general advice

This section gives general advice on rubbish disposal and recycling. Always use your common sense and never place rubbish where it could cause harm.

Businesses should not use recycling sites provided for domestic recycling. Contact your Local Authority and speak to the recycling officer or contact a waste management company for specific recycling advice.

Agricultural packaging more info...	some farm wastes are controlled by the special waste regulations pesticide containers can not be recycled most agricultural packaging is burnt on farms contact the Crop Protection Association - or Fertiliser Manufacturers Association - for specific advice Advice: speak to suppliers about returning packaging for reuse and buying in bulk
Asbestos	a building and insulation material commonly used before the 1970s the three main types of asbestos are; white, blue and brown can only cause harm if the fibres are inhaled sometimes best not to remove from buildings as this may disturb the fibres Advice: contact the HSE for further information
Batteries	the BattBox is a pre-paid collection scheme for waste portable batteries that arise in the workplace. For further details visit: http://battbox.co.uk rechargeable batteries contain hazardous metals, look for ones without mercury or cadmium rechargeable batteries should be returned to the manufacturer where possible for disposal some councils and garages provide facilities for recycling rechargeable batteries and lead acid car batteries Advice: buy rechargeable batteries, or appliances which use mains electricity
Building rubbish	includes: bricks, asphalt, glass, metals, plastics, soil, and wood most of this waste is created by the construction industry architectural salvage yards take some items for resale, and old bricks and timber can often be reused Advice: contact the Association for environmentally conscious building
Cars and vehicles (ELVs)	over 1.8 million tonnes of old vehicles are thrown away in the UK each year on average 75% of a vehicle is currently recycled advice: consider low emission and easily recycled vehicles for your fleet. Provide employee incentives for car sharing, or walking and cycling to work. Only use company cars where necessary, invest in video conferencing equipment
Chemicals, paint and oils	some chemicals used in industry are covered by the hazardous waste regulations which controls their storage and disposal wherever possible, substitute hazardous chemicals for less hazardous alternatives follow relevant health and safety advice. Speak to the Health and Safety Executive for further advice Advice: regularly review systems to minimise waste and ensure safety
Office furniture	The Furniture Reuse Network lists reuse and recycling organisations throughout the UK local charity shops, schools, and community groups can sometimes use unwanted items please note that unwanted sofas and chairs must have the kite mark to prove they meet British safety standards make sure all furniture is clean and in good repair before you donate it Advice: your old furniture maybe very useful to someone else! Donate unwanted items where possible
Glass	businesses should not put waste glass into community glass banks Advice: pubs, restaurants and hotels can find out more about glass collection services by logging on to the Berryman's website.
Clinical waste	this is defined by the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 usually incinerated and not recycled occupational hygiene and sanitary waste at work should be disposed of according to health and safety guidance from the HSE Advice: high waste management costs can often be reduced by segregating clinical from other wastes.
Food waste	if food waste contributes highly to your office waste stream and you have outside space why not intsall a wormery?! The worms wil compost your waste and reduce your environmental impact. Try: wormery.co.uk or wigglywrigglers.co.uk Advice: visit lovefoodhatewaste.com for details on reducing food waste
Lighting	the contents of one fluorescent tube can pollute 30,000 litres of water. Approximately 80 million are landfilled in the UK each year companies dealing with lighting waste must hold a waste management licence buy low energy light bulbs, or use natural daylight wherever possible - keep blinds open and clean windows! fluorescent tubes, sodium street lamps and low-energy bulbs can be recycled at some landfill sites and by Mercury Recycling Ltd, Manchester (0161 877 0977) Advice: install cut off switches in rooms which are not often used. Fit switches that turn on tubes slowly, which will prolong their life
Metals	usually classed as either ferrous (iron and steel) or non-ferrous (aluminium, copper, lead) test by using a magnet. Click here to request a free magnet place can recycling points by office vending machines. crisp wrappers (metallised plastic film) cannot be recycled. Metallised plastic springs back when scrunched metal waste is controlled waste. Businesses handling metal waste should hold a waste management licence as required by the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 Advice: segregate metal waste at source and arrange for collection by a local recycling company
Paper and cardboard	packaging waste can be recycled for PRNs, speak to your waste management contractor reuse cardboard boxes, or buy second-hand boxes for packaging, shred waste paper for use as filling unless specified, do not recycle catalogues, directories or envelopes which are gummed or glued together use scrap paper for notebooks in the office Advice: if you read newspapers, please recycle them after use. Alternatively, read news online. Set your printer to print double sided, buy recycled paper
Plastic	there are over 50 different types of plastics packaging waste can be recycled for PRNs, bale plastic packaging waste plastic containers that have contained paints and dangerous chemicals cannot always be recycled reuse plastic containers for storage, ask your supplier to use returnable crates where appropriate to recycle plastic bottles from an office contact your waste disposal company to see if they recycle plastic bottles alternatively, contact your local council or try the yellow pages for local contacts if you use plastic milk bottles, contact milkmen within your area to see if they offer milk in reusable glass bottles Advice: buy in bulk to reduce packaging
Stamps	there are many organisations where you can donate stamps to including; RNIB, Oxfam (also collect Coins), Help the Aged and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Advice: Don't forget to recycle your envelopes once you've donated all those stamps for charity!
Timber / wood	the disposal of wood in landfill sites causes problems as it is often bulky and decomposes slowly look on the FSC website for further information on products made out of recycled or renewable wood sources wood packaging can be recycled for PRNs Advice: use returnable / hired pallets
Vending cups	plastic vending cups can be recycled through: www.save-a-cup.co.uk. if possible, start using mugs instead of plastic cups - it will save a lot of waste! Advice: if you use plastic cups - reuse them where possible!
Waste electronics	for details on the WEEE regulations please visit www.valpak.co.uk/weee ask suppliers to take back old electrical items when delivering a new one donate old computer equipment to local charity schemes or schools, click here for more info mobile phones, toners and printer cartridges can be recycled through phone retailers and charities (Oxfam and Actionaid) fridges and freezers are covered by the Ozone Depleting Chemicals regulations Advice: try to repair broken items rather than throw them away. Buy durable items with long life cycles