Warwickshire Direct
A-Z of recycling
Welcome to the A-Z of recycling, an on-line directory of recycling information for Warwickshire. If you would like a hard copy please contact us with your postal address. Copies are also available at your local library.
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
Aerosols
Recycle your aerosol cans in your kerbside recycling bin or box.
Ensure that your aerosol is completely used up before you put it in your kerbside recycling bin or box.
Do not pierce, crush or flatten the aerosol before recycling.
Detach any loose or easily removable parts, such as the plastic lid, and dispose of them with the rest of your rubbish. Don't worry about removing the plastic nozzle - this will be removed during the recycling process.
Aerosols can be found all over the house, including the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom – so remember to leave no stone unturned!
Aluminium
If it is a household item such as a saucepan and still in good condition, take it to your local charity shop, jumble sale, local Household Waste Recycling Centre or offer items on Community Freebay or Freegle
Recycle aluminium cans at all Household Waste Recycling Centres in Warwickshire or place your kerbside recycling box or bin.
Please wash and squash cans to prevent smells and protect wildlife.
Asbestos
Asbestos materials must be removed and disposed of in the correct manner, the best way to do this is to use a licensed contractor. On no account should you remove asbestos coatings yourself.
If you wish to remove asbestos cement sheeting from your garage roof, you should follow the advice given below. This advice is to help minimise the risk involved in the removal of small quantities of asbestos material and is not intended to be relied on as providing a safe system of work, therefore, the Council accepts no liability for any loss or damages caused.
Please note that Warwickshire County Council will only accept no more than 3 pieces of asbestos from householders and that bagged waste should not exceed the dimensions of skip openings (see below). If you have larger quantities please contact the Waste Management Team for advice.
- Plan the work so that the asbestos material is handled as little as possible, in order to minimise the release of fibres.
- Wear a suitable respirator (filtering face piece FFP3 device), head covering, protective over-clothing and gloves.
- Damp down the asbestos material thoroughly before disturbing it.
- Do not break up the cement sheeting. Do not use power tools. Do not break, drill, sand or scrub the asbestos materials.
- If dust is produced, ensure it is wet then sweep it up. Do not vacuum the dust as this may spread the asbestos dust around your house.
- Double wrap the asbestos in heavy duty polythene sheets and label the outer bag as containing asbestos waste. Seal the bags.
- Any contaminated clothing should also be bagged up, labelled, sealed, then disposed of as asbestos waste.
- Take precautions to avoid bringing asbestos fibres into the house e.g. coming indoors with contaminated clothing.
- Take the bagged asbestos waste to one of the three licensed sites in Warwickshire. These sites are: Princes Drive, Hunters Lane, or Judkins. Please note: the asbestos skip at Princes Drive has a letter box opening, which is 8 inches high and 80 inches (approx 6ft) long - all waste must fit through this opening.
For a list of registered asbestos disposal companies in your area, please visit the Netregs Waste Directory
For specialist advice on asbestos contact the Heath and Safety Executive on 08701 545500.
Ash
Ash from wood fires which doesn't contain toxic material can be used on your garden as it contains valuable minerals which improve soil quality.
B
Bathroom suites
Old bathroom suites can be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre or you can offer items on Community Freebay or Freegle
Batteries
Batteries can be recycled at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre or at battery recycling points provided by major retailers as part of the battery compliance scheme. Check if your local store has a recycling point. You may also be able to recycle your batteries as part of your kerbside collection, check with your district or borough council.
Silver oxide button cells (as used in cameras and watches) are taken back by jewellers and mercuric oxide cells used in some hearing aids are collected by NHS hospitals.
- Use the mains when possible;
- Use rechargeable batteries and a battery charger. This saves energy because the energy needed to manufacture a battery is on average 50 times greater than the energy it gives out;
- Opt for appliances that can use power derived from the sun via solar panels or from a winding mechanism, e.g. radios, mobile phone wind-up chargers;
- Participate in Warwickshire County Council's battery collection schemes at your local Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Bedding
If the bedding is in good condition it could be used again. Please ensure it is washed and offer it to your local charity shop - if your local charity shop does not have storage for the bedding it may be refused. Alternatively offer items on Community Freebay or Freegle
If your bedding is refused or it is not in good condition take it to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre and place it in the textile bank. It will be collected and separated into items that can be reused and sent to other countries in need or recycled.
Bicycles
Take your bike to a Reuse Shops at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre or offer it on Community Freebay or Freegle. If your bicycle is beyond repair take it to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre and place it in the scrap metal skip. Use free advertising press to sell your bike.
Books
Once your have finished reading a book it doesn't means that it has come to the end of its useful life. If they are in good condition, take unwanted books to your local charity shop or take it to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre and place it in the book bank.
If you are only going to read a book once and keep it for reference, why not borrow it for free from your local library? You can also make use of the Read It Swap It website - where you can swap your old books for new ones.
You can also offer your books on Community Freebay or Freegle.
Brushes
Trim bristles of soft brushes to give them a second life or save old toothbrushes for DIY and cleaning jobs.
Building waste
You can dispose of a small amount of building waste from home DIY at the Household Waste Recycling Centres in Warwickshire. Please ask an advisor on site where to deposit this waste. If you have a large amount of DIY waste you will need to hire a skip. You can find details of skip companies in the Yellow Pages.
Offer bricks on Community Freebay or Freegle
C
Car batteries
A car battery may leak and could cause a great deal of damage to the environment if not disposed of responsibly or disposed of at a landfill site. 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, please do not put greetings cards in the paper recycling banks. Old postcards used or unused can be sent to:
Actionaid
Ernie Roberts House
13 - 15 High Street
St Mary Cray
Orpington
Kent
BR5 3NL
Look out for card recycling facilities around Christmas in local shops and supermarkets.
You may also wish to consider sending an e-card instead. There are many websites that provide this facility and many are free.
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 composted heap to keep moisture levels balanced.
Offer the carpet to charity shops, community furniture reuse schemes, friends and relatives and local jumble sales and on Community Freebay or Freegle
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 (End of life vehicles)
If you have a car that you would like to dispose of, you need to find your nearest Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF).
You can do this by contacting Autogreen on 0800 542 2002, or Cartakeback on 0845 257 3233.
ATF’s are sites which have been licensed by the Environment Agency to de-pollute end of life vehicles to standards set by Defra. Only ATFs are permitted to issue last owners with a DVLA Certificate of Destruction.
Alternatively look up a local car and commercial vehicle dismantler in the Yellow Pages.
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
Your local Library hires out CDs, videos, tapes and DVDs saving you money and reducing rubbish.
CDs, tapes, videos and DVDs can all be re-used once you have finished with them:
- Take them to your nearest charity shop or a local jumble sale;
- Offer the items on Community Freebay or Freegle;
- 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.
Offer the items on Community Freebay or Freegle
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.
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. Oxfam and the RNIB can find a home for collectors items including coins and 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.
Visit the composting page for more information.
Computer equipment
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 Recycling Centre, Cherry Orchard Recycling Centre, Hunters Lane Recycling Centre, Stockton Recyling Centre or Princes Drive Recycling Centre
Corks
Cork can be composted in your compost heap.
D
Domestic appliances
When buying domestic appliances try to buy one that has a high energy efficiency grading (A is very efficient and G not efficient) and that will last you a long time. This will save you money and the environment in the long run.
Domestic appliances are covered by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE).
Ask your retailer if they offer a take back service for your old appliance.
Large domestic appliances can be taken to the your local Household Waste Recycling Centre. Small items can be recycled in the WEEE Recycling banks.
Offer your items on Community Freebay or Freegle
Your district or borough council provide a bulky waste collection service for a charge.
DVDs
See CDs
E
Egg boxes
Egg boxes that are made from card can be composted.
Egg shells
Egg shells are a good way to add lime to your compost to reduce its acidity which creatures such as worms dislike. Worms are an important part of the composting process.
Egg shells can be a slug deterrent - crush them and sprinkle them around your prized plants.
Electronic goods
Electronic goods can be recycled at WEEE recycling banks
Ask your retailer if they offer a take back service for your old appliance.
Charity groups are willing to take in old electrical goods such as cookers. For more details go to Community Furniture Recycling.
Offer your items on Community Freebay or Freegle
Your district or borough council provide a bulky waste collection service for a charge.
Energy saving light bulbs
Warwickshire County Council provides facilities for the recycling of household fluorescent tubes, sodium lamps and low energy bulbs at all of the Household Waste Recycling Centres across the County. Both standard and energy efficient light bulbs can be safely recycled at all of the HWRCs in Warwickshire.
When broken these items can release phosphor dust and mercury toxic vapour , therefore to avoid harm to our health and to the environment it is essential that we discard of our waste responsibly.
Engine oil
Due to additives in engine oil it must be handled with care and disposed of appropriately. You can take used engine oil to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.
See the Oil entry for more information
Envelopes
Envelopes can be re-used by using envelope labels. Stop junk mail by registering with the Mail Preference Service. Envelopes should not be placed in paper recycling banks.
