A to Z of reusing, recycling and waste disposal

Use the search below to see where you can reuse, recycle or dispose of your waste.

Want to recycle more? Find out what else you can recycle in your local area using Recycle Now's recycling locator.

You can also find handy hints on how to reduce, reuse and recycle more on the #LeedsByExample website.

Jam jars

Jam jars - please see Glass Jars and Bottles

Jewellery
Unwanted jewellery can be taken to charity and second hand shops.
Jigsaw puzzles
Donate complete jigsaw puzzles to your local charity shop.
Junk mail

You can stop junk mail by registering with the Mail Preference Service: Telephone 0207 291 3310. MPS Freepost 22 London, WE1 7EZ. Junk mail can be recycled using your green recycling bin. Please remove all plastic packaging before recycling.

Lamp and light fittings

If these are still in working order, please donate them to your local charity shop or reuse organisation. If they are not good enough to reuse please recycle your lamp/light fitting by taking it to your nearest recycling centre, where you can put it in the small electrical waste container.

Leaflets

Please recycle your unwanted leaflets and flyers in your green recycling bin, your nearest bring site or recycling centre . They will be recycled into new paper products.

Lightbulbs

Try to buy low energy lightbulbs, particularly for rooms where lights are left on for long periods of time. This will save money on energy and by not replacing lightbulbs so often. Low energy lightbulbs can be recycled at your nearest household waste recycling centre. Other types of (incandescent) lightbulbs cannot be recycled at present. These should be wrapped in newspaper and placed in your black household bin.

Walking aids

Crutches, zimmer frames and metal walking sticks can be taken to Leeds City Council's household waste and recycling centres at Kirkstall, Pudsey, Seacroft and Yeadon - look for the big yellow bin. Reusable walking aids are cleaned and redistributed by the NHS. Broken equipment is recycled.

Walking sticks

See 'Walking aids'.

Wardrobe

If your unwanted wardrobe is good enough to be used by others, donate it to a local re-use organisation. You can also take it to the Revive Leeds re-use shop at the Kirkstall or Seacroft recycling centre. Alternatively, put your wardrobe in the reuse container at your nearest recycling centre. If your wardrobe is not good enough to re-use, please take it to your nearest recycling centre. Wooden, MDF and chipboard wardrobes can be recycled in the timber skip. Other furniture should be put in the non-recyclable waste skip. If you are unable to take your furniture to your local recycling centre, you can book a bulky collection online.

Washing machine

If your washing machine is in good working order, you can donate it to a local reuse organisation. You can also take it to the Revive Leeds re-use shop at the Kirkstall or Seacroft recycling centre. If you are replacing a broken washing machine, the retailer supplying your new appliance should offer you a take back service. Alternatively, you can recycle your washing machine by taking it to your nearest recycling centre, where you can put it in the electrical container. If you are unable to do this, you can book a bulky waste collection online.

WEEEbanks

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). There are a number of containers around Leeds for the collection of small electrical items such as irons, kettles, mobile phones etc. Site locations are listed below:

  • Asda - Holt Park
  • Asda - Kirkstall Road
  • Co-op - Kippax
  • Crusader PH - Garforth
  • Factory Shop car park - Garforth
  • Fox and Hounds PH - Bramhope
  • Headingley Taps PH - Headingley
  • Leeds University - Lifton Place 
  • Morrisons - Harehills
  • Morrisons - Hunslet
  • Morrisons - Rothwell
  • Morrisons - Kirkstall
  • Morrisons - Morley
  • Morrisons - Wetherby
  • Rawdon library - Rawdon
  • Sainsbury's - Colton
  • Sainsbury's - Moor Allerton
  • Sainsbury's - Otley
  • Sainsbury's - White Rose Shopping Centre
  • Street Lane LS27 7HX - Gildersome
  • Waitrose, Green Road - Meanwood
Windows (glass)
Please see Glass (sheet)
Windows (UPVC)

Please take your windows to your nearest recycling centre and put them in the general waste container.

Wood
Please see Timber