Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

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A - Z guide to Reducing, Re-using, Recycling and managing your waste

(H to Z)

Hazardous waste

• Contact the Environment Agency

Ink Cartridges

• Many ink cartridges are now refillable and can be used again.
• Consider buying refilled cartridges in the first place.
• There are now a number of charities that collect used ink cartridges. Take a look at the ‘Useful Contacts’ list , or keep a look out for the free envelopes in charity and computer shops.

Junk Mail (see ‘Paper’)

• To stop receiving junk mail contact the Mailing Preference Service Registration line - 0845 703 4599 or look on the website: http://www.mpsonline.org.uk

Kitchen Waste (see ‘Food Waste’)

Litter

• Litter makes our streets look untidy and attracts vermin. To report litter or flytipping ring Contact Oldham on 0161 770 6644.
• If you want to get involved in making your area cleaner join Litterwatchers

Magazines (See ‘Paper’)

Medicines

• Clean empty bottles can be recycled as glass or plastic.

Mobile Phones

• Many charities collect mobile phones as a way of raising money. Take a look at the ‘Useful Contacts’ list , or keep a look out for the free envelopes in charity shops and supermarkets.

Nappies

• Avoid disposables in the first place and join the 15 per cent of parents who now use cloth nappies for their babies. It will save you hundreds of pounds. For further information please contact the Pennine Real Nappy Network on 01706 848631.
• You could consider a real nappy laundry service, where you don’t have to buy any nappies at all. This can cost just a little over a £1 a day! Contact Cotton Tails on 01244 374521 for more details.
• If you do want to use disposables consider ones that are biodegadable. Do a search on the Internet for stockists, or ask at your local nappy supplier.

Oil

• Do not put engine oil down the drain – it kills fish and other aquatic life! Take it to your nearest Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

Paper, Brochures, Catalogues, Newspaper, Phone Books, Envelopes and Magazines

• Re-use newspaper and magazines for art activities with your children.
• You could also offer newspaper, brochures, and magazines to your local school for art activities, or magazines to doctors/ dentists’ surgeries.
• Make sure you always use both sides of any paper, and use scraps of paper and envelopes for notes and lists.
• You could also use envelopes again by purchasing sticky labels to go over the old address.
• You can compost shredded paper at home.
• Put your paper, newspaper, junk mail, phone books, magazines and envelopes into your Green Bag, which is collected from your door for recycling.
• Use the paper banks at your local Mini Recycling Centre.
• Take all your paper and magazines etc to your nearest Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

Plastic

• Buy loose fruit and vegetables, or grow your own to avoid packaging.
• Avoid disposables and buy refillable containers for things like washing powder so you don’t have excess plastic waste in the first place.
• Try re-using plastic containers for storage, or in the garden for covering plants. Bottles can also be used for refilling with drinks.
• Plastic bottles can be recycled – just use your Black Box, which is collected from your door. Any plastic bottle with a screw cap can be put in - it doesn't have to be clear.
• Use the banks at your local Mini Recycling Centre for recycling plastic bottles.
• Take all your plastic bottles to your nearest Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

Rubbish bins

• See our information on replacing a missing wheeled bin, or applying for an additional bin.

Rubble, bricks, and hardcore

• Think about whether you or your friends and relatives could use these items in your garden, e.g. hardcore for paths bases, or as edgings.
• Oldham Council offer a chargeable skip hire service for rubble, bricks, and hardcore. Please call Contact Oldham on 0161 770 6644 to arrange hire.
• If you prefer you can take these items to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

Scrap metal

• Look in your phone book for your nearest scrap metal dealer.
• You can also take scrap metal to your nearest Household Waste and Recycling Centre.
• Bulky Bobs offer a free collection service for white goods and large electrical items and refurbish as many items as possible. Please call Contact Oldham on 0161 770 6644 to arrange collection.

Shoes (see clothes)

Spectacles

• Consider just changing your lenses and keeping the frames instead of buying new.
• Give them to charity. Vision Aid Overseas collect  single vision spectacles that are in good condition. Ring your local optician to see if they collect for them or send direct to: Vision Aid Overseas, 12 The Bell Centre, Newton Road, Manor Royal, Crawley, RH10 9FZ.
• World in Sight  also collect spectacles for Help the Aged. Glasses can be dropped off at Dolland and Aitchison Opticians or posted to: World in Sight Appeal, 207-221 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9UZ.

Steel Tins and Cans

• Put your rinsed and crushed cans and tins into your Black Box, which is collected from your door.
• Use the can banks at your local Mini Recycling Centre.
• Take all your food tins and drinks cans to your nearest Household Waste and Recycling Centre and put in the appropriate recycling bank.

Tools

• Before you buy new tools see if you can borrow or hire them first.
• See if friends or relatives can make use of old tools.
• Have a look in your phone book for local DIY shops that buy second had tools to refurbish.
• A national charity called ‘Tools for Self Reliance’ collects tools that are in good condition for refurbishment to send to poorer countries. They need tools for blacksmiths, carpentry, building work, plumbing and sewing machines, but not gardening tools or electrical equipment -tel 02380 869697
• If your tools are broken you could also consider having them mended and use them again.
• If tools cannot be fixed then you could recycle them as scrap metal (see ‘scrap metal’).

Toys/ Games (See ‘Bric a Brac’)

Trade Waste

• For information on all of your trade waste disposal needs please call Contact Oldham on 0161 770 6644
• To recycle paper contact Howarths Paper Recycling (free weekly service) on 0161 848 7888 or to recycle cardboard contact C&C Recycling (chargeable service) on 0161 763 6044.

Tyres

• You can take your old tyres to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

Washing Machines (see ‘White Goods’)

White Goods

• Think about if you really need to buy items if your old ones are in working order.
• There are some charities that collect electrical equipment and refurbish it such as Emmaus in Mossley, tel: 01457 838608.
• If you are buying a new fridge or freezer then the supplier of your new one may dispose of your old one for you.
• Bulky Bobs offer a free collection service for bulky items such as fridges and freezers, cookers and all large electrical items. Please call Contact Oldham on 0161 770 6644 to arrange collection.
• If you prefer you can take your white goods to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

Wood

• Consider offering any useable timber to friends or relatives, or to your local school or college.
• Try asking if your local reclamation yard will take timber in good condition. Look in your phone book for your nearest place.
• Take your old timber to your nearest Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

Yellow Pages (see 'Paper')

Zero Waste

• Our eventual aim, so let’s not tolerate so much waste!

For further information on services, or to find you nearest recycling facility call Contact Oldham on 0161 770 6644 or look on the Mini Recycling Centre and Household Waste and Recycling Centre pages. You can also visit the Recycle More website which finds your nearest recycling facility for specific items from your postcode.

Rubbish & Recycling:

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