14 Things you probably didn’t know you could recycle

Over recent years, as a society, we have become more aware of sustainability and as a result, our recycling rates have increased. People know the usual items that can be recycled such as plastic, paper, plastic bottles etc however, there is a range of surprising things you probably didn’t know you could recycle. Here, we discuss some of these lesser-known recycled products.

Inhalers 
Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of inhalers are casually thrown away once they are finished with. Many pharmacies will in fact accept these and get them recycled. Check with your local pharmacy first to see if they will take them from you.

Bottle Corks
Recycled corks can be used for a range of items including flooring, sports equipment or insulation among others.

Crayons 
Crayons can easily be recycled and reused in the comfort of your own home. When you have small pieces of crayon left, melt them down into moulds to reincarnate them into brand new crayons. You can mix the colours up for a fun, multi-coloured crayon that the kids will love using.

Tights 
This is one you may not realise but tights can be recycled and repurposed into a range of other products.

VHS Tapes
If you have any of these relics lying around your home (probably hidden in a corner of the attic) you can actually recycle them. They can be dismantled and the pieces reused.

Batteries
Until recently batteries were an item that could not be recycled. However, ways have now be discovered to responsible recycle batteries due to the severe adverse impact they can have on the environment. There are many places that now accept batteries and will take them to be recycled such as supermarkets.

Glasses
If you need a new prescription you may not know what to do with your old pair of glasses. If you return them to your opticians, many have a program in place where they send them to developing countries that are in dire need of them. This can also apply to sunglasses.

Carpet 
When it comes to replacing an old carpet in your home, don’t automatically throw it away. There are some companies that accept carpet and take it away for recycling to reduce the amount that ends up in the landfill. 

CDs and DVDs
Don’t throw your CDs and DVDs away once you have no need for them or if they are damaged. They can be recycled and repurposed into a myriad of other items.

Mobile phones
Old mobile phones can quickly start to build up at the back of drawers when you get an upgrade. Many people keep their old mobiles because they don’t know what else they can do with them. However, they can be recycled. Check your local recycling centre to see if they accept them.

Toothbrushes
Toothbrushes are one of the most common household items but consider recycling them rather than merely throwing them away. The plastic handle and the bristles can both be reused in a variety of ways

Fluorescent Light Bulbs 
It may be surprising that fluorescent light bulbs can be recycled but it's true. Some stores such as IKEA actively collect these bulbs for recycling so bear that in mind when you replace your bulbs in the future.

Sports Shoes
Sports shoes are made of a range of materials from plastic, cotton, nylon, metal and more. All sports shoes can be recycled so once you have no more need for them

Christmas Lights
Christmas Lights often end up in landfill once they start to lose their sparkle and no longer work. Rather than chucking them away in the rubbish, check your local recycling centre or online as some companies will accept your non-working lights and have them processed so that as much of the lights as possible can be recycled.

Although these items are recyclable, they may not be able to just be placed in your regular household bins. Once you realise what can be recycled, check what the best way to recycle the item is as they vary from product to product.

Recycling is an important part that we can all play to help protect the environment. So, next time you have a clear out of your house or taking the rubbish out to the bin, ensure you take a moment to ensure you are not missing out a chance to recycle and reduce your household waste. 
 
To find out more about how we can help you with your waste disposal and recycling needs, please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.