Pass on unwanted, space-hogging items and give them a new lease of life. NB. These tips came from an article written in 2010, so some of the information may be out of date - worth re-checking postal addresses and phone numbers.
Appliances: Many retailers take away an old appliance and recycle it for free when they deliver a new one. Local charities or furniture re-use centres may take unwanted working appliances, or try Freecycle.
Books: Pass them on to family and friends, or donate them to charity shops. Or try swapping them via websites such as www.readitswapit.co.uk or selling them on www.greenmetropolis.com, which donates 5p per sale to the Woodland Trust.
Bras: They have to be clean, with working clasps and straps, but can be distributed to underprivileged women in the UK and overseas. Write the size on a label and paperclip it to one strap, then send it to: BreastTalk.co.uk Bra Appeal, PO Box 71, Craven Arms, Shropshire SY7 0WZ.
CDs and DVDs: If you can't give them away, sell them on www.ebay.co.uk or www.musicmagpie.co.uk. Or recycle them; send to Polymer Recycling Ltd, Reeds Lane, Moreton, Wirral CH46 1DW, or email Darren@ayrtons.com for more information. They also accept VHS videos and vinyl records.
Computers: Look in the phone book for computer recycling companies or ask local charities. Remember to permanently delete your data from the hard drive and to include all cables, manuals and software CDs.
Furniture: The Furniture Re-Use Network coordinates 400 furniture and appliance re-use and recycling organisations in the UK - visit www.frn.org.uk or call 0845 602 8003. Alternatively, offer unwannted items to others in your community via your local Freecycle group.
Glasses: Donate them to Vision Aid Overseas through participating opticians, both independent and high-street chains. They'll be cleaned, graded and packed, then shipped overseas to the developing world. For more details, visit www.vao.org.uk/spectacles.
Mobile phones: Recycling Appeal (0845 130 2010 or www.recyclingappeal.com) buys working phones with the original battery, donating 60% of the profit to more than 100 charities. Or you could sell yours through www.envirofone.com or earn points on Boots Advantage Cards - visit www.bootsrecycle.com/consumer to find out more.
Printer Cartridges: Don't buy new printer cartridges, refill them. Cartridge World (www.cartridgeworld.co.uk) refills most makes. DIY refill kits exist but they can be messy. Recycle Appeal and Boots (see above for both) recycle old injet cartridges.
Medicines: Medicines taken back to a pharmacy are incinerated or disposed of in landfill sites, but if you return still-in-date tablets and unused dressings to a GP practice registered with the charity Inter Care, some of them can be redistributed abroad. Call 0116 269 5925 or email info@intercare.org.uk for more information. Never throw medicine in the dustbin and don't flush it away down the sink or toilet, as it could pollute the water supply.
Toys: Children's hospitals, hospices, charity shops, local children's charities, playgroups or toy libraries may be able to use toys in good condition, or try Freecycle (see above). Many toys are made from multiple materials, so can be difficult to recycle, and for safety reasons broken toys may have to be binned with non-recyclable rubbish rather than given away.
Videos: Many charity shops no longer accept audio or VHS video cassettes. Send them to The Recycling People, although there is a charge starting at £15 for up to 50 cassettes. Call 0844 800 3235 or email rogerdennett@therecyclingpeople.co.uk. There is no charge for CDs and DVDs.
To find out what your local recycling centre will take, contact your local authority or visit www.recyclenow.com.
Feature in Good Housekeeping, January 2010
