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Welcome dear recycling enthusiasts and lone recyclers!
There are various possessions that you may or may not need to throw away/recycle over each calendar year. The hardest thing about it all is figuring out what items can be recycled and where you can take these to recycle/up cycle or waste without the risk of being collared by the authorities for it.
Fear not, you will find below a comprehensive list of various obscure, obscene and forgotten items, with instructions on what to do and where to go, when they no longer have a place in your home.
So, if you ever get a bit confused on where to waste your junk, you can revisit this list anytime to ease your confusion.
Acrylic Plastic: The fancy, upper class brother/sister of regular old plastic. Would you believe it, but, Acrylic is actually recyclable, however it is not bio-degradable, which means it isn't as easy as whacking it in your recycling bin or taking it to a bottle bank. Only a few recycling contractors will accept acrylic waste which shows the lack of opportunities households get to recycle it.
Aerosol Cans: The tiny pressurised party in your hands, but when the party's over, can it be recycled? Absolutely. Just make sure they are empty and toxic substances. Give them a quick rinse, toss them into the recycling bin and away we go.
Black Plastic Food Tray: Some places accept plastic food trays for recycling while others do not, make sure to check with your local council.
Useful Link to read: https://wrap.org.uk/resources/report/recyclability-black-plastic-packaging#:~:text=Black+plastic+is+often+used,it+is+then+not+recycled.+.
Books: Your gateway to a new world and the reason why your friends call you a bookworm! Can they be recycled? Well, they can't usually be recycled along with your paper household waste, this is because of the glue that is used to bind them. Fear not book lovers, they can be recycled at some recycling centres.
Bubble Wrap: Pop to you drop! Still to this day, the only item that keeps me occupied for 2 Hours, and I am 32!
Unfortunately though, regardless of how much fun can be had with it, it can't be recycled.
Carpet: Most carpets are difficult to recycle due to their complex mix of different materials. Did you know that every year in the UK, carpet waste the size of Birmingham is thrown away. This can be a major issue if carpets are sent to landfill as they contain over 50 chemicals which can be carcinogenic and harmful.
Carrier Bags: Many stores offer plastic bag recycling programs, so you can usually recycle carrier bags by returning them to designated drop-off points.
CD's: The shiny discs that used to make us all feel cool back in the day. Can it be recycled? Most recycling centres won't accept them, so you may have to think of some more creative ways to use them.
Ceramic: Ceramic items, such as plates or mugs, are generally not recyclable in standard recycling systems. However, you may consider donating or re purposing them if they're in good condition. Show your creative side!!
Christmas Lights: The sparkles that turn our homes into winder wonderlands, but, sometimes they can be a bit of a Grinch when it comes to recycling. From our research though, it does look like you can drop them off at your household recycling centres in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) We will never dim your holiday spirits.
Cling Film: Cling film, also known as plastic wrap, is usually not recyclable. It should be disposed of in the regular trash.
Clothes: The ever-expanding collections in our closets threatens to take over our lives. Can they be recycled? Absolutely! Instead of letting your old threads gather dust, give them a new lease life. You can donate them to charity shops or clothing banks, or host a clothing swap party with your friends. Remember one person's fashion nightmare is another persons treasure.
Coat Hangers: Coat hangers are generally not recyclable in standard recycling systems. However, some dry cleaners or recycling centres may accept them. Most supermarkets and clothes retailers may also take them in as well. You can never have too many hangers.
Coffee Pods: The magical capsules that deliver our daily dose of caffeine with the push of a button. Can they be recycled? Well, it depends. Some coffee pods are recyclable, but most need a little extra effort. Check if your local recycling centre will take them in. Large companies like Nescafe and Illy do have a shared recycling scheme to make it as easy as possible for you. Find out more at https://www.podback.org/ . Coffee Cups on the other hand are reusable, recyclable and are made from paper fibres meaning they are good for the planet.
Cork: Cork can often be recycled, but unfortunately not kerbside, which you would think would be possible with around 300 million Corks in Wine Bottles being used in the UK each year. You can find how to recycle your corks here: https://recorkeduk.org/
Crisp Packet: Crisp packets are commonly made of mixed materials, such as plastic and aluminium foil, which can make them difficult to dispose of. No recycling centre wants to handle your crumbs.
