A to Z of reusing, recycling and waste disposal

Want to recycle more? Find out what else you can recycle in your local area using Recycle Now's Recycling Locator.

Magazines

Try to re-use magazines by donating them to your friends, relatives, colleagues or your local doctor's surgery. They can be recycled in your green bin or at your nearest bring site or recycling centre. Recycled magazines will be made into new paper products.

Medical waste

Visit the medical waste page for more information on what we will collect and how to book collections.

Medicines

Unused medicines should be returned to your doctor or pharmacist. Empty medicine bottles can be recycled in the green bin or bottle banks.

Metal

You can take scrap metal to your local recycling centre. Metal will be recycled into new metal products.

Microwaves

If your microwave still works, please donate it to a charity shop or your local reuse organisation. You can recycle your microwave by taking it to your nearest recycling centre, where you can put it in the small waste electrical container. The metal and plastic will be recycled into new products.

Milk containers

If your milk containers are made from glass, you should return them to your milk man. If they are made from plastic, they can be put in your green recycling bin, taken to your nearest bring site or recycling centre.

Mobile phones and accessories

Some charities run postal collection schemes for unwanted phones. You will be able to find out more information on the internet. Most supermarkets and phone shops have collection facilities for unwanted mobile phones. You could also put them in your nearest WEEE bank (see W for a list of sites).

Monitors

You can recycle your old style monitor or flat screen monitor by taking it to your nearest recycling centre, where you can put it in the television/monitor container. The metal and plastic will be recycled into new products.

Wardrobe

If your unwanted wardrobe is good enough to be used by others, donate it to a local re-use organisation. You can also take it to the Revive Leeds re-use shop at the Kirkstall or Seacroft recycling centre. Alternatively, put your wardrobe in the reuse container at your nearest recycling centre. If your wardrobe is not good enough to re-use, please take it to your nearest recycling centre. Wooden, MDF and chipboard wardrobes can be recycled in the timber skip. Other furniture should be put in the non-recyclable waste skip. If you are unable to take your furniture to your local recycling centre, you can book a bulky collection online.

Washing machine

If your washing machine is in good working order, you can donate it to a local reuse organisation. You can also take it to the Revive Leeds re-use shop at the Kirkstall or Seacroft recycling centre. If you are replacing a broken washing machine, the retailer supplying your new appliance should offer you a take back service. Alternatively, you can recycle your washing machine by taking it to your nearest recycling centre, where you can put it in the electrical container. If you are unable to do this, you can book a bulky waste collection online.

WEEEbanks

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). There are a number of containers around Leeds for the collection of small electrical items such as irons, kettles, mobile phones etc. Site locations are listed below: