10 Ways to Recycle at Home

Recycling at home is an easy and practical way to reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact, keeping useful materials in circulation for longer and reducing the amount treated as residual waste. If you’re interested in being more eco-friendly at home, our 10 ways to recycle at home are an excellent place to start.

Why is Recycling Important?

The average household generates a significant amount of waste every year. According to WRAP, over 1 billion recyclable items are put into UK household rubbish bins every year instead of being recycled, meaning valuable materials are being lost rather than put back into use. By separating recyclable waste at home, you can help keep more of these materials in circulation and make better use of the resources we already have.

Recycling doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be as easy as putting the right waste in the right bin. At Chabrias, we stock a wide range of outdoor bins, pedal bins, colour-coded bins, slim bins and sack holders that enable you to recycle at home, reducing the non-recyclable waste your household produces.

Top Tips on Recycling at Home

1. Separate Your Bins 

Separating your recyclable materials into clearly designated bins or containers makes it easier to put each item in the right place. Using two or more bins for recycling can make this process as easy and convenient as possible.

2. Know What to Recycle 

Checking what your local council accepts for recycling will help you put the right materials in your recycling bins. Recycling services can vary locally, so using a recycling locator tool like the one offered by Recycle Now can ensure you aren’t trying to recycle materials that aren’t accepted locally.

3. Avoid Single-Use Plastics 

Reusable or refillable alternatives to single-use plastics can reduce the amount of packaging waste your household produces day to day. For example, swapping out disposable tupperware for reusable plastic or glass containers can help to reduce your plastic waste.

4. Rinse Your Recyclables 

Rinsing containers that held condiments or food items is an important step to prepare them for recycling. Some of the items you can clean before you put them in recycling include food and drink cartons, bottles, jars and foil trays. 

5. Recycle E-Waste 

Electrical items can often be recycled, but these cannot be placed in your recycling bin along with the cardboard or foil. Computers, tablets, mobile phones and other electronics can be taken to household waste recycling centres, while retailers may also provide take-back services for unwanted electrical items.

6. Upcycle Old Items 

Upcycling old items instead of buying something new is an effective way to reduce waste and extend the life of existing items that could end up in landfill. This could include anything from giving old furniture a new purpose to repurposing unwanted clothes. 

7. Educate Your Family

Making sure everyone you live with knows what can be recycled and where it should go can make your efforts even more effective. By getting everyone involved in recycling, you can reduce the amount you collectively put into general waste.

8. Compost Food Waste

Home composting can be an effective way to turn kitchen and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost. If you don’t have space to compost at home, check whether suitable food waste or composting services are available in your local area for items such as eggshells, coffee grounds and fruit and vegetable peelings. 

9. Recycle Cardboard Correctly

Cardboard packaging can sometimes include other materials, such as plastic, that may need to be separated before recycling. Flattening the cardboard makes this material easier to transport and store. 

10. Find Local Recycling Services 

Local recycling centres and drop-off points often accept materials that can’t be collected through your household recycling service. This includes electrical equipment, furniture and other bulky items that can’t be picked up at the kerbside.

Household Items You Can Recycle

There are plenty of household items you can recycle, including some you might not expect. From old batteries to electrical items, knowing what can be recycled can help you keep more waste out of your general rubbish:

• Batteries: Household batteries, including rechargeable and button batteries, can be recycled at dedicated collection points in many shops or through some council services.
• Energy-efficient light bulbs: These can often be recycled at larger recycling centres or dedicated collection points, although traditional incandescent bulbs generally can’t be recycled.
• Oral care products: Electric toothbrushes can be recycled through electrical recycling services, while some councils accept toothpaste tubes alongside other plastic packaging.
• Old spectacles: Some opticians and recycling centres accept unwanted glasses, with certain schemes also passing usable pairs on for reuse.
• Small electricals: Items such as phones, kettles, toasters, hairdryers and electronic toys can often be recycled through electrical recycling schemes rather than thrown in general waste.
• Aerosol cans: Empty household aerosols, such as deodorant and hairspray cans, can often be recycled with metal packaging. 
  

Make Home Recycling Easier with Chabrias

Making recycling part of your everyday routine starts with having the right bins in place. At Chabrias, you’ll find a range of practical recycling bins designed to help you separate different types of waste and keep your recycling organised at home.

With competitive prices and convenient delivery options, it’s easy to find a recycling solution that works for your household. Explore our recycling bins today and make sorting your waste simpler.