5 Uncommon Ways to Recycle

Recycling has become part of everyday life in the last twenty years, and we are all becoming more environmentally conscious.

Although it’s become part of a weekly routine to put out your cardboard and glass for collection, there are other ways to recycle that you may not have known about that can help save our planet.

Here are five steps to upping your recycling game with minimal effort, but maximum results for reducing your clutter and increasing your personal well-being.

1) Sell old CDs and DVDs

CDs and DVDs are no longer a staple of UK households due to the rise of streaming services, so you may have a bulk of spare discs hanging around in boxes.

If you want to get a bit of extra cash for your spare S Club 7 or All Saints CDs, you can recycle your old discs through services like Music Magpie.

You can scan each disc into their website or app to discover how much you can sell them for and post them off for free!

You can also sell old phones, games, and other techs like tablets and speakers.

2) Recycle Your Mattress

Mattresses should be replaced every 8-10 years, but no one ever tells you they can be recycled!

As a bulkier item, sometimes it’s easier to lump it into a landfill site, but there are many parts of a mattress that can be recycled like the foam, springs, wadding and covering.

Companies like Archers Sleep Centre can be paid a small fee to pick up an old mattress for recycling which saves you the hassle of having to transport and dispose of it.

3) Fairy Lights Gone Bust?

They can be recycled! Did you know that fairy lights are treated like any other recyclable electrical item and can be dropped at your local Recycling Centre?

Some local authorities even accept fairy lights as part of their home collection service, although, there are often special instructions on how to separate them from your other recycling for safe treatment.

4) Donate Your Furniture

Donating your old furniture has never been easier. If you have furniture that you no longer need, you can offload it by contacting charities like The British Heart Foundation, who can often arrange a free pick-up service for your larger items like sofas, tables, and cabinets.

Alternatively, you can also upcycle your furniture by repainting it, or taking it apart and re-purposing the pieces to create something completely new!

5) TerraCycle it!

TerraCycle are the self-proclaimed champions of hard-to-recycle items like cheese packets, make-up and contact lenses.

Simply check the availability of the recycling online, and visit a drop-off point with your recyclable goods – they will take care of the rest!

Which ways do you use to recycle? Leave your answer in the comments below!