A-Z of recycling

Baby wipes

See "wet wipes".

Bathroom fittings and furniture

Baths are often made of a mixture of materials so are not recyclable and need to be disposed of in the non-recyclable container at your local recycling centre.

Ceramic bathroom fixtures and fittings such as toilets and sinks are classed as inert waste and should be disposed of in the rubble and hardcore skip at the recycling centre.

Batteries

See: recycling batteries

Beds

Take to one of our recycling centres and place in the general waste skip.

Bicycles

See bike reuse and recycling.

Biscuit tins and sweet tubs

Clean metal or plastic can be included in your household recycling or taken to the recycling centre.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Books

Donate books in good condition to local charity shops.

Books can be brought to your local recycling centre, where they can either be set aside for the bric-a-brac dealer or put into the cardboard recycling skip.

Paperback books can be included in your recycling.

Take hardback books to the recycling centre.

Bottles

See "plastic" and "glass".

Bottle tops (metal)

Metal lids and caps can be put back on the bottle or jar– these will be removed and recycled.

Bottle tops (plastic)

Wash and squash empty plastics bottles and then place the top back on. Put the whole bottle in your recycling box or bin for collection.

Trigger spray tops, like those found on cleaning product bottles, are not recyclable. These should be disposed of in your rubbish bin or in the non-recyclable container at your local recycling centre.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Cans

Clean, dry cans and tins can be recycled in your recycling bins and boxes or at your local recycling centre.

Cans must be completely empty and clean.

Cardboard

Can either be recycled as part of your home recycling collection service or can be taken to your local recycling centre.

Cardboard can also be used in the garden, see ways to reuse your household items.

Cards

Recycle cards in your household recycling or at the recycling centre.

Cards covered in glitter or foil are not recyclable and should be placed in your household rubbish.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Carpets and rugs

Carpets and rugs can be disposed of in the non-recyclable waste container at your local recycling centre.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Cartons (Tetra Pak)

Cartons can be recycled at your local recycling centre (except Skelmersdale, Longridge and Altham centres).

Place cartons in your general waste bin.

Cassette tapes and video

Some charity shops may accept music or video cassettes.

Broken tapes should be disposed of in your rubbish bin or in the non-recyclable container at your local recycling centre.

Chemicals

Take household chemicals to your local recycling centre. Please ensure they are in labelled, sealed leak-proof containers and place them in the locked chemicals container.

Please ask a member of staff for assistance.

Christmas trees

Your local waste collection authority may collect Christmas trees. Real Christmas trees can also be taken to the recycling centre for composting.

Clothes and shoes

Take your unwanted textiles to your local recycling centre or to a textile recycling bank.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Cooking oil

Used cooking oil is accepted at all of Lancashire's recycling centres.

Computers and laptops

You can recycle computers at your local recycling centre.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Before selling, donating or recycling your computer, erase your hard drive to remove all traces of personal information.

Discs (CDs and DVDs)

You can dispose of unwanted discs at your local recycling centre.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Electrical appliances

Take unwanted electrical appliances to your local recycling centres. This includes both white goods, like washing machines, and small electrical items, like kettles.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Electronic cigarettes

Take to your local your local recycling centre. Remove the e-cigarette battery and place in the battery container. Put the rest of the empty e-cigarette in the e-cigarette container.

Engine oil

Take used engine oil to your local recycling centre. Please be aware that centres cannot accept quantities over 5 litres in one visit.

Fluorescent tubes

Take fluorescent tubes to your local recycling centre and place them in the specialised container.

Fridges and freezers

Take fridges or freezers to your local recycling centre and place them in the specialised container.

Furniture

You can recycle wooden or metal furniture at your local recycling centre in the wood or metal recycling skips.

Some recycling centres also have mattress recycling containers, see "mattresses".

You can dispose of upholstered seating in the appropriate skip (upholstered seating) at the recycling centre.

Other items that cannot be recycled should be disposed of in the non-recyclable container at your local recycling centre.

Ask a member of staff if you're not sure which skip to use.

If you cannot get to the recycling centre, your local district council will have a bulky waste collection for unwanted furniture. There is usually a charge for this service.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Gas cylinders and bottles

Gas cylinders can be refilled. You can take empty ones back to the place where you bought them.

You can take domestic gas bottles to your local recycling centre. Please see site staff who will store the gas bottle safely.

Glass bottles and jars

Give your bottle or jar a rinse and recycle in your home recycling bin or box or take them to your local recycling centre.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Glass (sheet glass/window glass)

See "inert waste".

Glasses (spectacles)

Many opticians have in-store collection points for glasses, which they send to charities for reuse.

Broken glasses can be taken to your local recycling centre and placed in the non-recyclable container.

Hard plastic

Unfortunately, we're unable to recycle hard plastics at our recycling centres at present. We hope to resolve this issue shortly.

