Recycling in the Home

telly-addict

SuiDreams wrote:

Just to say, that Brita Filters can be sent back 6 at a time to a freepost address to be recycled. (Was on the Instruction Leaflet of my new filter). Let me know if anyone needs the address.

From the Brita website:

Are Brita cartridges recyclable?
All components of the Brita cartridge are recyclable. Cartridges returned to Brita will be returned to our own recycling plant in Germany where the component parts are separated and processed for secondary use.

DO_YOU_KNOW_DAVE

I found this https://www.tectan.de

I work in a printing factory. Last night I was kicking about one of these puck like things that comes out of the reels of paper. I noticed it had a recycle logo on it and the Tectan registered trade mark on it so looked it up.
A great idea I thought. Shame that the printing industry is so waste full though.

spydad

All good tips,
Wash your tin foil and recycle it, its the same as the blue peter milk bottle tops.
My mom used to melt down bits of soap and remold them into new bars, don't do this myself but always seemed to work back then.
News paper to make windows shine when you are cleaning them. (Also old style cleaning tip).
Re-cycle old CD's as reflectors they are just mirrors really.

spydad

Another one is to take a pop bottle cut it down 4" from the bottom, cut 2" from the top down the staight sides put the top inside the bottom and you have an anti spill water jug for when the kids are painting. wash you brush through the opening that used to be the top. (have to put water in it of course!)

spydad

My family has always circulated magazines around all of the relevant people. Used to cart then around for ages and get the next lot when yours went onto the next person.
Also you can make a good quiz by cutting the logo's and names out of adverts in mags and then setting people the task of identifying te product/company. Good light entertainment at parties. Nursery also use them for cutting and sticking.

Liney_2

I took my old magazines to the hospital last week when I visited for the waiting room - they were over the moon.

Also the thin plastic bags you get from the supermarkets for putting veggies in - use them as poo-bags for cleaning up after your dog - make sure they don't have holes in though as it could get messy!!



I have a pair of kitchen scissors that has a split in the handle without thinking I just went out and bought a new set (naughty me) but when I got home I couldn't bare to throw the old ones in the bin (I can't imagine how many hundreds of years they would take to decompose) so I wonder what I can do with them now - someone could repair tham with a bit of tape and find a good use for them (in the garden maybe) in fact I think I'll keep them now and pop them in my greenhouse for trimming the herbs (just sold myself on the idea!!)

Can someone tell me if its better to crush cans or bottles before putting them in my council recycling box? Does it make a difference?

soba

Liney wrote:

Can someone tell me if its better to crush cans or bottles before putting them in my council recycling box? Does it make a difference?

I've started squashing my cans now. I've had a can crusher for a while (from Lakeland) but didn't bother to crush them now that we get a doorstep collection. But I figure that if I crush the cans it'll take twice as long to fill the collection box, so they only need to call half as often. If everyone did the same the vehicle would only collect every 4 weeks instead of fortnightly. Then again I suppose that could mean job cuts.

Liney_2

soba wrote:

I've started squashing my cans now. I've had a can crusher for a while (from Lakeland) but didn't bother to crush them now that we get a doorstep collection. But I figure that if I crush the cans it'll take twice as long to fill the collection box, so they only need to call half as often. If everyone did the same the vehicle would only collect every 4 weeks instead of fortnightly. Then again I suppose that could mean job cuts.

And thats a whole other ethical dilema - a good thought though. x

gritts

soba wrote:

I've started squashing my cans now. I've had a can crusher for a while (from Lakeland) but didn't bother to crush them now that we get a doorstep collection. But I figure that if I crush the cans it'll take twice as long to fill the collection box, so they only need to call half as often. If everyone did the same the vehicle would only collect every 4 weeks instead of fortnightly. Then again I suppose that could mean job cuts.

Even better would be to take some of the tins if you happen to be visiting somewhere with recycling centre bins (like your supermarket). I fill up my recycle box but if I happen to be walking past the bins then I'll take some along with me. It just feels like you cut out the middle man - ie the guy in a van who drives around collecting all the recycling.

My council actively encourages you only to put the boxes including our compost bin when they are full.

It is always to better to crush tins - takes up less space in the main recycling bins and therefore they don't need to be emptied so much.

Quasar

An empty washing up liquid bottle, cut one quarter from the top, makes a useful funnel. That's the only kind I use and never bought one.

Don't throw away your soap ends. When you have a few, put them in a stocking foot, tie a knot to close it and use as a handy soap in the garden or kitchen.