What do I do with...?
Many household items can be put in your household recycling bin for recycling. For more details of what you can put in this bin find out about the new 'Are you Bin Smart?' campaign.
Many other items can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres. For more information about these facilities please visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/environment/recycling/recyclingcentres.htm.
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
Aerosol cans
Empty aerosol cans can be put in your household recycling bin. Never puncture, burn or crush aerosol cans because they can explode and the gases can damage the environment.
Animal faeces
Animal faeces, including horse manure, is not accepted at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Animal faeces and bedding (i.e. hay or newspaper) from pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs can be put onto your compost heap. Animal faeces from pets such as dogs and cats should not be put inside your compost bin. If you are walking your dog you can dispose of this type of waste in the appropriate dog bins provided by the council. Otherwise if you are at home faeces from cats or dogs should be placed in a plastic bag inside your residual waste bin.
Asbestos
Asbestos is hazardous and dangerous to human health and must be disposed of properly. Asbestos is not accepted at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. For information about what to do with waste asbestos please go to www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/environment/recycling/factsheets/asbestos.htm.
Ash
If you have a coal fire rake through it properly to make sure that the coal is burnt. Coal naturally contains sulphur and therefore will make soil acidic, so any ash that remains should not be put straight onto soil or into a compost bin. Instead it can be used for garden paths or it should be put into your residual waste bin.
Wood ash is excellent for placing around the garden as a soil improver, because it contains valuable minerals. Alternatively, you can place it in your compost bin or heap in small quantities.
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Bathroom suites
If your bathroom is installed by a builder they are legally responsible for disposing of the old bathroom suite and the cost of this disposal should be included in the price of the work. If you install a new bathroom yourself then you can take your old bathroom suite to one of the Household Waste Recycling Centres. As this is classified as 'construction and demolition waste', there are however, some restrictions. Please go to the Household Waste Recycling Centres page for more information.
Batteries
Car batteries can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres for recycling. Nottinghamshire County Council currently has no facilities for recycling household batteries at the Household Waste Recycling Centres, and has no immediate plans to introduce them because the implications of new European legislation have yet to be clarified.This situation will be reviewed once more guidance is available. For information about other facilities for recycling household batteries please contact your local council .
Bedding and blankets
Charity shops are often grateful of donations of clean items such as sheets and blankets. Clean sheets can also be placed in textile recycling banks inside a plastic bag. Please note that duvets and pillows may not be acceptable for reuse – please check first with the charity or the local council .
Bicycles
If your old bike is beyond repair then take it to the Household Waste Recycling Centres and it will be recycled through the scrap metal bank.
Boilers
An old metal boiler from your home can be taken in your car to one of the Household Waste Recycling Centres and put in the metal recycling container, or alternatively a scrap metal dealer may pay you a small fee for it.
Books
Donate unwanted books that are in good condition to charity shops or second hand bookshops. Second hand books for children can be given to local playgroups or schools. You can also use a book recycling bank if you have one in your area. Contact your local council to find out where there are local book banks, or take your old books to one of the Household Waste Recycling Centres and give them to a member of staff.
Building materials / rubble
Building materials and rubble can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres, but as this is classified as construction and demolition waste there are some restrictions. Please go to the Household Waste Recycling Centres page for more information.
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Cans (drink cans and food cans)
Drink cans and food cans can both be recycled:
- in your household recycling bin collection
- at local bring sites such as those at supermarkets, leisure centres and public car parks
- at the· Household Waste Recycling Centres
Car parts
Car parts are not accepted at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Normally old car parts will be disposed of as part of the service by the garage that repairs your car. If you have some old parts to get rid of look in the Yellow Pages for a local breakers yard or scrap metal dealer.
Caravans
An old caravan that cannot be resold should be taken to a metal scrap yard so that it can be stripped down for parts that may be reused or recycled. Check your local Yellow Pages for a local scrap dealer.
Cardboard
Items such as cereal boxes, egg boxes, kitchen and toilet roll centres and cardboard packaging can be recycled through:
- your recycling bin collection
- your local Household Waste Recycling Centre
Carpets and rugs
Good quality carpets and rugs can be resold or donated to charity shops and furniture reuse groups. Old carpets can be disposed of by taking them to the Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Carrier bags
Use reusable shopping bags for your shopping or reuse your old carrier bags as liners for rubbish bins. Some supermarkets reward customers for reusing their old carrier bags. Most supermarkets have a 'bag for life' scheme and will replace reusable bags free of charge if they become damaged or wear out. Some supermarkets also provide facilities for recycling carrier bags. Ask at your local supermarket for details.
