A to Z of reusing, recycling and waste disposal

A large proportion of plastic wrap packaging is difficult to recycle as it is not clear which type of plastic it is. As a general rule, if plastic wrap is stretchy (rather than tear-able), then it can be recycled in your green bin. For example, the stretchy plastic wrap that comes around food tins and drinks cans multipacks is normally recyclable in your green bin, but the tear-able film lids from fresh fruit and veg trays aren’t recyclable and should go in your black bin. Large supermarkets now provide collection containers for a wide range of plastic packaging e.g. bags and film from pasta, dried fruit, paper products, salad, fruit and vegetable products etc. They will be recycled into new plastic products.

See yogurt pots.

Plastic products labelled as biodegradable or compostable cannot currently be recycled in your green recycling or brown garden waste bin. This type of plastic should be disposed of in your black general household waste bin. Biodegradable and compostable plastics must be dealt with separately to non-biodegradable plastics such as food containers, drinks and shampoo bottles, as they cannot be recycled in the same way. Although the garden waste from your brown bin is composted, compostable plastic bags do not break down quickly enough in the process, resulting in a poor quality compost.

You can put the following types of plastic in your green recycling bin - types 1 (PET/PETE), 2 (HDPE/PE-HD), 4 (LDPE/PE-LD) and 5 (PP). These numbers are be found in a triangle on plastic items. These items include plastic bags, plastic shampoo bottles, soft drink bottles, detergent bottles and plastic milk containers.

Caps, lids, pumps and triggers can all be left on bottles as they will be recycled too.

Please try to re-use polystyrene chips if possible or pass them on to someone who will. Polystyrene can’t be recycled, so dispose of small amounts in your black household waste bin. Larger pieces can be broken down or placed in the general waste skip at your local household waste recycling centre.

If your bottles are plastic or glass, you can wash them (squashing plastic ones) and put them in your green recycling bin.

Please remember that good condition baby clothes, toys and equipment can be passed on to friends, relatives, neighbours or donated to your local charity shop. Your local nursery or playgroup may also be pleased to receive them. If you are throwing out old baby clothes, toys and equipment, please donate them to a local re-use organisation or visit the Revive Leeds re-use shop at Kirkstall or Seacroft recycling centre. They will re-use them, helping those in need.

Please see inkjet cartridges

See 'Glass (ovenproof and Pyrex)'.

If your unwanted table 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 furniture in the reuse container at your nearest recycling site. If your table is not good enough to re-use, please take it to your nearest recycling site. Wooden, MDF and chipboard tables 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 table to your local recycling centre, you can book a bulky collection online.

You can recycle your unwanted telephone directories by putting them in your green recycling bin.

If you have a flat screen or portable television that 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 TV, the retailer supplying your new appliance should offer you a take back service. Alternatively, you can recycle your TV by taking it to your nearest recycling centre, where you can put it in the TV container.

Please see Cartons.

Please donate re-useable textile items such as clothing, bedding, curtains and towels to your local charity shop. If items are ripped or torn and not good enough to be used by someone else, they can still be recycled by taking them to your nearest bring site with a textile bank or recycling centre. These are reused and sold in charity shops or shredded and reprocessed into industrial strength blankets for protecting equipment during transport.

If you have any surplus tiles, these can be broken up and used in garden projects. You can dispose of tiles* by taking them to your nearest recycling centre and putting them in the Bricks and Rubble container. These will be used for cover and to create roads on landfill sites. *Restrictions apply for disposing of some types of rubbish at our household recycling centres including tiles. To find out more please see our guide to DIY waste disposal.