Other recycling suggestions
Electrical equipment: Some high street retailers provide an in-store take back scheme for electrical and electronic items when you buy a new item from them.
Batteries: Distributors of portable batteries and accumulators have to provide in-store take-back for anyone who has batteries to dispose of. Most large retailers that sell batteries now have a take-back facility for you to recycle your old batteries.
Textile recycling: Bag It Up runs textile recycling banks throughout the region, raising thousands of pounds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Textiles, bras, shoes, mobile phones and printer cartridges are collected and resold to second-hand traders.
Mobile phones, toner/inkjet cartridges and foreign currency: These are accepted by many charities.
Plastic bags and packaging: For the first time, shoppers can easily recycle thin plastic packaging, thanks to an agreement between the country's biggest supermarkets and the On Pack Recycling Label scheme. Products include plastic-wrapped bakery goods, breakfast cereal liners, packaging for household goods (toilet roll wrap, kitchen roll wrap) plastic-wrapped grocery produce (fresh and frozen), and multipack shrink wrap. Stores that collect plastic bags for recycling will now accept clean plastic film packaging in the same facilities. Carrier bag banks can be found at branches of Asda, The Co-operative Group, WM Morrison, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
Re-use schemes: As the least polluting way of dealing with waste, we support reuse schemes wherever possible. Charity shops and schemes such as Freecycle and Essential Needs will find a good home for items you no longer want. For nearly new baby and children's clothes, toys, prams and equipment at much reduced prices, the Harrogate, Wetherby and Ripon branch of the NCT holds nearly new sales throughout the year.
Unwanted cars: If you have an old car that you no longer want, consider donating it to Giveacar. A donation, equivalent to the scrap value of the car, is made to a charity of your choice.
If you are looking to dispose of other non-bulky items further information on the household waste and recycling centres in North Yorkshire is available, please see North Yorkshire County Council's website.