Don't you worry your crisp stained fingers though, the website terracycle actually runs a free recycling programme for all your Crisps, Nuts, Popcorn and Pretzels. All you have to do is enter your postcode and you can see local drop off points for yourself: https://cutt.ly/zwuZOyjf
Denim Jeans: We know that flares have been recycled as a fashion statement over the years but what about the material. Jeans can often be recycled through textile recycling programs or why not donate them to a charity shop. If you do want to recycle them then give this website a try to locate your closest facility or drop off point. https://goodmakertales.com/where-to-recycle-denim-uk/
Disposable Pens: Most disposable pens are not recyclable due to their mixed materials that can contaminate other waste. We all know it can be a bit of a pen that you are unable to dispose of these in your household waste, but there are specialist services available that will collect your pens via the terracycle program just like your crisps.
This can be used for: Pens, Felt Tips, Highlighters, Correction equipment e.g Tip-Ex. Your local drop off points can be found here: https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/bic-uk
Disposable Razors: Disposable razors are typically made of multiple materials, including plastic and metal, which makes them challenging to recycle. Throw into general waste when they really stop cutting it.
Disposable Vapes: Disposable vapes, which contain batteries and electronic components, should not be disposed of in regular waste or recycling bins. They should be taken to designated e-waste recycling facilities.
Duvet or Quilt: Duvets are not usually recyclable through standard recycling programs but Dunelm do offer a take back scheme here https://www.dunelm.com/info/about/take-back-scheme . If the duvet is in good condition, consider donating it to your local charity or even pet shelter. Everyone loves a warm duvet.
Electric Toothbrush Heads: Electric toothbrush heads are typically not recyclable. They should be placed in your general rubbish bin. Nobody wants to be handling your mouth germs.
Empty Paint Cans: Did you know that 55 million litres of leftover decorative paint is generated in the UK each year. Empty paint cans can be recycled if they are completely empty and dry. However, cans with leftover paint should be taken to hazardous waste disposal facilities.
There is a fantastic website that strives to reuse paint to stop it being sent to landfill: https://communityrepaint.org.uk/the-uks-paint-reuse-network/
Envelopes with Plastic Window: Envelopes with plastic windows are usually recyclable in standard recycling systems. The plastic windows are typically removed during the recycling process.
Fire Extinguishers: Fire extinguishers are pressurised containers and should not be placed in regular recycling or bins. Contact your local waste management or fire department for guidance on proper disposal.
Flower Pots: Flower pots made of plastic or clay can often be recycled. However, black plastic pots cannot be recycled due to the plastic paint used to coat the flower pot. An estimated 500 million end up in landfill each year in the UK. Someone tell Titchmarsh. Make sure pots with soil or plant residue are cleaned before recycling.
If you want to channel your inner Titchmarsh, you could look at some more environmentally friendly ones here: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/eco-friendly-plant-pots/
Foam: Foam, such as polystyrene foam, is often not recyclable in regular recycling systems. It should be disposed of in the regular waste.
Foil Balloons: Foil balloons are not usually recyclable due to their mixed materials. Foil balloons can actually take around 450 years to decompose, think of that next time you are purchasing your newborn a 2 months today balloon that they will never remember they had. You are in luck again though, the lovely people over at Terracycle have another program to combat this: https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/foil-balloons-uk
Fridge: Fridges and other appliances should be taken to specialised recycling centres or arranged for pickup by waste management services. They contain hazardous components and should not be disposed of with your household waste. Also make sure not to leave it kerbside as some scrap collectors may take it and if they don't dispose of it properly (by just taking the metal section at the rear which then releases lots of dangerous chemicals).
Fruit Juice Cartons: Fruit juice cartons, such as Tetra Paks, are recyclable in many areas. Around 190 billion tetrapak packages were sold in 2019 with 50 million of those being recycled. These can be recycled by throwing them in your cardboard/paper waste.
Frying Pan: Not typically recyclable due to the mix of materials, such as non-stick coatings. The Non-Stick Teflon coating makes these hard to recycle. You can find more sizzling, sustainable cookware here: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/sustainable-living/eco-friendly-cookware/
Glossy Magazines: Even though we are living in a digital world, there were still over 700 Million Magazines in Circulation in 2022. Usually recyclable, by placing in your Paper & Cardboard waste bin.
