The Complete A-Z Waste and Recycling Guide

Tins of leftover paint cannot be put into your regular household rubbish bins. They also can not be poured down the drain. Empty metal paint tins can be recycled at recycling centres, but, unfortunately, empty plastic paint containers aren't yet widely recycled. Even though plastic paint containers aren't yet recycled your local recycling centre will be able to accept these for disposal. Pain tins must be empty because landfill sites don't take liquid or hazardous waste.

Coffee cups are generally not accepted in household recycling collection schemes. Still, they can now be returned for recycling at some high street coffee store chains and drop-off points through the Paper coffee cups can also be recycled in food and drink cartons banks at household recycling centres.

Pet waste including used cat litter and dog waste should be bagged separately and put in your general waste bin at home. Pet waste should not be put in your food and garden waste bin.

Providing it is stored in a sealed container, you can take it to your local recycling facility. However, not all centres accept petrol, but if you ring up, they will be able to advise you about the best solution and where to take it.

If you have removed the plasterboard yourself in your own home, you can take it to your local recycling centre. However, if you've had some home improvement work done the plasterboard it is classed as business waste and can no longer be taken to household recycling centres. Contact us for help with plasterboard disposal services for business waste.

Local authorities widely collect plastic bottles across the UK; plastic bottles should be emptied and be put in your recycling bin at home. You can also take them to your local recycling facility and bottle banks. Plastic bottles that can be recycled include drinks bottles, non-chemical cleaning product bottles, skip care product bottles, milk bottles and other common coloured and clear plastic bottles from around the home. Bottles that have contained chemicals are not accepted for recycling.

The vast majority of local authorities throughout the UK now offer collection services for plastic recycling either through your household recycling collection or at recycling centres. You can recycle the majority of common household plastics but, there are many different types of plastic in use, and some still can't be recycled. We still require new technology before we are able to recycle more plastics effectively.

Polystyrene should go in your general waste bin. This includes polystyrene takeaway containers, polystyrene cups & plates and polystyrene packaging. To save space in your bin break up larger pieces of polystyrene. Rather than throwing away polystyrene, you could reuse it to protect packages you send, or it could be used as drainage in the bottom of a plant pot.

The difference between Pyrex and glass is that Pyrex is tempered glass and used for cooking. It has been specially treated during the manufacturing process to withstand high temperatures from cooking; unfortunately, this makes it non-recyclable, unlike regular glass. Dispose of Pyrex cookware in your general waste bin, or if it's still in good condition, you can take this to a charity shop.