A to Z of reusing, recycling and waste disposal

Empty aluminium aerosols can be placed in your green recycling bin, or put in one of the can banks at your nearest bring site or recycling centre. These items are used in metal smelters and made into new metal products. Please do not squash or pierce your unwanted aerosols.

Remember to wash and squash your aluminium cans. These can be placed in your green recycling bin. These items are used in metal smelters and made into new metal products.

Please try to reuse foil containers where possible, for example when freezing your leftover food. They also make great seed trays. Clean foil items can be placed in your green recycling bin and can banks at your nearest bring site or recycling centre. These items are used in metal smelters and are made into new metal products.

Please take your bottles of unwanted antifreeze to your nearest recycling centre and put them in the chemical waste container. Ask the site staff for help if you are unsure where this is.

If possible, please consider repairing your electrical appliances. If you are throwing out old and out-dated electrical equipment that still works, please donate it to a local re-use organisation or visit the Revive Leeds re-use shop at the Kirkstall or Seacroft recycling centres. They will re-use them, helping those in need. If you are replacing a broken appliance, the retailer supplying your new appliance should offer you a take back service. Alternatively you can take your broken appliances to your nearest recycling centre. Fridges and freezers, televisions and computer monitors should be put in the appropriate designated storage area. Ask the site staff if you are not sure where these are. All other appliances can be put in the electronic equipment container. Materials such as plastics and metals are recycled into new products.

You can take your asbestos to the Kirkstall recycling centre. This is the only site that accepts asbestos and it is by appointment only. Please note that there is a charge for this service. Further information can be found on the Kirkstall recycling centre page.

Wood ash can be added to your compost heap a little at a time and it contains useful pot ash for plant growth. Coal ash can be disposed of in your black rubbish bin. Please wait until it is cold and bag it up before putting it in your bin.

Please remember that good condition baby clothes, toys and equipment can be passed on to friends, relatives, neighbours or donated to your local charity shop. Your local nursery or playgroup may also be pleased to receive them. If you are throwing out old baby clothes, toys and equipment, please donate them to a local re-use organisation or visit the Revive Leeds re-use shop at Kirkstall or Seacroft recycling centre. They will re-use them, helping those in need.

Remember to take out a shopping bag or few carrier bags with you so that you don't need to accept anymore. Save money by using carrier bags as bin liners at home. Carrier bags, bread bags and stretchy fresh or frozen fruit and vegetable bags can be recycled in your green bin.

Try to avoid using household batteries by buying solar powered equipment or using rechargeable batteries. Single cell household batteries, for example, AA or AAA can be taken to collection points at most retailers where batteries are sold and to many council premises, such as libraries, sports centres, Community Hubs and schools. They can also be recycled at all recycling centres. You can take your diesel and petrol car batteries to your nearest recycling centre. Contact your car manufacturer or dealer for advice on recycling electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

Please consider donating your unwanted good quality bedding, duvets, sheets and blankets to local charities or visit the Revive Leeds re-use shop at the Kirkstall and Seacroft recycling centres. Duvets, blankets and sheets that are not good enough to be used again can be donated to the RSPCA (0113 242 0463) or to the Dogs Trust (0113 281 4920) for use as bedding for rescue animals. You can also put these items into a textile bank at your nearest bring site or recycling centre.

Please donate your unwanted beds, which are still in reasonable condition and have a fire label to a local re-use organisation. They will come and collect it from your home. If your bed is in poor condition, please take it to your nearest recycling centre for disposal. If you are unable to do this, you can book a bulky waste collection online. These materials will be disposed of to landfill.

See 'Cartons' for more information.

Please try to pass your unwanted bicycle to friends, relatives or neighbours so they can be used and enjoyed by someone else. You can take them to the Revive Leeds re-use shop at the Kirkstall or Seacroft recycling centres. Alternatively, you could put them in the re-use container at your nearest recycling centre where they will be collected and repaired by a local charity. If your bike is not good enough to be used by someone else, please put it in the scrap skip at your nearest recycling centre. It will be used in a metal smelter to make new metal products.

Using your local library will help you to reduce the amount of unwanted books you have. Books can be taken to any charity shop for resale or you can put them in the book banks at your nearest recycling centre. The books put into book banks are sold in charity shops or recycled into new paper and cardboard products.