You can still dispose of hard plastic items at your local recycling centre.

Hard plastic is the material used to make things like:

• garden furniture
• children's toys
• some bathroom fittings such as toilet seats
• CD, DVD and cassette cases

Hardcore and rubble

See "inert waste".

Hazardous Household chemicals

See "chemicals".

Inert waste (rubble and hardcore)

Recycle construction and demolition (inert) waste at your local recycling centre.

If you're bringing this waste type in a van or with a trailer you'll need to book an appointment.

Inhalers

Many pharmacies collect old inhalers for recycling.

Ink cartridges

Recycle your ink cartridges at your local recycling centre.

Invasive plants (Japanese Knotweed)

Certain invasive non-native plants should not be taken to the recycling centre or placed in your garden waste collection bin under any circumstances.

Irons

See "electrical appliances".

Junk mail

Take off any plastic wrapping from junk mail and recycle it at home or at your local recycling centre.

Kettles

See "electrical appliances".

Kitchen Foil

See "aluminium foil and containers".

Knives

Recycle knives in the scrap metal container at your local recycling centre.

Lawnmowers

See "electrical appliances".

Lightbulbs

Fluorescent tubes, halogen and energy saving light bulbs should be taken to your local recycling centre and placed in the special containers.

Old style incandescent lightbulbs can be placed in your non-recycling bin at home wrapped in paper.

Lino flooring

You can dispose of lino flooring in the non-recycling container at your local recycling centre.

Litter

Small amounts of litter can be separated and recycled or thrown away in your bins.

Large amounts of litter should be reported to your local district council as fly-tipping. Do not try to deal with large amounts of fly-tipped waste yourself.

Loft insulation

Loft insulation can be taken to your local recycling centre for disposal in the non-recycling container.

Mattresses

These recycling centres can recycle mattresses:

• Farington
• Preston
• Burnley

If you can't take your mattress to one of the sites with a mattress recycling container, mattresses should be placed in the non-recycling container at your local recycling centre.

Medicines

Return unused medicines to a pharmacy where they can be disposed of safely.

Mercury

See "chemicals".

Metal

See "scrap metal".

Microwave ovens

See "electrical appliances".

Mirrors

Take mirrors to your local recycling centre and place it in the inert waste container.

Mobile phones

Up to eighty per cent of a phone is recyclable; try to recycle mobiles at the shops that sell them.

Your local recycling centre will accept it in the small electrical container.

Monitors

Monitors can be recycled at your local recycling centre in the TV and monitors container.

Motor oils

See "engine oil".

Oil

See "cooking oil".

See "engine oil".

Paint

Small amounts of paint (less than ¼ of a tin) can be disposed of in the non-recyclable container at the recycling centre. First let it completely solidify. To help the paint solidify you can leave the lid off and add sand, soil or sawdust.

Paper

You can recycle all dry paper in your recycling bin at home or at your local recycling centre.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Paving Slabs

See "inert waste".

Pesticides

See "hazardous household chemicals".

Pet waste

There are no special arrangements for pet waste. Please place small quantities in the general waste.

Phone books

Out of date phone books can be placed in your home paper recycling bin or taken to your local recycling centre and placed in the paper container.

Photographs

Photographic paper is not recyclable. Dispose of photographs in your general waste bin or in the non-recyclable container at the recycling centre.

Pillows, duvets and sleeping bags

Pillows and duvets are not recyclable and should be taken to your local recycling centre and placed in the non-recyclable container.

Pizza boxes

Remove any section of the pizza box that is greasy, and any food waste, and put this in your general rubbish bin.

The rest of the pizza box can go in your recycling bin.

Plasterboard, plaster and gypsum

Plasterboard can be taken to any recycling centre.

It must not be contaminated with other materials. If contaminated, it will not be accepted.

Plastic bags and film

Some bigger supermarkets have collection bins to recycle plastic bags, food bags and plastic film.

Plastic bags and film cannot be put in your recycling bin or recycled at your local recycling centre. You can dispose of them in the general rubbish bin at home or the non-recyclable container at the recycling centre.

Plastic bottles

Plastic bottles (including those from the bathroom and cleaning product bottles) can be placed in your recycling box or bin.

They can also be recycled at your local recycling centre.

Plates

Plates can be placed in the rubble and hardcore skip at your local recycling centre.

Polystyrene packaging

Polystyrene packaging cannot be recycled in Lancashire. Put it in your general waste bin or in the non-recyclable skip at the recycling centre.

Packing peanuts made from "compostable" corn starch should not be placed in your kerbside green garden waste, although you may choose to try to compost them in your home compost bin.

Pots, tubs and trays

Clean pots, tubs and trays can be recycled in your household recycling.

These include yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, and meat, fruit and vegetable trays of any shape or colour, along with their lids.

