D to I

D

Disposable items are not environmentally friendly, avoid these where possible

 

E

Electrical and electronic goods

Most charity shops will not accept electrical goods for safety reasons. The  HWRC will take most electrical goods.

 

Envelopes and packaging

Open your post carefully so that the envelopes and packaging can be reused. Many organisations now sell re-usable labels which, as well as saving paper help to publicise their work. White envelopes can be placed into your kerbside box.

 

F

Flower Pots

Can be used for new cuttings or seedlings. Clay pots are best for plants requiring good drainage. Why not grow cuttings for sale by local charities?

 

Fluorescent Tubes

These can be recycled at the household waste site. Fluorescent tubes are crushed under vacuum, the mercury is separated and reused and the glass and aluminium content recycled.

 

Food Waste

Try to minimise food waste by planning quantities or incorporating leftovers into other meals. Food waste can also be composted - contact the Council for a composter.  

 

Fridges and Freezers

Take these to the  HWRC where they can be processed to separate the constituent materials , aluminium, steel, copper and plastic and to remove the CFCs from the cooling circuits and insulations foams. Alternatively the Council can arrange collections of bulky items for disposal. There is a charge for this service.

 

G

Garden Waste

Garden waste is collected fortnightly from the kerbside and can be stored in either your wheeled bin or reusable sack. The  HWRC can also accept garden waste. Alternatively recycle it the way nature intended by composting.

 

Gas Bottles

Gas bottles can be refilled at a bottle gas centre or returned to the place it was originally bought from. See the contact telephone number on the side of the gas bottle.

 

Glass bottles and jars

Please wash and rinse them and put them in your kerbside box for collection. Alternatively the neighbourhood recycling centres can be used to deposit bottles and jars.

 

H

Hearing Aids

Help the Aged's Hearing Aid Appeal accepts any unwanted, working hearing aid for reuse in India. Non-digital hearing aids are collected, cleaned and tested before being distributed by Help Age India to communities throughout India.

Please post your hearing aid to:

 

Hearing Aid Appeal
Help the Aged
FREEPOST LON13616
London
EC1B 1PS

 

Ice cream containers

These cannot be collected for recycling because they made of an unsuitable type of plastic, but can be used in the garden as seed trays, or for general storage.

 

Inkjet Cartridges

The Red Cross run an appeal to recycle used ink jet cartridges. Freepost bags are provided so that used ink jet cartridges can be returned at no cost to the sender. Just email freepost@redcross.org.uk or phone 01638 552082 to request your freepost bags.


The Red Cross receive £1 for every recycled ink jet cartridge, and have raised over £22,000 so far.  For further information go to related links.