The Complete A-Z Waste and Recycling Guide

Batteries can't go in general waste bins, but you can take batteries to your local recycling centre. Regular household batteries can also be recycled at most supermarkets or electrical stores. For businesses, waste management companies such as ourselves can provide boxes specifically for batteries.

Glass beer bottles and most other types of glass bottles go in your mixed recycling bins or public bottle banks. For businesses in the hospitality sector bottles often go in dry mixed recycling bins of bins specifically for glass bottles.

Before thinking about recycling your books, why not donate them to a charity shop or pass them on to a friend or family member? If they are not in a condition to reuse, they can go in your mixed recycling at home. Alternatively, you can use a service like webuybooks.co.uk.

Bottles, both glass and plastic can be recycled, and both go in your recycling bins at home or in bottle banks found at recycling centres, supermarkets and other public places. For business recycling services, bottles should go in your dry mixed recycling bins or specific wheelie bins for bottles. Bottle bins are common in the hospitality industry and pubs.

Bricks and other building waste is not part of household recycling schemes and usually require a skip for disposal. Building waste often requires a waste carriers licence to transport it, so it's best left to skip hire and waste management companies. Undamaged bricks can be reused as they can last for hundreds of years.

Paper-based brochures, including glossed paper brochures, can be recycled and should go in your mixed recycling bins. Both coloured and black and white brochures/flyers/booklets can be recycled. However, some brochures with polymer coatings may not be recyclable.

Some councils now allow for the recycling of bubble wrap in household collections, but this is still very limited service. Check your local council website for more information. Alternatively, bubble wrap can be recycled at plastic bag collection points found at supermarkets and recycling centres.

For small amounts of building waste from a DIY project, you can usually take this to your local waste and recycling centre. However, building debris from construction work usually requires skip hire from a waste management company to dispose of and recycle the building materials.

Bulky household items include furniture which if in good condition can be donated to charity shops. For one-off collections, your local council can provide a service for this, apply for a collection here. For more items and house clearances skip hire is a great solution.

Business waste is any waste produced by tradespeople/builders, any waste that comes from commercial activities and any waste produced on business premises including homes, offices, shops and warehouses. Business cannot put waste in household bins. For more information about business waste, see our waste management services.