Hot Water Bottle: Not typically recyclable due to the mix of materials, such as rubber or plastic.
Ice Cream Tubs: During 2021, the sales volume of ice cream manufactured in the UK amounted to approximately 380 million litres. We wouldn't mind swimming in that. Card Ice Cream tubs can be recycled as long as it is clean. This can be recycled in your normal paper & cardboard bin. Plastic though is a struggle.
Inhalers: Inhalers are not generally recyclable through regular household recycling, but some pharmacies or specific programs may offer recycling options. Use the pharmacy to dispose of as medical waste and needs to be treated properly.
Jiffy Bag: Generally not recyclable due to the mixed materials (plastic bubble wrap and paper envelope). Separate the materials if possible.
Jigsaws: UK adults spend an estimated average of 169 hours a year on average doing puzzles - equivalent to a whole week, half of that is spent looking for the last piece! Jigsaws are usually not recyclable due to the combination of cardboard and adhesive materials. Cardboard jigsaws can be recycled though.
Kettles: Not recyclable in regular household recycling due to electronic components and mixed materials. Always take these to your local tip and place in the WEEE section.
Knives: Not recyclable in regular household recycling. Handle them with care and dispose of them properly. You can dispose of these are your local tip in the scrap metal section.
Light Bulbs: Different types of light-bulbs require specific recycling methods. Incandescent bulbs are not usually recyclable, but compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and LED bulbs may have recycling options available. Try https://www.recolight.co.uk/ the specialist light bulb recyclers.
Lithium Battery: Did you know that each year in the UK we throw away around 600 million batteries? No wonder we can never find any for the remote! It does require specialised recycling due to its hazardous nature.
Over at, https://www.recyclusgroup.com/ - they offer recycling for both Lithium and Lead batteries.
Mattress: 6.4 million mattresses are disposed of each year in the UK, we wouldn't want to know why! They are not easily recyclable in regular household recycling. Some facilities may accept them, or mattress recycling services are available in some areas. For instance, the folks at Circom, offer a mattress recycling service - https://www.circom.co.uk/services Hope this makes you sleep easier.
McDonalds Cups or Starbucks Cups: Some cups can be recycled, while others with a plastic coating may not be accepted by all recycling programs. 2.5 billion coffee cups are used and thrown away each year in the UK - enough to stretch around the world roughly five and a half times - but less than 1 in 400 - are recycled. Around 500,000 cups are littered every day! Surely your Mocha Latte Frapuccino with Oat milk slightly seasoned with Caramel can wait? If not, you can recycle your cups here: https://www.cuprecyclingscheme.co.uk/where-you-can-recycle-paper-cups
MDF Wood: This can be difficult to recycle due to the binding agents and resins used. It's often disposed of as general waste or you may have to take to a specific recovery facility. There is recycling companies that help with MDF recovery and recyclability and one of these can be found here: https://www.mdfrecovery.co.uk/
Mirror: Not recyclable due to the combination of glass and reflective coatings.
Mobile Phone: Yes, mobile phones and their components can be recycled. Many electronics retailers offer recycling programs or check with local e-waste recycling facilities. Alternatively, we have all seen the ads - You can use Music Magpie - https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/mobile-phone-recycling/
Nappies: An estimated 3 BILLION nappies are thrown away each year in the UK. You can imagine the smell coming from that. We all know these can't be recycled, so please dispose as normal in your general waste bin, just make sure they are wrapped up tight!
Photos: There are around 12.4 trillion photos in the world and not a single 1 catches our good side! Photos are generally not recyclable due to the mix of paper, chemicals, and potential privacy concerns involved.
Pizza Box: 49% of people in the UK eat pizza at least once a week and Oxford is the city which consumes the most pizza. See, even the most sophisticated of people need that greasy life like us. Pizza boxes are generally recyclable as long as they are free from excessive grease or food residue. Make sure to remove any non-recyclable parts like plastic liners or soiled sections.
Pringles Tube: You may not know this but the Pringles mascot that you see on the front of the can with its furry moustache actually has a name? They are called Julius Pringle, which we think suits such as beautiful and elegant product. Pringles containers are challenging to recycle due to their composite design of metal, plastic, and cardboard, they can be recycled if you dismantle and seperate.