Cassettes
There are Oxfam banks for recycling these items at some 'bring sites'. Please contact your local council for more details. Otherwise these should be put in your residual waste bin. If your cassettes are in good condition, charity shops may accept them.
Catalogues
Please see Paper recycling .
CDs
There are Oxfam banks for recyckling these items at some 'bring sites'. Please contact your local council for more details. Otherwise these should be put in your residual waste bin. If your CDs are in good condition, charity shops may accept them.
Chemicals
Unwanted household chemicals can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres at Beeston, Bilsthorpe, Calverton, Hucknall, Mansfield, West Bridgford and Worksop.
Christmas cards
Please see Greetings cards .
Christmas trees
Recycle your tree by taking it to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre or contact your local council to find out about local schemes at Christmas. Most trees will be made into woodchips that can be used as mulch. Alternatively, purchase a tree with a root so that it can be planted in the garden and used the following year or purchase an artificial tree that can be reused for many years.
Clinical waste
Please see Medical waste .
Clothing
Please see Textiles and footwear .
Coat hangers
Old metal hangers can be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Old plastic hangers should be placed in your residual waste bin.
Composting
If you want to make your own compost you can buy a compost bin at a reduced price. Visit the Compost Corner page for more details. Larger items of garden waste that cannot fit into your compost bin can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Any green waste placed in the skips at these sites is composted in windrows and made into soil improver. Do not put diseased plants into any compost mixture because it could be spread to farmers crops through the compost. Visit the Compost Corner page for more information. Your local council may also offer a kerbside collection for garden waste, contact them for more details.
Computers
Please see Electrical items .
Cooking oil
Please see Oil .
Cork
Chopped up pieces of natural cork can be put into your compost bin or placed at the bottom of plant pots to help retain moisture.
Crockery (ceramics, mugs, cereal bowls, vases)
Donate unbroken crockery to your local charity shop. Broken pieces of crockery and china can be placed at the bottom of plant pots to help drainage. However if you want to dispose of broken pieces of crockery please wrap it in newspaper and place it in your residual waste rubbish bin. Please do not place any crockery in glass bottle banks, because it will contaminate the glass and may even prevent it from being recycled.
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Dead animals
If you see a large dead animal such as a deer or a dog on the roadside in a place that could cause an accident please contact your local council who will arrange for the animal to be collected. If your pet dies you can dispose of the body through a local pet crematorium. Look in your Yellow Pages under Pet Services for more details.
Duvets
Please see Bedding and blankets .
DVDs
There are Oxfam banks for recyckling these items at some 'bring sites'. Please contact your local council for more details. Otherwise these should be put in your residual waste bin. If your DVDs are in good condition, charity shops may accept them.
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Egg boxes
If you get your eggs locally ask the farmer or shop where eggs were purchased if they would like to have the boxes back to reuse them. Playgroups and schools may also collect egg boxes for craft purposes. Cardboard egg boxes can be put in your recycling bin or recycled in the cardboard recycling banks at any of the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Alternatively you can tear them up and place them inside your home compost bin.
Electrical items
In 2006, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations came into force in the UK. These regulations aim to reduce the amount of this waste going to landfill and improve recovery and recycling rates by:
- reducing waste from electrical and electronic equipment
- encouraging the separate collection of WEEE
- encouraging treatment, reuse, recovery, recycling and sound environmental disposal of WEEE
- making producers of WEEE responsible for the environmental impact of their products
This basically means that the cost of recycling this type of waste is now paid for by the company that produced it. When you buy a new fridge for example, the shop supplying it should take the old one away or provide advice as to where you can take it for free disposal. Alternatively you can take most unwanted electrical items from your own home to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre or your local council may provide a collection service.
Engine oil
Please see Oil .
Envelopes
Envelopes can be reused by placing labels over the old address. They can also be used as scrap paper. Remember to buy envelopes made from recycled or environmentally friendly paper. These envelopes are stocked in many large supermarkets and charity shops such as Oxfam. Alternatively, envelopes, including those with a clear window, can be put in your household recycling bin.
Explosives
Please report any explosives you find to your local Police Station straight away. Details of Police Stations will be in the telephone directory or your local Thomson's Guide.
