide this facility and many are free.
Please do not put greetings cards in the paper recycling banks.
carpets and rugs
Carpets and rugs are made of a variety of fibres which are difficult to separate for recycling. Therefore re-use of carpets and rugs is preferred.
 Carpets can be placed on top of an open compost heap to keep moisture levels balanced.
Offer the carpet to charity shops, community groups, friends and relatives and local jumble sales.
carrier bags
Some supermarkets now offer recycling facilities for plastic bags. However, re-using plastic bags or replacing them with re-usable cotton or jute bags is the best environmental option.
cars
Vist the End of Life Vehicles webpage for more information on how to dispose of your car legally.
catalogues
Please do not put catalogues in paper recycling banks unless clearly indicated otherwise on the bank.
Check with your local District or Borough Council to see if catalogues are accepted in your kerbside recycling box.
cds, tapes, videos and dvds
CDs, tapes, videos and DVDs can all be re-used by someone else once you have finished with them.
Your local library hires out CDs, videos, tapes and DVDs saving you money and reducing rubbish.
Take them to your nearest charity shop or a local jumble sale.
You can make coasters out of your old CD's. For an authentic designer feel buy some cork board or felt at your local craft shop and glue it onto the painted side.
Hang CD's in your garden to scare away birds. They don't like the random glare the CD gives off when it reflects the sun and is moved by the wind.
External Christmas trees require big decorations to be seen - CD's are ideal for this and reflect the light for a sparkly effect.
Make a disco ball. Buy a large styrofoam ball from your local craft shop and cut your CD's into little squares - don't forget to wear protective eye wear! Glue to pieces on to the ball and glitter away.
If you would like to send your CD's for recycling please send them to:
Polymer Reprocessors Ltd
Penninsula Business Park
Reeds Lane
Moreton
Wirral
CH46 1DW
You will have to pay postage but the CD's will be recycled free of charge. A certificate of destruction can be issued by arrangement and for a small fee, should your CD contain sensitive information.
ceramics and china
If you have ceramic or china items that are in good condition, please take them along to your local charity shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre for re-use.
Damaged china can be repaired by specialists. Look in the Yellow Pages under 'China and Glassware Repairs'.
Broken pieces of china and ceramics can be used as crocks to place in the bottom of plant pots.
Please do not put ceramics, china or Pyrex glass in glass recycling banks.
| | chemicals
 All hazardous and chemical waste that is destined for disposal must be cleanly and safely packaged in a container suitable for the purpose, clearly labelled and submitted for disposal.
Please visit the hazardous and chemical household waste webpage for disposal advise.
Christmas trees
Take your Christmas tree to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre and place in the green waste section.
clothing and textiles
Unwanted items of clothing and textiles items may have lost their value to the person throwing them away but they have not lost their value as a resource to someone else.
Every year 900 million textile items go to waste in this country but old jumpers and unwanted clothing are a valuable resource for less developed countries. In Africa and the Baltic States, 90% of people depend on reclaimed textiles from developed countries for their clothes.
There are many ways to re-use items of clothing and textiles within this country too. Jumble sales and charity shops are a good place to start.
If the item is not in good condition take it to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre or, if you have kerbside collection, phone your District or Borough Council to find out if textiles are collected.
coins and stamps
Out of circulation and foreign coins are a good way to raise money for charity. For further details go to "Stamps".
composting
Composting is a natural process which produces a rich soil conditioner free of charge. The basic principle is to collect kitchen and garden waste in a heap or bin which will then start to rot down and eventually create compost.
If you would like to start composting or increase the numbers of bins you have, Warwickshire County Council are offering compost bins at a reduced price of £17.00 (including delivery and VAT) for a 220litre bin and £20.00 (including delivery and VAT) for a 330 litre bin.
For more information on the reduced price composter scheme phone 0845 077 0757.
For more information on composting go to our composting webpages.
computer equipment
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) came into force in this country on the 1st July 2007. The Directive aims to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment by increasing re-use and recycling, and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill.
There are a number of organisations that will reuse old computer equipment, this is not only good for the environment but also gives people from all walks of like access to inexpensive computers through refurbishment programmes. For details of schemes contact Waste Management at Warwickshire County Council.
If you have a computer that is not suitable for reuse, please take it along to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centres.
cooking oil
Cooking oil can cause problems for the environment if not disposed of properly. It should not be put down surface drains as it can contaminate drinking water and can be very harmful to wildlife.
As an alternative to disposal, leftover cooking oil can be used as a substitute for creosote which is now banned. It is a good preservative, does not discolour wood and is safe to use near animals and plants.
Alternatively you can recycle your old cooking oil at Burton Farm Household Waste Recycling Centre or Princes Drive Household Waste Recycling Centre
corks
Cork can be composted in your compost heap.
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