Materials A-Z

Cans

Cans can be recycled in your recycling container at your home, they can also be taken toHousehold Waste Recycling Centre. There is no need to sort the aluminium cans from the steel ones. It doesn't matter whether it's a drinks can, a food can or a pet food can.

Cardboard & card packaging

Put this in your mixed paper and card recycling container at your home. Card can also be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre. Large cardboard sheets are useful in the garden as a weed suppressing mulch when covered with compost. Shredded cardboard also makes great animal bedding.

Carpet

There are a number of reuse groups that operate across Greater Manchester that can collect good quality house hold items and give them a new home. Visit the bulky waste page to find your nearest group.

You can recycle carpet and vinyl flooring as part of a pilot scheme starting from the 7th March 2011 at Lumns Lane HWRC, Salford and Chichester Street (Waithlands) HWRC, Rochdale.

Your local District or Borough Council may operate a collection service for large bulky household items. Carpet can also be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre free of charge.
 

Carrier bags

Plastic carrier bags cannot be recycled within your household collections or at Household Waste Recycling Centrs. The only type of plastic that we currently recycle in Greater Manchester is plastic bottles, Please see 'plastics' for more information

Say ‘no’ to unwanted plastic carrier bags and use a bag for life, these are readily available now at most supermarkets and large chain stores for a low cost, come in a variety of styles and designs and can be used over and over again.

Single use carrier bags can be recycled at some of the major supermarkets. The best thing though, is to reuse them as often as possible.

Cartons (Food and Drink)

You can recycle your empty food and drink cartons i.e. fruit juice, milk or tomato carton  in your mixed paper and card recycling. They are commonly referred to as Tetra Pak

Catalogues

Catalogues can be recycled in your mixed paper and card recycling container at your home. They can also be taken to paper banks at all Household Waste Recycling Centres.

CDs

Old CD’s make good mobile for the garden and are very effective at keeping birds away from your vegetable patch. They could also be donated for re-use at your local charity shop and some charities run recycling programmes for CD’s aswell. Alternatively, CDs in good condition, can be donated in the media banks at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
 

Cesspits and septic tanks

There are a number of companies offering services related to septic tanks and cesspits in the region. Please see the telephone directory for details.

Charity shops

Most charity shops will accept books, clothes, homeware, records, shoes, tapes and toys. A few will take other items. Your should always check with your local charity shop if they want the items you wish to donate. For a full list of charity shops in your area contsult the Yellow Pages

Chemicals

Unwanted chemicals can be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre for safe disposal, ensure that container lids are secured, and if possible containers have a label. When on site please ask a recycling advisor for advise on where to place your chemicals.

Christmas cards

You can reuse the front of your best Christmas Cards for gift tags next year and then Recycle what’s left in you mixed paper and card recycling container at your home. They can also be taken to a card bank at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre. After Christmas the Woodland Trust runs a special Christmas card collection scheme and in 2011 the partners are TK-Maxx and Marks and Spencer.

Christmas trees (real)

Take your real Christmas tree to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre for recycling. Your Christmas tree can also be recycled via your kerbside green waste collection service if you have one available check with your local district council what services they provide.

Christmas wrapping paper

Recycle wrapping paper in you mixed paper and card recycling container at your home. They can also be taken to a paper bank at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Civic amenity sites

See Household Waste Recycling Centres
This is the old term for Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).
 

Clinical waste

Clinical waste is mainly produced by hospitals, doctors' surgeries and veterinary practices, but also arises from residential homes, nursing homes and private households.
Examples of clinical waste include:
• Human or animal tissue
• Blood
• Syringes
There are companies offering a service for commercial premises, please see the waste disposal services section of the Yellow Pages for more information.
 

Clothes

Clothes in good condition should be taken to charity shops or taken to a jumble sale. Some Household Waste Recycling Centres provide clothes banks where people can deposit their unwanted clothes, sheets etc.

Coat Hangers

Leave unwanted coat hangers at the shop when you make your new purchase, as they can not be recycled across Greater Manchester.

Coins

Foreign coins and out of date British currency can be taken to your local charity shop. Many banks will collect them too - ask your local branch for details.

Commercial waste

Any property that is commercially rated must pay for the removal of their waste by a licensed waste carrier. You can either ask your local District or Borough Council or a private waste disposal/recycling company to collect it or take it to a private waste disposal/recycling facility yourself. Consult the Yellow Pages for details.

Compost bins

Getting  a home compost bin is an easy, low-cost way to dispose of organic waste. Compost bins can also be purchased from garden centres and DIY stores at standard prices.

Composting

Composting is an excellent way to recycle garden and kitchen waste. You can make your own compost to make your garden flourish.

Computers

Why not ask your local school if they would like a computer donated to them. Alternatively you could try www.donateapc.org.uk  or www.computersforcharities.co.uk. Be sure to clear your hard drive, etc. before donating your PC.
If your computer is past the donation stage then they can be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.
 

Cookers

Your local reuse group may be able to refurbish your old and worn out cooker to give it a new lease of life for a new home. Visit the bulky waste page to find your nearest group.
They can also be taken to most Household Waste Recycling Centres.
 

Crisp packets

These can not be recycled as they are made from a combination of metal and plastic.

Cycles

See Bicycles