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Fire extinguishers
Please do not place fire extinguishers in your residual waste bin. Fire extinguishers contain explosive chemicals so they must be disposed of carefully. Use the telephone directory to contact a company selling fire protection services. There may be a charge involved in disposal. Alternatively you can take unlabelled empty fire extinguishers to one of the Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Fireworks
Buy the right amount of fireworks for your celebration. Find out from the retailer whether any remaining fireworks can be returned. If you have a large number of unused fireworks contact your local police station or fire and rescue service for advice on local points where they can be taken. Telephone Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service on 0115 967 0880.
Fireplace
A fireplace or fire place surround can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres. As this is classified as 'construction and demolition waste', there are however, some restrictions. Please go to the Household Waste Recycling Centres page for more information.
Flower pots
Reuse your flower pots. Ask your local garden centre, market trader or allotment association if they would like to use your empty pots. Broken clay pots could be reused by carefully placing the broken pieces at the bottom of new planter pots to improve drainage. Plastic pots that cannot be reused should be disposed of in your residual waste bin.
Fluorescent light tubes
Please see Electrical items .
Foil
Foil is not currently collected in your household recycling bin.Please place it in your residual waste bin.
Food waste
Try and keep all food waste to a minimum by buying and cooking only the right amounts. To find out more about reducing food waste visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com. Minimise odours and pests when you dispose of food waste such as meat or fish by wrapping it in paper before you put it in your residual waste bin, and remember to always keep the bin lid closed. Some food waste such as vegetable peelings and fruit cores can be placed inside a home compost bin. To find out more about home composting visit the Compost Corner page.
Fridges and freezers
Please see Electrical items .
Furniture
Attempt to repair furniture where possible. If the item of furniture is in a good condition and able to be reused, contact a local charity shop or furniture reuse group. Furniture can also be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Please ask the attendant which container the furniture should be placed in because some of the furniture may be reusable or recyclable. Alternatively, your local council may offer a 'bulky collection' service, please contact them for details.
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Garden waste
Please see Composting .
Gas bottles / camping gas cylinders
These cylinders should be returned to the retailer or supplier so that they can be reused. Do not place gas cylinders in your residual waste bin because they may explode if they are crushed. Only unlabelled gas cylinders, or cylinders from companies who are no longer trading, will be accepted at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. If the cylinder is leaking contact the manufacturer or the fire brigade straight away.
Glass
Your local council may collect glass bottles and jars from your home. Please use this service if it is available. Otherwise glass bottles and jars can be recycled at your local 'bring site' bottle bank. Alternatively you can recycle your glass bottles and jars at all of the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Please remember to remove the lids and put glass bottles and jars into the correct clear, green or brown recycling containers. If you have blue bottles these should be placed in the green glass recycling bank.
Please do not place pyrex containers or plate glass in glass recycling banks because this will contaminate the recycling process. Mirrors, pyrex dishes, drinking glasses and crystal that are in good condition can be donated to a charity shop. If these items are broken they should be wrapped in newspaper and placed inside your residual waste bin.
Greenhouses
Greenhouses are accepted at Household Waste Recycling Centres, but as they are classified as 'construction and demolition waste' there are some restrictions. Please go to the Household Waste Recycling Centres page for more information.
Greetings cards
Greetings cards can be put in your household recycling bin.
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Hazardous waste
Materials that are classed as hazardous waste include garden Chemicals , Fluorescent light tubes , Paint , some Batteries , Asbestos , car maintenance / cleaning products and some DIY products. Please look under individual headings and on labels and packaging regarding how these products should be treated.
Horse manure
Please see Animal faeces .
House clearances
If you are clearing out your own home then you can take your unwanted items to one of the local Household Waste Recycling Centres. However, if you have a large amount of household waste it is possible that some of the smaller Household Waste Recycling Centres may be unable to accommodate it due to limited capacity. Please note that house clearance items will only be accepted if:
- you are the owner of the house
- you live in the property
- you take the items to the centre yourself.
Alternatively, many charities offer house clearance services, where they redistribute household goods to people in need. Please check the Yellow Pages for charities or private companies offering house clearances. Your local council also provides a bulky waste collection service, and although there may be a small charge for this, it is useful if you don't have the necessary transport. Please contact your local council for details.
Items from house clearances for business purposes are classified as commercial waste and these cannot be accepted at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Please go to the Household Waste Recycling Centres page for more information.
