Learn what to do with each material

Reuse

• Offer sturdy boxes to neighbours who are moving or storing items.
• Use as sheet mulch under garden beds (remove tape and labels).

Repair

• Reinforce weak corners with paper tape and reuse for storage.

Donate / share

• Schools and nurseries often accept clean boxes for craft projects — ask first.

Recycle

• Flatten and keep dry. Remove plastic tape where possible.
• Greasy or food-soiled cardboard (e.g. pizza boxes) is often not accepted — check local rules.

Reuse

• Use single-sided paper for notes, drafts or children's drawing.

Donate / share

• Clean scrap paper can help schools, clubs or community centres.

Recycle

• Recycle clean, dry paper. Shredded paper and glossy or laminated paper may need separate handling — check local rules.

Reuse

• Clean rigid containers can store small parts, seeds or craft supplies.
• Plant pots and trays can go to seedling swaps or gardening groups.

Donate / share

• Garden groups and allotments often welcome pots and trays.

Recycle

• Check the resin code (the number in the triangle): codes 1 and 2 are widely accepted, others vary by area.
• Rinse containers; remove food residue.

Reuse

• Clean bags can be reused for shopping or storage before disposal.

Recycle

• Plastic bags, film and wrappers usually are NOT accepted in household recycling — they jam sorting machinery.
• Many supermarkets run soft-plastic collection points; check locally.

Reuse

• Jars with lids are useful for refill shops, preserving and storage.

Donate / share

• Refill stalls, food co-ops or home preservers may accept clean jars.

Recycle

• Rinse and recycle bottles and jars. Window glass, mirrors, cookware and light bulbs usually go elsewhere — check local rules.

Reuse

• Tins can become pen pots or planters (file sharp edges first).
• Offer bike parts and tools to repair groups.

Repair

• Tools and furniture with loose parts can often be fixed at a repair event.

Donate / share

• Community repair stands may accept bike parts and hand tools.

Recycle

• Rinse cans and recycle. Larger scrap metal usually goes to a scrap metal dealer or recycling centre.

Reuse

• Wearable clothes can be swapped or listed on the Reuse Exchange.
• Old towels and t-shirts make good cleaning rags.

Repair

• Small tears, loose buttons and broken zips are often quick fixes at a repair event.

Donate / share

• Clean, wearable items can go to charity shops, school uniform swaps or shelters — check what they accept.

Recycle

• Unwearable textiles can go to textile recycling banks rather than general waste, where available.

Reuse

• Solid furniture can be listed on the Reuse Exchange — someone nearby may need it.
• Wooden offcuts suit craft projects, shelving repairs or kindling (untreated wood only).

Repair

• Loose joints, wobbly legs and scratched surfaces are classic repair-event fixes.

Donate / share

• Charity furniture shops and community groups often collect usable items — ask first.

Recycle

• Broken wood furniture can go to a recycling centre; treated or painted wood may need separate handling.

Reuse

• Working devices can be listed on the Reuse Exchange or passed to family and friends.

Repair

• Working-but-faulty items with simple external faults may be fixable at a supervised repair event.

Donate / share

• Some charities refurbish working devices — wipe personal data first.

Recycle

• Take electronics to an official e-waste (WEEE) collection point or retailer take-back scheme. Do not put them in household bins.

Recycle

• Take all batteries to a designated battery collection point — many shops and recycling centres have one.
• Lithium-ion batteries (phones, laptops, vapes, power tools) cause fires in bins and collection trucks — never bin them.

Reuse

• Working lamps and light fittings can be listed on the Reuse Exchange.

Repair

• A new plug or switch often fixes a lamp — ask at a repair event.

Donate / share

• Working lamps in good condition may be accepted by charity shops.

Recycle

• LED and fluorescent bulbs/tubes go to designated collection points, not household bins — fluorescent tubes contain mercury.

Reuse

• Usable leftover paint can be offered to community projects or neighbours — sealed tins only.

Donate / share

• Some community repaint schemes accept usable leftover paint — check locally.

Recycle

• Liquid paint, solvents and chemicals are hazardous waste: use a designated household hazardous waste collection point.
• Let small amounts of water-based paint dry out completely before disposal where local rules allow.

Recycle

• Return unused or expired medicines to a pharmacy take-back scheme — never bin or flush them.
• Needles and sharps go in a proper sharps container to a designated collection point.

Reuse

• Usable bricks, tiles, timber offcuts and fixtures can be listed on the Reuse Exchange.
• Clean rubble can be reused as hardcore for paths and landscaping.

Donate / share

• Community building projects or reuse centres may accept surplus materials.

Recycle

• Inert rubble usually goes to a recycling centre; plasterboard often needs separate disposal — check local rules.

Reuse

• Finished compost is valued by community gardens and allotments.

Donate / share

• Surplus, in-date, sealed food may be accepted by food banks or community fridges — follow their rules.

Recycle

• Use a home compost bin or your local food-waste collection, if available.

Reuse

• Whole tyres can become garden planters or playground equipment if clean and sound.

Recycle

• Tyres are usually accepted at recycling centres or tyre fitters, sometimes for a small fee — never dump or burn them.

Reuse

• Working appliances can be listed on the Reuse Exchange — describe age and condition honestly.

Repair

• Many faults (seals, filters, elements) are repairable; ask at a repair event or a local repairer.

Donate / share

• Some charities accept and test working appliances — ask before transporting.

Recycle

• Large appliances are collected by many councils or retailers on delivery of a new one, or go to an e-waste point.
• Fridges and freezers contain refrigerant gases and must be degassed by licensed handlers.

Reuse

• Books and toys in good condition are ideal for the Reuse Exchange — they have long useful lives.

Repair

• Loose book spines and simple toy fixes are easy repairs with glue or tape.

Donate / share

• Libraries, schools, shelters and charity shops often welcome clean books and toys — ask first.

Recycle

• Heavily damaged books can be recycled as paper (remove hard covers if required locally).
• Broken plastic toys are rarely recyclable — check local rules before binning.

Reuse

• Clean gift wrap, boxes and bubble wrap can be reused for posting and storage.

Recycle

• Separate materials where possible: paper, card and rigid plastic recycle better apart than bonded together.
• Foil-lined and laminated packaging is often not recyclable — check local rules.

Recycle

• Nappies, sanitary products, wipes and PPE are not recyclable or reusable — bag them and use general waste.
• Even 'flushable' wipes block sewers — never flush them.

Reuse

• Describe the item on the Reuse Exchange — someone nearby may have a use for it.

Repair

• Ask at a local repair event whether it can be fixed.

Donate / share

• Charity shops and community groups may accept it if it is clean and working.

Recycle

• For items you are unsure about, check your local waste collection rules or recycling centre before disposal.