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Doorstep recycling and community recycling banks

Many councils now collect paper, glass and plastics and some also collect metal and organic waste. Your local council will often be able to say what it can recycle and what it can’t. Many recycling bins and facilities show pictures of what can be dropped in them (and what shouldn't be).

Paper and card are easy to recycle. Some plastics can be recycled too, like plastic milk bottles, water bottles, and bottles of household cleaning products (but not usually things like plastic food trays and wrappings). Bottle banks are not just for bottles – they’re for all glass packaging, including jars.

The links below will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local council website where you can find out about collection points - and how you can recycle more.

• Your local council's recycling services - find out more Opens new window
• Recycling collections - find out more Opens new window
• Apply for a recycling bin Opens new window

Textiles

More than half of the clothing thrown away could be recycled.

Most charity shops deal with clothing for re-sale, or you could take your unwanted clothing to clothing banks. Some councils also take textiles in doorstep recycling collections.

• Find out how to recycle textiles Opens new window

Batteries

Using re-chargeable batteries is the best way to reduce waste. Car batteries can be recycled and should be taken to your local council household waste site. Although facilities for recycling other types of battery are not widespread, some councils now have collection schemes and some manufacturers and retailers will take old batteries back. If you cannot find somewhere to recycle your old batteries it is important to dispose of them correctly as they can contain hazardous substances that can damage the environment.

• Find out how to recycle batteries Opens new window
• Disposal of hazardous waste

Mobile phones

Handsets are designed to last many years - try to keep yours longer by avoiding unnecessary upgrades. When you do need to get rid of your mobile phone, there are an increasing number of options for recycling and re-using them. Many phone shops will now take back old handsets for recycling, and there are organisations and charities that accept mobiles for refurbishment and recycling.

• Find out how to recycle or reuse mobile phones Opens new window

Printer cartridges

Many charities and workplaces collect print cartridges for refilling and more than a third of the 40m used in the UK each year are already re-manufactured.

• Find out more about refilling printer cartridges Opens new window

Other items

A wide range of other things can be recycled – you can find out more from the RecycleNow campaign.

• A to Z index of what can be recycled and how Opens new window

The wider issue

People in the UK are recycling three times more rubbish than they were 10 years ago, but an average family can still double or even treble the amount they recycle. Recycling reduces the need for landfill and saves new materials and energy, helping to tackle climate change. 

Recycling aluminium requires only five per cent of the energy it takes to make new aluminium – and produces only five per cent of the carbon emissions. Recycling just one aluminium can saves enough energy to run a television set for three hours.

• More on waste and resource
• More recycling facts Opens new window

More useful links

• Bins and waste collection (home and community section)
• Disposal of bulky items (home and community section)
• Visit the RecycleNow website Opens new window