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Ink cartridges
Check with the manufacturer or supplier if they will accept empty cartridges back. Otherwise it can be sent off for recycling in a freepost envelope available free of charge from some retail shops and supermarkets.
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Jiffy bags
Please do not place jiffy bags in your recycling bin because they are not suitable for recycling.
Junk mail
Please see Paper recycling .
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K
Kettle
Please see Electrical items .
Knives
Knives should be securely wrapped and taped. They should be handed to a member of staff at any of the Household Waste Recycling Centres for safe disposal.
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Lawn mower
Please see Electrical items .
Light bulbs
Please do not place ordinary light bulbs in the glass recycling banks because the metal filaments contaminate the recycling process. Ordinary light bulbs should be wrapped first in newspaper and then placed in your residual waste bin or taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres.
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Magazines
Please see Paper recycling .
Medical waste (clinical waste)
Medical waste is not acceptable at the Household Waste Recycling Centres because of its potentially infectious nature. This type of waste includes: adult nappies, syringes, sanitary products, soiled dressings / bandages or any item which may be soiled by blood or bodily fluids. Most households do not produce large amounts of clinical waste, but the correct disposal of this waste is important. Medical waste from households can be collected by your local council, please contact them for more information. If medical waste is generated from a residential home it is classed as commercial waste, and an arrangement should be made for this waste to be collected by the local council or a private firm.
Medicines
Any unused medicines should be returned to your local chemist or pharmacy. Do not pass them on to other people. Empty glass medicine bottles can be recycled with your other Glass bottles.
Metals
Please see Scrap metal .
Milk bottles
Try and buy your milk in returnable glass bottles and make sure that you return them to the milkman. On average the glass milk bottles used by the dairies are reused 24 times, saving energy and resources. Please do not take them to a bottle bank. If you buy your milk in plastic bottles recycle the bottles in your household recycling bin, in the plastic banks at 'bring sites' or at the Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Mobile phones
Please see Electrical items .
Monitors (from computers)
Please see Electrical items .
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N
Nappies
It is estimated that a baby will get through around 4,500 disposable nappies from birth to potty, costing between £700 and £800, compared with using just 50 cotton nappies from birth to potty at a cost of around £300! You’ll be surprised by how much cotton nappies have changed and how fashionable and easy to use they are. Using cotton nappies also helps the environment by reducing the amount of rubbish you throw away. Nottinghamshire County Council is currently offering £25 cashback when you spend £50 or more on real nappies. For more information please ring 08449 80 80 80
Needles
Please see Medical waste .
Newspapers
Please see Paper recycling .
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O
Oil
The most commonly encountered types of oil are: central heating oil, cooking oil, engine oil and paraffin. To dispose of these different types of oil properly please follow the advice below:
- Central heating oil
Very small quantities of central heating oil, (maximum of two gallons) can be put in with used engine oil in the oil banks at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. To dispose of large quantities of central heating oil, telephone the Environment Agency Oil Care Line on 08708 506 506. - Cooking oil
The facilities for recycling cooking oil is currently under review. In the meantime please take used cooking oil to any of the Household Waste Recycling Centres and give it to a member of site staff. - Engine oil
Small quantities of engine oil can be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. If you do not have transport then contact your local council to dispose of the oil. - Paraffin and kerosene
Paraffin and kerosene are not accepted at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Unused paraffin or kerosene should be returned to the company from where it was bought. You can look in the Yellow Pages for companies that will dispose of your oil for you.
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P
Paint
Paints, varnishes and wood stains contain hazardous chemicals or solvents. Paint must not be poured down the drain. Local community groups, playgroups or charities may welcome donations of useable paints and DIY superstores may take back unwanted paint dependant on where and when you bought it. Unwanted paint can be taken to any of the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Please firmly attach the lid to prevent leakage and please make the site staff aware that you are leaving paint. Any paint taken to the Cotham Household Waste Recycling Centre will be reused via the Community Re-paint scheme.
Paper recycling
To recycle your newspapers, magazines, catalogues, junk mail and envelopes put them in your household recycling bin. Alternatively your paper items can be taken to your local 'bring site' or one of the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Please remember not to put your paper inside plastic carrier bags before you put it into the recycling bin, as plastic bags contaminate the paper recycling process.
Petrol carriers
Empty metal and plastic petrol carriers should be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Ask staff on site which skip the container should be placed in.
Plastic bottles
To recycle your plastic bottles put them inside your household recycling bin. Alternatively plastic bottles can be taken to 'bring sites' or one of the Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Pillows
Please see Bedding and blankets .
