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A-Z of Recycling

Most household goods can be recycled and made into new things. Find out what can be recycled and where with our A-Z of recycling.

S-U

Sharps 

See clinical waste

Shopping bags 

See plastic bags

Shredded paper 

Please put it in a paper envelope. This will help our recycling machines to turn the paper into new products more easily. 

Skips 

A range of skip companies are available, and we recommend that you obtain several quotes from different sources. Skip and Bin is a price comparison website that could be used in addition to other sources. 

Smart shopping 

Around a third of all the food we buy ends up being thrown away and most of this could have been eaten. It's not just peelings, cores and bones, but rather excess food from cooked meals, and food that ends up passing its use by date. 

If we stopped wasting food which could have been eaten, it would have the same impact on reducing carbon emissions as taking 1 in 5 cars off UK roads. 

Here are a few tips to be a smart shopper: 

  • shop more carefully. Use a shopping list - only buy the things you really need (you'll save money too!) 

  • avoid over packaging - Do you need to buy items individually wrapped? Is the wrapping made from recycled materials? 

  • buy local produce where possible 

  • avoid 2 for 1 offers - think, will you get through the additional product before it's used by date? 

  • look out for recycled products - toilet rolls, tissues, bin bags and paper products 

  • buy refill items where possible - washing powders, fabric conditioners and refillable cartridges 

  • take your own reusable shopping bags to the supermarket - the UK gets through 8 billion plastic bags every year 

  • get a compost bin or wormery to compost food scraps. 

There are more useful hints and tips from Love Food Hate Waste

Straws 

Please put plastic and paper straws in the household rubbish. 

Sunglasses/spectacles 

See glasses

Takeaway food containers 

If the container is made of plastic, you can clean it and place it in your recycling. Please put polystyrene containers in the rubbish. The best action for the environment is to find an alternative use for the containers such as storing small DIY parts. 

Telephones 

See electrical goods

Televisions 

See large electrical goods

Tetrapak 

See cartons

Textile recycling 

Your unwanted clothing and fabrics can be reused or recycled by putting them in one of our on-street Scope textile recycling bins.

Place your clothes, shoes, belts, bags, sheets, curtains and tablecloths together in the bin, ensuring all material is clean. All items suitable for reuse will be sold at a Scope charity shop in London. Items unsuitable for reuse will be recycled.

See the list of textile recycling bank locations are listed. 

Timber and wood 

Wood can be taken to the household waste recycling centre at Smugglers Way recycling. Alternatively, you could hire a skip. You can arrange a bulky waste collection. Small amounts of small items such as wooden spoons and chopping boards can be put in the household rubbish.  

Tins 

See cans

Tissue paper 

Tissue paper is not recyclable, please put it in your household rubbish. 

Toilet paper 

See loo rolls and tissue paper (above).

Toothbrushes 

Please put your used, non-electric toothbrushes in your household rubbish. Remember you can recycle your electric toothbrushes using our on-street small electrical appliances recycling bins. 

Toys 

Most charity shops and other organisations will accept toys in good condition. Alternatively bring them to the Mobile Recycling Centre for reuse or recycling. 

Unaddressed mail 

See junk mail

Published: 8 January 2021

Last updated: 18 May 2023