Remove any film and give them a rinse, making sure they are completely empty and clean.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Printer cartridges

See "ink cartridges".

Pyrex glass dishes and jugs

Pyrex cannot be recycled in your home recycling as it has been treated in the manufacturing process.

Quilts

See "pillows and duvets".

Radiators

Old radiators can be taken to the recycling centre and placed in the scrap metal container.

Electric radiators should be placed in one of the electrical containers.

Radios

See "small electricals".

Rags

See "clothes and shoes".

Rail tickets

Rail tickets are not recyclable, you should put these in your general waste bin.

Rechargeable batteries

See battery recycling.

Record players

Take your broken record player to your local recycling centre and place it in one of the electrical containers.

Records and tapes

Recycle the paper and cardboard sleeves.

Records and tapes cannot be recycled and should be placed in the non-recyclable container at your local recycling centre.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Refrigerators

See "electrical appliances".

Rubble

See "inert waste".

Rugs

See "carpets and rugs".

Saucepans

Unwanted saucepans can be taken to your local recycling centre and placed in the scrap metal container.

Items such as pots and pans should not be placed in your home recycling bin as they get stuck the machinery at our sorting facility.

Sawdust

You can only recycle clean sawdust in your garden waste bin. Sawdust must be from untreated wood.

Sawdust produced from MDF, chipboard or other treated timber should be bagged up and put in your rubbish bin.

Sawdust containing animal waste should be put in your rubbish bin.

Scrap metal

Scrap metal can be recycled at your local recycling centre.

Scrap metal should not be placed in your home recycling bin as they get stuck the machinery at our sorting facility.

Shoes

Shoes can be brought to your local recycling centre and placed in the textiles bank. Before you donate your old shoes, tie them together in pairs as they can easily get separated.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Shredded paper

Shredded paper can be placed in your recycling bin for collection, or you can take it to your local recycling centre and place it in the paper container.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Small electricals (such as hairdryers, DVD players, coffee makers, clocks, radios, sewing machines)

Take small electrical items to your local recycling centre for recycling. Place in one of the electrical containers. Anything electrical or with a battery must not be placed in any other container as this could cause a fire.

Some local councils will collect small electrical items with your household waste and recycling. Check your local district council website for more information.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Sofa

See "furniture".

Soil

See "inert waste".

Spectacles

See "glasses".

Suitcases

Suitcases that are made up of a mixture of materials should be placed in the non-recyclable container at your local recycling centre.

Sweet tins

Sweet tins can be recycled in your recycling bin or taken to your local recycling centre.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Telephone directories and catalogues

Recycle catalogues and telephone directories (including yellow pages) in your recycling bin or in the paper bank at your local recycling centre.

Make sure to remove the plastic film packaging before recycling.

Tetrapaks

See "cartons".

Textiles

See "clothes and shoes".

Tiles

See "inert waste".

Timber

See "wood".

Tin foil

See "aluminium foil and containers".

Toner cartridges

You can recycle your toner cartridges at your local recycling centre.

Tools

Tools can be recycled at your local recycling centre.

See ways to reuse your household items.

Toys and games

Broken toys and games can be taken to your local recycling centre.

See ways to reuse your household items.

TVs and monitors

TVs and monitors can be taken to any of the recycling centres in Lancashire.

Electrical items should never be disposed of in the rubbish bin. They contain hazardous waste and valuable materials and should be recycled properly.

Turf

Turf is classed as inert waste. To recycle turf, place it in the inert waste container at your local recycling centre.

See "inert waste".

Tyres

Take tyres to your local recycling centre. This is limited to five tyres per year per household.

Umbrellas

Take to your local recycling centre and place in the non-recyclable container.

Vacuum cleaners

See "electrical appliances".

Vapes

See "electronic cigarettes".

Vegetable oil

See "cooking oil".

VHS video tapes

See "cassettes".

Wallpaper

Used wallpaper is not recyclable so will need to be disposed of in your rubbish bin.

Large quantities of used wallpaper can be taken to your local recycling centre.

Wardrobes

See "furniture".

Washing machines

See "electrical appliances".

Watering cans

For plastic watering cans see "hard plastics".

For metal watering cans see "scrap metal".

Wet wipes

Baby wipes, cosmetic wipes, cleaning wipes and moist toilet tissues are not recyclable and not flushable, even though some labels say they are.

You should always put wet wipes of any kind in your general waste bin.

Wood (timber, fence panels and posts)

Take items made from wood or timber to your local recycling centre.

Wrapping paper

Apart from shiny metallic and glitter types, wrapping paper can be recycled in your recycling bin or box.

You can also take wrapping paper to your local recycling centre.

To find out if paper is recyclable, try the scrunch test. Paper that is recyclable stays in a ball when you scrunch it.

Yellow pages

See "telephone directories and catalogues".

Yoghurt pots

See "pots, tubs and trays".