• Deposit used paper at your local recycling bank. • Only recycle gummed paper if specified, such as envelopes and stickers. • Reduce paper waste by canceling unwanted deliveries, or read news online. • Attempt to cancel all junk mail please • Reuse paper around the home as scrap paper or packing material. • Envelopes can also be reused • Set your printer to print on both sides of the paper. • Buy recycled paper whenever possible.
Plastic:
• If your recycling bin doesn’t take plastic bottles, then deposit them at your local recycling bank. • Clean bottles before recycling them. • Buy plastic bottles in bulk whenever possible to reduce packaging waste. • Plastic bags can be reused or deposit used ones at collection points provided by some supermarkets.
• Metal is usually separated into 2 groups: aluminum and steel. • You can determine metal waste by using a magnet. Aluminum metal is non-magnetic whereas steel is magnetic. • There may be a symbol, such as an alu mark, on the product to indicate what metal it is made from. • Drink cans are usually made from aluminum and food cans are usually made from steel. • Most home recycling bins, provided by your local council, usually accept metal. • Deposit used cans at your local recycling bank. • Make sure drink and food cans are clean before recycling. • Aerosol containers can be recycled, but only when empty. • Metallic plastic film, such as chocolate wrappers, cannot be recycled. • Find out if there is a ‘cash for cans’ scheme operating near you.
Recycling cartridges is environmentally friendly and you can feel good about supporting sustainable development for the planet’s limited natural resources and not adding to our already overloaded landfills.
• All batteries are classified as hazardous waste please recycle them • Ordinary household batteries do contain some hazardous chemicals so ideally should not be thrown out with the day-to-day rubbish. • Rechargeable batteries contain harmful metals, so should never be thrown away with daily rubbish, they should be returned to manufacturer for disposal or recycled elsewhere. • Local councils or garages sometimes offer battery-recycling services. • Contact your local council to see if they are running a battery collection scheme. • Contact the battery manufacturer for further recycling advice. • Ordinary batteries require a lot of energy to make, so in order to save energy, use rechargeable batteries and electricity mains instead of ordinary batteries. • Rechargeable batteries are the most environmentally friendly option as can last for up to several hundred charging cycles resulting in less waste being produced.
• Most electrical equipment can be reused or broken down into parts. • If the electrical equipment is still in full working order, sell it in a car boot sale or donate it to a charity shop. • Contact your retailer as they may take back old products. • Some councils accept electrical equipment at their waste recycling centers. • Always try to repair items rather than throwing them away, others may find a use for the item when you no longer want it. • Try to buy electrical items that have a long life span.
Both straight fluorescent and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) require less energy to operate than standard incandescent light bulbs. As a result they help protect our environment by using less fossil fuel to operate. The downside is that all fluorescent lamps contain mercury and are easily broken during conventional waste handling. When lamps are broken, mercury vapor is released, potentially exposing employees and bystanders. Fluorescent lamps should always be recycled to prevent release of to mercury to the environment.
• Donate old mobile phones to friends or family. • Many manufacturers take back old mobile phones for recycling. • Some companies have set up mobile phone recycling schemes. Cell Phones for Soldiers
Furniture:
• Donate usable furniture to charity shops, schools, community centers, friends or neighbors. • Sell furniture at garage sales or in auctions. • Clean and repair broken furniture before you sell or donate.
• Buildings are made from many materials, many of which are recyclable such as metal, wood, glass, etc. Recycle these materials accordingly. • Architectural salvage yards may take some items for reselling. • Many building materials can be reused, such as bricks and wood.
• Waste such as paint, paintbrushes, car oil and oil filters have to be carefully disposed of, as they can be very damaging to the environment. • Don't pour oil or paint down the drain. • Donate unwanted paints and varnishes, as others can reuse them. • Look for disposal or recycling instructions on packaging of the product. • Civic amenity sites often take engine oil for recycling. • Buy products in bulk whenever possible to reduce packaging waste. • Use eco-friendly alternatives whenever possible.
• Asbestos is a building insulation material used before the 1970’s. • There are 3 types – white, blue and brown. • Removal of asbestos can disturb the fibers of which it is made; these fibers can be harmful if they are breathed in. • Use a facemask and gloves when handling asbestos. • Keep asbestos damp and contained in a plastic bag when transporting, this will reduce airborne fibers. • Some companies will safely remove asbestos • Some councils will accept asbestos at their household waste recycling centers. • Contact your local council for further advice on the removal of asbestos. Asbestos Abatement & Removal Asbestos Disposal
Textiles:
• Donate old clothes to charity or sell them at a garage sale. • Only donate clothes that are still usable. • Old clothes can be used to make other textile items, such as cushion covers or cleaning cloths. • When donating shoes, make sure they are tied together so they don’t separate.
• Up to 80% of a vehicle can be recycled • Try and fix your vehicle instead of throwing it away. • Sell unwanted vehicles. • Report abandoned vehicles to your local council for removal. • Engine oil can be recycled at civic amenity sites. • Contact your local council for further advice on recycling vehicles.
Donate your car to charity Cars for Homes
Wood:
• Take wood to civic amenity sites for recycling. • Wood can often be reused to make other items, such as bird houses for your garden. • Wood can often be added to your compost, such as sawdust and wood shavings. • Buy recycled wood whenever possible. • Recycled wood can be used to produce unique eco-friendly furniture
Composting: Composting is an excellent way to recycle kitchen and garden waste. It is very easy to build your own compost bin and use the compost to help your garden grow.
How Composting Works
Composting is the decomposition of materials that originated from animals and plants. These organic materials can be things such as plant trimmings, vegetable cuttings, eggshells and teabags. The composting process produces a dark, crumbly matter that can be used as fertilizer in garden soil. The main stages of composting are:
• Adding organic materials to a compost bin • Micro-organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, break down the soft material. • This causes the compost pile to heat to around 60°C. This is the ideal temperature for micro-organisms to work at. • The compost pile then cools to below 30°C. • Small creatures such as worms and insects then break down the tougher material. • The whole process usually takes about 3 – 9 months, and results in a nutrient-rich fertilizer to use in your garden. • The compost that is ready to use can be taken from the bottom of the pile, leaving the rest to finish the process.
How to Build a Compost Bin
• You can buy a compost bin or build your own. Compost bins are usually sold at DIY and gardening stores. • Build a compost bin by creating a frame out of wood and attach it to the ground using posts. • Your compost bin should be able to hold about 200-300 litres, try and use a bin with a lid to keep out the rain. • The compost bin should be placed in a well-lit and well-drained area of the garden. • Try and keep the compost bin out of the wind. • Improve drainage by breaking up the soil underneath the compost bin.
What You Should and Shouldn’t Compost What to add to your compost pile:
• Hair and fur • Shredded paper • Straw and hay • Animal bedding and sawdust • Crushed egg shells • Grass and plant cuttings • Raw fruit and vegetable trimmings • Teabags and coffee granules • Horse manure • Leaves
What not to add to your compost pile:
• Meat or fish • Coal Ash • Animal waste • Used tissues • Dairy products • Cooked foods • Colored or treated paper • Chemically treated wood • Diseased plants • Persistent weeds
