Materials A-Z
Our A-Z of materials provides advice on what you can do to reduce, reuse or recycle many different items. Not sure what to do with an item of waste? Look it up using the alphabet above or see our list of frequently asked questions below.
Have we missed something? Fill out our Contact Us form if there is an item that you are unsure about and we will add it onto our list.
FAQs
Asbestos -
From January 2012 we can no longer accept unwrapped asbestos, residents will need to bring any household asbestos to our facilities wrapped up in heavy duty plastic wrapping — you can use household rubble sacks that can be bought from super markets.
Asbestos can be taken to all our HWRCs apart from Blackhorse (Bolton).
For hints and tips on safe removal of asbestos visit:
www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos
Batteries - household
Batteries should not be disposed of in your general waste
Regular batteries can be recycled at Household Waste Recycling Centres or at your local supermarket in battery recycling containers. However it is better to use rechargeable batteries or choose solar powered or wind up chargers and products (e.g. mobile phone chargers, radios, torches etc).
Clothes
Clothes in good condition should be re-used. Clothes can passed onto friends and relatives, taken to charity shops or to a jumble sale, or you may be able to sell clothes on online auction sites. Some Household Waste Recycling Centres provide clothes banks where people can deposit their unwanted clothes, sheets, towels etc.
Electrical goods
Electrical goods should not be disposed of in your general waste
If your electrical item is still working and in a useable condition, your local reuse group may be able to refurbish it, to give it a new lease of life and a new home. Visit the bulky waste page to find your nearest group.
Electrical items can also be recycled at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
NEW: We have now launched a trial electrical re-use scheme at two Household Waste Recycling Centres. The scheme will accept washing machines and tumble driers, which will be refurbished and sold back to low income families. For more information visit the Electrical Re-Use Pages.
The digital switchover started on the 4th November 2010.
Most TVs can be converted with a digital box meaning there is no need for you to dispose of it. If you choose to upgrade consider whether someone can re-use your old unit. Your DVD recorder should still work BUT it will not be possible to watch one channel and record another at the same time.
For further information visit www.digitaluk.co.uk
Oil (cooking)
Simply collect used oil in an empty plastic or glass bottle when the oil has cooled bring it on your next trip to one of the following Recycling Centres that recycles cooking oil:
Arkwright Street HWRC - Oldham
Bayley Street HWRC - Stalybridge
Bredbury HWRC - Stockport
Altrincham HWRC - Altrincham
Longley Lane HWRC - Sharston, Manchester
Rosehill HWRC - Marple
Springvale HWRC - Middleton
Waithlands HWRC - Rochdale
Hurstwood Court - Bolton
Lumns Lane HWRC - Swinton
Every Street HWRC - Bury
Cemetery Road HWRC - Radcliffe
After the cooking oil is collected it is converted into bio-fuel to produce high quality bio-fuels for the distribution and power generation industries.
Oil (engine)
Engine Oil can be recycled at you local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Pouring oil down drains is illegal and burning oil can lead to a £2000 fine. Waste engine oil can easily be recycled. Ask your local garage if they collect it.
Plastic bags
Plastic carrier bags cannot be recycled within your household collections or at Household Waste Recycling Centres, they would need to go into the non-recycalbe waste container.
Say ‘no’ to unwanted plastic carrier bags and use a bag for life. These are now readily available at most supermarkets and large chain stores for a low cost and can be used over and over again.
Single use carrier bags can be recycled at some of the major supermarkets. If you have to use a single use carrier bag, make sure that you re-use it as often as possible, perhaps in your household bin instead of buying bin liners.
Plastics
Across Greater Manchester we recycle plastic bottles only. These can be put into your recycling container at home or taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre, or bring bank.
Download our plastics leaflet for more information about plastic recycling in your area.
Why Only Plastic Bottles?
We are not able to take any other types of plastic such as yoghurt pots, food trays, margarine tubs, plastic bags and other plastic containers because they are made from low grade plastic. Low grade plastics melt at different temperatures than plastic bottles and this means that they cannot be recycled together.
For example, a bottle and a food tray both made of the same type of plastic will not be of the same grade and will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. Our technology cannot sort between the different grades of plastics, and so they can’t be recycled together.
Video cassettes
Generally video cassettes are re-usable, but if damaged or worn then they should be disposed of in the household bin. Unused cassettes can be donated to charity shops. See your local directory for details. Video cassettes, in good condition, can be donated in the media banks at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre. If your video cassette is not reusable it will need to be deposited with your non-recyclable waste.