Prams, Pushchairs and Cots
If these items are still in good condition and safe to use, advertise them at a local baby clinic, on hospital notice boards or in the local paper. You can also offer these items to charity shops or social services. These items will also be accepted at the Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Printer Cartridges
Please see Ink cartridges .
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Quilts
Please see Bedding and blankets .
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Radiators
Please see Scrap metal .
Radios
Please see Electrical items .
Records
There are Oxfam banks for recyckling these items at some 'bring sites'. Please contact your local council for more details. Otherwise these should be put in your residual waste bin. If your records are in good condition, charity shops may accept them.
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S
Scrap cars
Abandoning vehicles at the roadside or in a field is illegal and if you are caught you may be prosecuted. Once abandoned, these vehicles have to be collected by your local council and they have to dispose of them. The removal and disposal of abandoned vehicles costs the Nottinghamshire tax payer thousands of pounds a year. Scrap cars should be taken to a scrap metal merchant for recycling and disposal. Due to the high price of steel, owners may receive some monetary value back for their car. For more information look in the Yellow Pages under 'Car & Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers' and 'Scrap Metal Merchants'.
Scrap metal
Scrap metal can be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Alternatively, for large items,your local council may offer a 'bulky collection' service, please contact them for details.
Sharp objects (e.g. knives etc)
Sharp objects should be securely wrapped and taped. They should be handed to a member of staff at any of the Household Waste Recycling Centres for safe disposal.
Sheds
Sheds are accepted at Household Waste Recycling Centres but as ther are classified as 'construction and demolition waste' there are some restrictions. Please go to the Household Waste Recycling Centres page for more information.
Shoes and boots
Please see Textiles and footwear .
Smoke alarms
Please see Electrical items .
Soil
Soil can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres, but as it is classified as 'construction and demolition waste' there are some restrictions. Please go to the Household Waste Recycling Centres page for more information.
Spectacles
Some opticians collect old spectacles to send overseas to developing countries and support the Vision Aid Overseas scheme. For more information visit www.vao.org.uk speak to your optician.
Steel cans
Please see Cans .
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Tapes
There are Oxfam banks for recyckling these items at some 'bring sites'. Please contact your local council for more details. Otherwise these should be put in your residual waste bin. If your tapes are in good condition, charity shops may accept them.
Telephones
Please see Electrical items .
Televisions
Please see Electrical items .
Textiles and footwear
Good quality textiles can be taken to charity shops, or placed in textile banks at 'bring sites' or Household Waste Recycling Centres. Textiles that cannot be sold may be re-spun to make new items or made into cleaning cloths.
Toasters
Please see Electrical items .
Toner cartridges
Please see Ink cartridges .
Trees
Please see Composting .
Tyres
Old car tyres are classed as hazardous waste and therefore cannot be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Tyres cannot be sent to landfill either and therefore they should not be put in your residual waste bin. To dispose of your tyres take them to a garage. Most garages will take old tyres when they are replacing them with new ones. However if you do not replace your tyres at the same garage you may be a charged for disposal of your old tyres. Dependant on the quality of the tyre they will either be sent for retreading or disposal. Look in the Yellow Pages for garages where you can take your tyres. Alternatively tyres may be used in the garden or as part of children’s play equipment.
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Vacuum cleaner
Please see Electrical items .
Vending cups
Large quantities of plastic vending cups can be collected for recycling. For more information visit the Save-a-Cup website at www.save-a-cup.co.uk.
Video tapes
There are Oxfam banks for recyckling these items at some 'bring sites'. Please contact your local council for more details. Otherwise these should be put in your residual waste bin. If your video tapes are in good condition, charity shops may accept them.
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Washing machines
Please see Electrical items .
Water butts
Discounted water butts are no longer available from Nottinghamshire County Council. You can locate other water butt suppliers from the Recyclenow website at www.recyclenow.com/shopping/for_the_garden.
Wheeled bins
Please contact your local council with any questions or comments as they empty your wheeled bins.
Wood
Off cuts of timber can be used by scrap stores, schools etc. for model making. Contact these organisations first to find out if they can use this material. Alternatively, this is accepted at the Household Waste Recycling Centres, from where it will be sent for chipping and it can either be made into Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) or turned into animal bedding.
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Y
Yellow pages
Yellow Pages can now be put in your household recycling bin for recycling.
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