A-Z of reducing, reusing and recycling your rubbish

The Reuse Directory A FREE A-Z of items you no longer need but which can be reused and recycled locally. The Directory includes advice on how to reduce the amount of rubbish you produce. It also contains a list of organisations and charities that may be able to take the items you no longer need, for reuse or recycling. The Directory has been compiled by North Dorset District Council in partnership with the Dorset Reuse and Recycling Group (DRRG). How can I get a copy? The directory can be downloaded here. To order a directory by post please contact Ian Manley at North Dorset District Council.  Email: imanley@north-dorset.gov.uk. Tel: 01258484131 Copies can also be found in your local leisure centres libraries, medical centres.

Please also use our A to Z below:

Aerosols - see kerbside recycling or recycling bring banks

Aluminium foil - see recycling bring banks

Batteries - see Household Recycling Centres

Bags - Use a canvas shopping bag whenever you can.  Many supermarkets have put up recycling banks specifically for plastic bags.

Beds- see Furniture

Bicycles - Bicycles can be reused or recycled.  Bicycles are collected by Re-Cycle, the bicycle charity. The bicycles are sent to developing countries where they are repaired and reused.  See Recycle Now Bicycles

Books - see recycling bring banks or take to a local charity shops, sell them at a car boot sale or jumble sale or donate them to your local hospital.

Bin Liners - Next time you buy your bin liners, see if you can buy recycled.

Bottles - see kerbside recycling or recycling bring banks

Cans- see kerbside recycling or recycling bring banks

Cardboard - see Household Recycling Centres or organic recycling scheme or home composting

Cards - see Christmas recycling

CD’s- Sell them at a car boot sale or through an auction web site

Christmas Trees - see Christmas recycling

Clothing - see recycling bring banks or sell or donate your old clothing at charity shops, car boot sales, jumble sales or sell them through an auction web site.

Computers - see IT hardware recycling

Computer Cartridges - see Mobile Phones and Print Cartridges

Composting - see organic recycling scheme or home composting

Dorset Scrap Store - Collects arts & craft materials see www.dorsetscrapstore.org.uk

Egg Boxes - see organic recycling scheme or home composting

Engine Oil - see Oil or Household Recycling Centres

Envelopes- see kerbside recycling

Foil - see recycling bring banks

Food Waste - see organic recycling scheme or home composting

Fridges/ Freezers - see Household Recycling Centres or bulky collection service

Furniture - see Furniture

Gas Cylinders see -  LP Gas Association Cylinder Retrieval Scheme

Glass - see kerbside recycling or recycling bring banks

Glasses- Donate to charities to help those in third world countries - see Uk charity Vision Aid Overseas or Recycle Now Spectacles page

Green Waste - see Garden Waste

Ink jet cartridges- see Mobile Phones and Print Cartridges

Jars- see kerbside recycling or recycling bring banks

Junk Mail - see Junk Mail

Kitchen Waste - see organic recycling scheme or home composting

Light bulbs -  Buy energy efficient light bulbs, they last longer and are much better value for money.  But best of all, they reduce the amount of light bulbs sent to landfill each year.

Magazines - see kerbside recycling or recycling bring banks or alternatively donate them to doctors surgeries, dentists, hospitals to be used in waiting areas.

Material - see recycling bring banks

Medicines - All medicines whether they are used or unused can be taken to local chemists for safe disposal.

Mobile Phones- see Mobile Phones and Print Cartridges

Nappies - see reusable nappies

Newspapers - see kerbside recycling or recycling bring banks

Oil - see Oil or Household Recycling Centres

Organic waste - see organic recycling scheme or home composting

Paper - see kerbside recycling or recycling bring banks

Paint - see Household Recycling Centres or  Recycle Now Paint page.

Packaging - Reduce the amount of packaging you produce by buying loose fruit and vegetables and re-use plastic bags for loose fruit and vegetables.

Rubble- see Household Recycling Centres

Remarkable Products - see www.remarkable.co.uk for recycled stationary made from old car tyres, plastic cups and computer printers.

Records - Sell them at a car boot sale or through an auction web site.

Spectacles -  Donate to charities to help those in third world countries - see Uk charity Vision Aid Overseas or Recycle Now Spectacles page

Stamps -Charities sell the stamps to dealers (per kilo) and use the money to fund their projects. Many charities will be glad to receive your stamps, here are a few examples:

• Help the Aged
• Guide Dogs for the Blind Association can supply collection boxes and posters. Your stamps will help to feed and train guide dogs.
• Your stamps can save the albatross with the RSBP!
• Oxfam can use your stamps and foreign coins.
• You can also post your stamp collection to Leukaemia Care

Also see Recycle Now Stamps

Shoes -  see recycling bring banks or sell or donate your old shoes at charity shops, car boot sales, jumble sales or sell them through an auction web site.

Textiles - see recycling bring banks

Telephone Directories - see Yellow Pages

Toys-  If your toys are in good working order donate to charities, toy libraries, local church, playgroup or hospital.  You could also try selling your toys at boot sales, jumble sales or through an auction web site.

Tools - 'Tools with a Mission’ is a local conservation charity which provides tools to poverty relief projects overseas. They accept a variety of tools including sewing machines and typewriters. Unfortunately they cannot accept garden tools.  The tools do need to be in good condition. Contact the local regional collectors 01202 887767 (Wimborne) and 01305 264878 (Dorchester).

Tyres - see Household Recycling Centres

Unwanted items - see Furniture

Wood - see Household Recycling Centres

Wormeries - see the wiggly wigglers website

Yellow Pages- see kerbside recycling or recycling bring banks