Recycling
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Wirral-Recycle

It is generally better to re-use than to recycle. You can give away most household items free via Wirral-Recycle http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Wirral-Recycle.

Use official council reception sites for other rubbish. To comply with the Civic Amenities Act 1967, the following Waste Recycling Centres are open, free of charge, to the public for - car batteries, cardboard, engine oil, garden waste, paper, furniture, rubble, scrap metal, textiles, drinks cans, timber, glass, and soil.
Poulton Bridge, Bidston Moss, Birkenhead, Tel. 653 7698
Greenbank Road, West Kirby, Tel. 625 9901
Mount Road, Clatterbridge, Tel. 334 0019

Wirral Waste Recycling Centres are open seven days a week except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day between the following times:
8.00am to 5.00pm, October to March
8.00am to 8.00pm, April to September

For further information call Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority on 255 1444. www.merseysidewda.gov.uk

Aerosols

Best avoided as they can cause problems at recycling plants and may explode if crushed. Use pump sprays instead, these are becoming more widely available, ask if you don't see them. If you need to dispose of one, put it in your ordinary green wheelie bin.

Aluminium drinks cans

Wash and put in grey wheelie bins. Aluminium won't stick to a magnet. Don't squash cans as this makes them more difficult to sort.

Aluminium foil

WBC grey bins cannot take foil. A recent project to attempt foil recycling has closed. It must now go into your WBC green bin.

Anti-freeze

Check with garage/body shop. Nationwide Recycling Environmental Services in Warrington collect specialist motor waste from garages and dealerships including oils, anti-freeze and unwanted batteries. Please let us know of any garages using their services.

Art and craft materials

Donate to Wirral Play Council. Please phone (0151 650 0030 or 0151 201 7883) or email enquiries@wirralplaycouncil.org.uk if you think you have suitable materials to donate.

Batteries

For household batteries only - see separate entry for 'car batteries'
Drop them in to the WEN office in the Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER (NOT Thursdays) there's a box in the entrance area.
Also should now be collected at every outlet selling more than 42Kg per year not a lot. Ask at any large shop where you might buy batteries - supermarkets, chemists, hardware, electrical etc.

Bedding

Salvation Army, Poulton Ave Wallasey 0151 638 6899 (M,T,W,F only) or Birkenhead 652 2569 may collect. Accept bed linen, towels, also pillows, duvets, and quilts in good condition and will wash these. Can also be put in textile recycling banks.

Books

Modern Educational / non-fiction. If schools have books or educational equipment they no longer need, Liverpool John Moores University run the Books For Tanzania scheme - contact 0151 231 3159 to find out more.
Fiction: most charity shops or check with libraries for special schemes. Book banks available at some Wirral recycling centres.

Bric-a-brac

Most charity shops take small household goods but not electrical items, and not older furniture. Fire Resistant labelling is vital. Two specific possibilities are: Green Community Shop, Christchurch Road, Oxton, 0151 653 2269. YMCA shop, Grange Road, Birkenhead Tel: 647 2834 accepts electrical goods in working order, (except televisions and computer hardware). These are tested and sold.

Bubble wrap

Offer to a charity shop. Otherwise can go into plastic bag collection bins at some Sainsbury's shops.

Car batteries

These can be taken to any waste reception centre. Some garages also accept them for recycling.

Cardboard

Brown card can be composted. Otherwise use WBC grey bins for clean cardboard, or take to any household waste sites.

Carpets

Take to Bidston Household waste centre, where separate banks are in place for recycling into Astro-turf.

Carrier bags

See entry under Plastic Bags.

CDs, DVDs, VHS

Donate unwanted CDs, DVDs to charity shops.
Damaged and broken discs (including cases and cassettes) can be dropped in (open Mon to Thurs 7.30 am 5.30 pm) or posted to Polymer Recycling, Peninsula Business Park, Reeds Lane, Moreton, Wirral, CH46 1DW. www.polymerrecycling.co.uk/ Tel:0151 641 0930

Chemicals

Try to use biodegradable, phosphate free, non-toxic chemicals.
To dispose of pesticides, insecticides, garden chemicals, household cleaning chemicals and so on, do not pour down drains - call MWDA on Tel: 0151 255 1444 to request disposal.
MWDA will take name and address details as well as details of items to be disposed of. All details are passed to the MWDA's collection and disposal contractor who will contact the resident to arrange a suitable date for collection from the home. The contractor collects as arranged and ensures packaging, transportation and disposal is carried out to all legislative requirements.
Turps / White Spirit - when you have washed your paintbrush, let the turps solution settle then re-use the clean turps again and again. Biffa and Veolia are very active in the Wirral area and can remove chemicals that are used on a large scale.

Christmas cards

Use WBC grey bins for all greetings cards. W.H. Smith, Tesco and main Post Offices usually collect Christmas cards for recycling. Boots no longer do so.

Christmas trees

Chop and put in Brown Garden waste wheelie bin, or take to local MWDA sites in January for "chipping" / green waste skip.