Pringles do actually have their own recycling scheme and you can find this here: https://www.pringles.com/uk/recycle.html
Printer Ink Cartridges: 350 million printer cartridges are disposed of in landfill worldwide each year. The plastic that is contained within the casing of a printer cartridge can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Due to this, they are quite difficult to recycle and are unable to recycled on your curbside. The folks over at http://www.officegreen.co.uk/cartridge-recycling/default.aspx offer a way for businesses to recycle their old cartridges.
Rubber Gloves: Gloves come in many materials like Vinyl, Latex etc. Latex are the most commonly used due to their protective features. They are unable to be recycled through your household waste but if you did want to get rid of your old Marigolds, have a look here: https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/marigold-uk
Shoes: Some components of shoes can be recycled, like rubber soles or specific materials. In 2021, 22.2 billion pairs of footwear were produced around the world, but yet we still have to walk around and see people with their toes out! Put them away. You may not be able to recycle them, but why not donate them to your local Salvation Army or Household Recycling centre.
Silicone Rubber: We estimate that in the region of 500 tons of Silicone Rubber a year will end up in landfill, where it will remain for hundreds of years. Silicone rubber can technically be recycled by a specialist facility but we are unable to locate one in the UK. If you know of any, please do let us know.
Solar Panels: You may or may not know this, but if you are ever wondering about installing Solar Panels, you don't need planning permission to install them and they do work when it is overcast as we all know how gloomy Manchester can be!
If you are ever wanting to trade in your old solar panels or recycle them, this can be done here: https://www.csg.co.uk/
Styrofoam: Styrofoam is very very difficult to recycle. This is because Styrofoam is made from petroleum, which is a non-sustainable resource. It also sinks to the bottom of the sea if dropped in the ocean which pollutes the sea floor. This is very similar to Polystyrene. At https://www.molygran.com/ they offer a recycling service as well as Styrofoam and Polystyrene products.
Tea Bags: The UK drinks 165 million cups per day – 62 billion cups per year, yet we still can't make a half decent one. These can be thrown away in your Food/Garden waste bin as long as they aren't plastic.
If you want to find tea bags that don't contain any plastic, why not take a quick look here: https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/food-drink/best-plastic-free-tea-bags-clipper-t2-pukka-twinings-a8982626.html
Toothpaste Tubes: Some toothpaste tubes are not recyclable due to the mix of plastic and aluminium layers. Every single year, 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes end up in landfills and the plastic in those tubes needs 500 years to degrade. As always, the big recycling masters over at Terracycle offer a recycling scheme. You can view this here: https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/colgate-uk
Tyres: 50 million tyres each year are taken off vehicles in the UK, but we will never be able to get shut of our belly tyres! Can be recycled through tyre retailers, or your local tip. One of these Tyre recyclers is http://thetyreyard.co.uk/ who offer recycling for Catalytic Converters and Tyres.
Used Wallpaper: In making wallpaper, manufacturers use different kinds of materials. After manufacturing the wallpaper, they still coat it with a thin plastic lining. There is also the permanent ink used to design the wallpaper. Due to this, it highly difficult to recycle. t is best to dispose of it as regular waste.
Video Tapes: With sales reaching 32 million copies with a revenue of $520 million, The Lion King is the most successful VHS release of all time. Video tapes are not commonly accepted in recycling programs due to their complex composition and the difficulty in separating their components.
However, some specialised recycling facilities may accept them for proper disposal - One of these can be found here - https://www.tiptopmedia.co.uk/
Vinyl Floor: Vinyl flooring can sometimes be recycled, but it depends on the specific type and local recycling capabilities. It is recommended to check with your local recycling facility or waste management department to see if they accept vinyl flooring. Recofloor though based in Manchester can help you recycle https://www.recofloor.org/recycling-vinyl-flooring-saves-money/
Water Filters: You may not know it, but using a water filter is a much better option than drinking from plastic water bottles, as 500 billion plastic bottles are used each year. Water filters typically contain a mix of materials, including plastic, carbon, and metal. While some components may be recyclable, it is important to check with the manufacturer.
