Here are some tips for ways you can reduce the amount you waste, and organisations that will accept your unwanted goods. Please also look at the pages about recycling collections, Sort It!* centres and recycling banks for details of other items that can be re-used or recycled.
Cardboard
ECT Commercial will collect from offices, for a charge. Please see link opposite.
Cards
Try reusing these as gift tags. Many of the major supermarkets will have collection points for cards.
Cartridges
ActionAid Recycling will recycle inkjet and laser printer cartridges. Eighty per cent of the profits go to ActionAid's overseas development work. Please see links in "other websites" for more details.
Cartridge World in Kingswood can refill cartridges for a fraction of the cost of named brands.
Christmas trees
These can be recycled at all South Gloucestershire Sort It!* centres, or you can cut them up and place them inside your green wheeled bin for collection.
Computers
Computer Aid International takes certain computers and accessories such as modems and printers. They are repaired and sent out to schools in Africa.
Colin Skirton 01225 423810 – takes 486’s and above – mends and gives to disabled people living in the Bath area.
· Computers for African Schools 0117 9248549 – take 486’s/pentiums and above to send out to African schools. Will collect if there are sufficient numbers.
· Avon Youth Association 01454 868371 – takes 386’s/pentiums and above for use in community projects. Will collect if there are sufficient numbers.
· Computers for Life 0117 9392543 – provide used computers to cerebral palsy clients
Other charities may also take these goods. Look in the Yellow Pages.
Please see links opposite for further information about where you can recycle your computer.
Cooking oil – domestic
You can pour small amounts onto stale bread and leave it out for the birds. Or you can pour small amounts of vegetable oil directly onto your garden.
Demi-johns
Try to sell these through the local paper or give them away. Secondhand shops may also be able to sell these on.
Envelopes
We are no longer able to recycle envelopes as part of the green box and green bag recycling collections as these are often made from paper types that cannot be recycled into high-quality newspaper.
In the past, we have collected used envelopes because they were accepted by the paper mill. As the recycled paper market has expanded in this country, paper mills have become stricter about the materials they will accept and we must respond to the tightening specifications.
The best way to recycle your used envelopes is to remove the plastic windows and compost them at home if you have a home compost bin. We are still able to provide home compost bins at the reduced price of £14.95, which includes a free home caddy.
Fluorescent tubes and energy saving light bulbs
Please take fluorescent tubes and energy saving light bulbs from your home to a Sort It!* centre and put them in the hazardous waste container. ECT Commercial can collect a minimum of 30 tubes from businesses, for a charge. They should be in bubble wrap or their original packaging.
In view of their size, it is recommended that a quantity of energy saving bulbs are collected before a visit to the SORT IT!* Centre is made.
Junk mail
Contact the mailing preference service. They will ensure your name and address are removed from most mailing lists. When you next receive an unwanted mailing, return it – unopened – to the company concerned, and ask them to remove your name and address from their mailing list.
Mobile phones
Mobile phones can be refurbished or their precious metals can be re-used. You can take your old mobile phone back to the company's shop for recycling. Some charities, such as ActionAid, also collect phones and provide freepost envelopes for you to send in your old handset.
Paper from schools
Schools' paper is collected free of charge. Secondary schools can organise collections through ECT Commercial. Primary schools can use the kerbside collections.
Paper from offices
Contact ECT commercial. There is a charge for this service.
Paper - shredded
You can put a small amount of shredded paper in your green bin. Please put it in a cardboard box or wrap it in newspaper. Do not put it in your recycling box.
Photographic chemicals
Contact Redcliffe Professional Colour in Easton, Bristol for advice on the safe disposal of photographic chemicals. Tel: 01179 873 115
Scrap
The Children's Scrapstore in Bristol takes all sorts of scrap for children's art and play. Tel: 01179 085 644
Water butts
You can get these from Bristol Water.
Window and greenhouse glass
Try local glaziers, art projects/stained glass workshops or secondary schools, which can sometimes use old glass. The Clocktower Project in Kingswood accepts waste greenhouse glass for use in training of stained glass techniques. Tel: 0117 967 1655.
Wood
Try local secondary schools, the Wildlife Trust, or local charities.
Wormeries
The council does not offer wormeries. These are available from some garden centres or direct from the manufacturers. Try Original Organics. Tel: 0808 120 9676