A-Z How to recycle different materials
Please wash and squash items in your kerbside recycling collection where possible. When taking things to a Household Waste Recycling Centre (the tip), make sure you use the appropriate section (often not the 'general waste' container) to make sure it gets recycled.
Aerosols - put these in your kerbside box with cans, or take to a bring site
Aluminium trays - add to your kerbside box, or take to a bring site
Asbestos - cannot be recycled. If you are not using an approved waste operator to remove it, small amounts of hard-bonded asbestos from homes can be double-wrapped and taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at Frizington. Call ahead first on 0300 003 1118.
Bathroom suites - these can't be recycled, so use our bulky collection service or look at our Donate, Sell, Swap page.
Batteries - these are accepted for recycling at many supermarkets and electrical retailers. They cannot be placed in your waste bin or recycling boxes.
Bikes - Donate, Sell or Swap, or use our bulky waste collection service.
Books - take these to a local charity shop, or put them in the book bank at the HWRC
Bric-a-brac - take to a local charity shop, or see our pages on repairing, selling and swapping.
Bricks and rubble - these can be taken to a HWRC and placed in the appropriate bank (not the general waste bank)
Cans (drinks) - we collect these in our kerbside scheme, and they are accepted at bring sites.
Car batteries - these can be taken to the HWRC. Some garages may also accept them.
Cardboard - put this in your cardboard recycling bag, or take it to a bring site.
Carrier bags - many supermarkets accept these for recycling.
CDs - Donate, Sell and Swap, or take to an HWRC and put in the appropriate section (not currently available at Millom HWRC)
Christmas cards - remove glittery or foiled parts and out in your kerbside bag, take to a bring site or put in the cardboard bank at an HWRC.
Christmas trees - cut up and place in your garden waste bin, or put in the garden waste skip at the HWRC.
Clingfilm - this can't be recycled and goes in your household waste bin.
Clothes - see our pages on how to donate, sell, swap, mend and reuse. There are also hoppers at HWRCs, many recycling points and outside some fire stations.
Crisp packets - Terracycle and Walkers collect these for recycling. Check for your nearest collection point.
DVDs - Donate, Sell and Swap, or take to an HWRC and put in the appropriate section (not currently available at Millom HWRC)
Electrical goods - these can be put in the appropriate section at the HWRC, or why not Donate, Sell and Swap? Please do not put electrical items in your household waste as they can ignite when crushed.
Engine oil - this can be taken to Frizington HWRC. It cannot be added to your household waste.
Flourescent tubes - take to a HWRC. They will be taken away for recycling.
Food waste - some of this can be added to compost heaps (eg egg shells, veg peelings and plastic-free teabags) and even cooked food can be put in a food digester (see our composting page.) It cannot be put in your garden waste bin.
Furniture - if it is in good condition and complies with fire regulations, many charities accept furniture for resale or to pass to those in need.
Garden waste - put in your brown wheelie bin for collection, use the garden section of an HWRC, or see our home composting page.
Glass bottles and jars - we collect these as part of the kerbside scheme, and they can also be taken to a bring site. Leave lids on.
Kitchen foil - roll into as large a ball as possible (small pieces get lost in the system) and put in your metal kerbside recycling box, take to a bring site or put in the metals bank at an HWRC.
Magazines, leaflets, catalogues, flyers - put in your kerbside box, take to a bring site or take to an HWRC and put in the paper bank.
Metal (non-aluminium) - Donate, Sell and Swap, contact a scrap metal merchant, or take to the HWRC and place in the appropriate section.
Paint - some charities accept leftover paint for community projects. Check Community Repaint.
Paper - use your kerbside recycling box, or a bring site, or put in the paper bank at an HWRC.
Plastic bottles - we collect these in our kerbside scheme, and they are accepted at bring sites.
Plastic tubs and containers - we collect these in our kerbside scheme, and they are accepted at bring sites.Donate, Sell and Swap, contact a scrap metal merchant, or take to the HWRC and place in the appropriate section
Scrap metal - Donate, Sell and Swap, contact a scrap metal merchant, or take to the HWRC and place in the appropriate section
Shredded paper - this can go in your kerbside paper box. It must be in a paper bag (not brown) or be wrapped in newspaper. Putting it beneath heavier items can stop it blowing away.
Soil - Please do not put soil (other than sods) in your garden waste bin. Take it to a HWRC.
Straws - these are too small for recycling processing. Put in your household waste.
Takeaway drinks cups - most are not recyclable as the cups are coated. Put in your household waste.
Tetrapak - not currently recyclable in Copeland
Textiles/towels/blankets - Check our Donate, Sell, Swap page, use a textile recycling bank, or take to a HWRC (use the correct skip)
Tins (food) - we collect these in our kerbside scheme, and they are accepted at bring sites.
Tyres - these may be taken at the HWRC. Please enquire first on 0300 003 1118. Some garages also send them for recycling.
White goods - take these to the HWRC or ask the supplier of your new product if they can take the old one for recycling. You can also pay for our collection service.
Wood - put in the appropriate section at an HWRC. Please do not put in your garden waste bin.
Wrapping paper - not recyclable. Please put into your general waste.
