Where local recycling services very often have differing rules as to what can be recycled and how it can be recycled, it can be difficult to know whether you’re disposing of things in the right way.

As part of our mission to win on waste, we will be using this page to list some tips for safe and responsible recycling in the BCP and Dorset Council areas.

Whether you’re looking for information as a Business, a School, or a local household, we can help!

In the meantime, we have put together this list of common household items that you might need to check – we will be adding more, so please do get in touch with your suggestions!

Air Fresheners & Refills

  • Reduce – Instead of turning to shop-bought air fresheners, why not look at making your own? There are some great websites online that can help you create a bespoke, traditional fragrance using common household items, such as oranges and lemons or garden herbs.
  • Reuse – Very often these days shop-bought air fresheners are turning to a refill model to help them cut down on waste. Make sure you check your air freshener before you buy to see if it offers a refill option.
  • Recycle – Waste from air fresheners can be sent to Terracycle to be responsibly recycled. Win on Waste is able to collect this waste from you (at advertised sessions), or it can be directed to any of a number of private collectors listed on the Terracycle website.

Batteries

  • Reuse – So many items these days require a wide variety of batteries for use, so why not invest in rechargeable batteries, instead of buying new each time? The initial costs of rechargeable batteries may be slightly higher than using single-use batteries, but for most devices, they will work out cheaper over time.
  • Recycle – Since 2010, most shops and supermarkets that sell batteries are required to have a battery recycling station located inside, so keep an eye out in your local store. Alternatively, many Household Waste Recycling Centres have battery recycling points and some local councils collect batteries at kerbside (BCP and Dorset Council do so) – check your local council website for the full information.

Foil

  • Reduce – Avoid using foil in your cooking by using cedar wood wraps, parchment, or adjusting cooking methods where safe to do so.
  • Reuse – If you can’t avoid using foil at home, lightly-soiled foil can be washed and used again.
  • Recycle – Clean aluminium foil can be recycled. If you are in the BCP Council area, this can be added to your kerbside recycling, but in the Dorset Council area, this will have to be taken to a dedicated foil recycling bank. In both cases, try to save up your clean foil until you have enough to scrunch it into a ball roughly the size of an orange. This should avoid any of the foil being missed at the recycling plant.

Pens (most types)

  • Reuse – Our first port of call for any item should be to reuse it before it is thrown away or recycled and there are many ideas online for creative ways to use old pens in crafting, or around the home.
  • Recycle – If your pens are definitely beyond being used again, these can be collected by local charities for their own fundraising. Win on Waste collects these items and passes them on to a collector on behalf of Ellie’s Fund. You can find the full details of this collection in our We Need That directory.

Pringles Tubes

  • Reduce – Pringles tubes have a reputation for being very hard to recycle as they are made from mixed materials. If you’re itching for a crisp fix, why not choose a brand which is packaged in a single material, or why not make your own crisps at home?
  • Reuse – Famously, Pringles tubes can be reused by turning them into a wireless speaker. Alternatively, there are lots of uses for the tubes in schools and playgroups, to be used for junk modelling. They can also be washed, covered, and used as kitchen storage jars.
  • Recycle – Most household recycling centres will not accept Pringles tubes, meaning that a large proportion make it to landfill. Win on Waste and other organisations can collect them, however, and send them to recycling company Terracycle, who responsibly recycle them and make a payment to a designated charity for every shipment received. You can find out where your nearest collector is here.