A to Z of reusing, recycling and waste disposal

Bubble wrap is useful in the garden as it can be used to protect plants from frost. Bubble wrap can be recycled by putting it in your green recycling bin or taking it to your nearest bring site or recycling centre. It is recycled into new plastic products.

Bricks and other building materials can be cleaned and used for a wide variety of projects around the house or garden for example paths, edging, raised beds, compost heaps or barbeques. Bricks* and rubble* can be taken to your nearest recycling centre and put in the skips marked Bricks and Rubble. These items will be used for roads and surface cover on landfill sites. *Restrictions apply for disposing of some types of rubbish at our household recycling sites including bricks and rubble. To find out more please see our guide to DIY waste disposal.

Please consider donating large furniture items that are in reasonable condition and working electrical appliances to local re-use organisations (please note mattresses and three piece suites will need a fire label). Many of these organisations will come and collect them from your home. Freecycle is also another way to pass your unwanted items to others who may need them. If your unwanted items are not suitable to be used again, you can take them to your nearest recycling centre. If you are unable to do this, you can book a bulky waste collection online. These items will be recycled where possible.

Crutches, zimmer frames and metal walking sticks can be taken to our household waste and recycling centres at Kirkstall, Meanwood, Middleton, Pudsey, Seacroft, Wetherby and Yeadon - look for the big yellow bin. 

Reusable walking aids are cleaned and redistributed by the NHS. Broken equipment is recycled.

See 'Walking aids'.

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.

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.

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

Please see Glass (sheet)

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

Please see Timber

Please see Garden Waste

Please donate unwanted balls of knitting wool to your local charity shop. Any old or damaged wool can be composted in your compost bin/heap.

With the exception of the shiny metallic and glitter varieties, wrapping paper can be recycled in your green bin. To find out if paper is recyclable try the scrunch test, paper that is recyclable stays in a ball when it is scrunched.

You can put writing paper into your green bin.