For one of the UK's most common filters - Brita, they offer a recycling program for any of your old unusable filters - https://www.brita.co.uk/recycling
Wellies: Wellies, or rubber rain boots, are generally not recyclable through regular recycling programs. However, some shoe or clothing manufacturers offer take-back programs for recycling or repurposing old footwear, so it's worth checking if such options are available. Wellies were first worn by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, and were based upon the Hessian boot. The Duke of Wellington had instructed his shoemaker to re-design the Hessian boot to make it more hard wearing and give extra comfort.
So it was Arthur Wellesley who was the Duke of Wellington who invented Wellies, whilst being the Duke of Wellington. Try saying that again after a couple of pints.
Wood: Wood can often be recycled or repurposed, depending on its condition and type. Untreated or unpainted wood can be recycled into mulch, compost, or used for other purposes. Treated or painted wood may require special recycling facilities or be disposed of as regular waste.
Wrapping Paper: We throw away an estimated 227,000 miles of wrapping paper each year at Christmas in the UK. Wrapping paper can be recycled if it is free from excessive tape, glitter, or other non-paper elements. However, some types of wrapping paper are coated or laminated, which can make them non-recyclable. A little tip, if you can scrunch it up and it stays in position then there is a good chance it can be recycled.
If you wanted to show that you care about your family and your planet, why not wrap your prezzies up in an eco-friendlier way, with some eco-friendly wrapping paper - https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g41170109/eco-friendly-wrapping-paper/
Yoghurt Pot: The oldest record of yoghurt being used was in Central Asia around 6000 B.C. – that's 8000 years ago! Yoghurt pots are usually made of plastic, and many recycling programs accept them. However, it's important to rinse the container thoroughly before recycling it and check with your local recycling guidelines for specific instructions.
Ziploc Bag: Did you know that the average family uses 500 per year? Ziploc bags, typically made of plastic, are not universally accepted in recycling programs. However, some supermarkets now offer drop off points, where you can return all your soft plastic items. For instance, Tesco offer this service and you can find the link here - https://www.tescoplc.com/news/2021/shoppers-can-now-return-all-their-soft-plastic-packaging-to-recycling-points-at-every-large-tesco-store-in-the-uk
If you managed to make it through the extensive list above, firstly congrats and secondly thanks. That is one hell of a read.
Now that you know what can and can't be recycled above, we thought it would only make sense for us to give you some more info on where/how UK recycling facilities work and the different recycling facilities that are out there in the UK.
Aluminium Recycling Facility - Where your empty cans of pop and fizzy go to meet their ultimate fate - crushed into compact metal nuggets, ready for rebirth.
Plastic Recycling Facility - A colourful wonderland where discarded plastic bottles and plastic packaging come to be transformed into new treasures and accepted for recycling, proving that recycle plastic can indeed have a happy ever after.
Paper Recycling Facility - The final resting place for crumpled essays, doodled-on napkins and failed origami attempts, All shredded paper and card get sent here are all hoping for a second chance at being PULP fiction - You get it?
Glass Recycling Facility - This is where the shattered dreams of wine glasses, broken windows and heartbroken vases find solace as they embark on a journey of becoming the best in GLASS again.
Tyre Recycling Facility - The stomping ground for worn-our tyres, where they learn new moves in the moves and emerge as a new rubber wonder of the world, ready to hit the road once more.
Battery Recycling Facility - A hub where spent batteries go to have their energy extracted (A bit like having kids really). Once the energy is extracted, the batteries are disposed of responsibly and kept from sparking any shocking surprises.
Electronic Waste Facility - The sanctuary for old gadgets seeking a fresh start, where forgotten laptops, retired smartphones, and clunky keyboards can find peace and purpose in their afterlife.
Textile Recycling Facility - This is where discarded clothes, from worn out sweaters to jeans, go to get another chance to weave their magical tales and start anew.
Metal Recycling Facility - Where twisted scraps and abandoned machinery assemble to form an army of recycled warriors, ready to take on a new life as raw materials.
Composting Facility - This is simple. This is where all your compostable material ends up. Many high street Supermarkets will be the main users of these types of facilities due to the sheer number that they have to dispose of. From veggie peels, coffee grounds to fallen leaves, this is where your food goes to compost. Think of this like a much much larger scale of your home compost.
Remember, recycling is like a magical journey - transforming waste into opportunity, one clever facility at a time.
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