Clothes

Most charity shops accept good quality used clothing. From 28 Jan. 2008, customers who donate M&S clothes at Oxfam stores will get a voucher worth £5, to be redeemed when they spend £35 or more at M&S, valid for one month. Salvation Army 0151 355 2808 or 0151 677 4002.
Beware commercial companies imitating charity doorstep collections. See www.safefromscams.co.uk/CharityHouseholdCollectionScams.html

Coins or bank notes

Drop old/foreign coins in to the WEN office in the Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER (NOT Thursdays) there's a box in the entrance area
Or also collected by RNIB - email fundraising@rnib.org.uk for details.

Computers

If they are still working, why not donate to a voluntary group or charity? Contact your local VCAW.

CDL are available on - 01925 730033. They refurbish computers and send them on to third world countries. They can be found at www.computerdisposals.co.uk.

Create Liverpool, Speke Hall Road, Speke, Liverpool L24 9HA (next to Peoples Ford). Tel: 0151 448 1748. 9am to 5pm Monday - Friday, 10am to 4pm Saturday.

Computers For Charity offers a secure and hassle-free way for companies to save money and benefit the community. They will collect redundant computer equipment free of charge and recycle it for use by charities, voluntary organizations and schools throughout the United Kingdom. For further information, please contact 01288 36 11 99 or see www.computersforcharity.org.uk.

Enterprise Recycling, Unit 1, Victoria Business Park, Victoria Rd, Rhyl, LL18 2EJ. 01745 343144, email rhylrecycling@scout-enterprises.co.uk Open 9.00am - 5.00pm, Mon -Fri and they also have branches in Porthmadog and Llandudno Junction.

Cooking oil

Merseycare Transport now run vehicles on used cooking oil. They can collect direct from your home or business place. (2 litre minimum). Ring to arrange a collection by calling 0151 678 8467, or email dave.rimmer@merseycaretransport.co.uk.
For small quantities pour into your home composter (it's best to mix it first with paper and cardboard). If not, put one polythene bag inside another (in case of holes), fill with absorbent material and fill slowly with cold oil, then place in the dustbin.

Drinks cartons

Rinse and flatten then take to bring sites at Tesco Heswall: Tesco Bidston; Library car park Greasby; Dee Lane car park, West Kirby: Asda Bromborough. Due soon Asda Liscard; Asda Woodchurch

DVDs

See entry under CDs.

Electrical goods

CREATE www.createuk.com Tel: 448 1748 take washing machines, tumble driers, ovens, hobs for refurbishment but no small electrical goods or computers.
Goods including washing machines, fridges and dishwashers all in good working order will be collected by the British Heart Foundation furniture and electrical store, 20-26 Milton Pavement, Grange Precinct, Birkenhead, CH41 2YA telephone 0844 248 9104 or book online bhf.org.uk/collection for free collection. Small electrical items can be taken to Barnardos shop in Liscard Rd, Seacombe tel 638 1769. These are tested and sold.
When you buy new items, keep receipts, as under the WEEE directive suppliers must take back electrical goods bought from them for safe disposal when these no longer work.

Electrical goods including broken items can be recycled at North-West Electronics Recycling Centre, Carnegie Road, off green lane, Old Swan, Liverpool, L13 7HH, telephone 0151 228 5626. The service is free and collections will be made from Wirral when there are sufficient requests to make a van load. Goods are repaired where possible or broken down for components and they have links to two other recyclers who take the parts they cannot utilize. They do not use landfill or export waste and may be the perfect solution for TVs and printers, especially for those who cannot get to Household recycling sites.

Envelopes

Put out with rest of paper in WBC grey bins BUT please remove plastic windows. Buy recycled, or use again with re-use labels. These are now available to buy from the Centre for Alternative Technology www.cat.org.uk, in the on-line shop, or mail order 01654 705959.

Fabric

Clean, unused fabric, ribbons, etc Wirral Play Council, 0151 650 0030 / 201 7883. www.wirralplaycouncil.org.uk

Foil

See under Aluminium foil, above.

Furniture

St John' Hospice tel: 639 2531 will collect, but upholstery must have a fire retardant label www.stjohnshospice.org/fundrais_charity_main.html

WIRE provides training and work experience for individuals who are long-term unemployed or unable to work due to illness or disability. Donated goods are refurbished and resold, with profits going back into training. Tel. 638 6691 enquiries@wire-ltd.com

Furniture in good order and with fire retardant certificates will be collected by the British Heart Foundation furniture and electrical store, 20-26 Milton Pavement, Grange Precinct, Birkenhead, CH41 2YA telephone 0844 248 9104 or book online bhf.org.uk/collection for free collection. Smaller electrical items or bric-a-brac can be collected with large items.

St Vincent de Paul accepts all furniture and offers it to disadvantaged individuals and families. For collection tel. 0161 832 0259

Check our website www.la21.net/events.htm for local SWAP days with free collection and delivery within specified postcode area.

If your items are not suitable for reuse you may wish to arrange a bulky waste collection through Wirral Council's ERIC Service. For details call Streetscene on 0151 606 2004 or ask at One Stop Shops.

Garden waste

Compost at home whenever possible. Recycle using the WBC brown bin. Recycle larger amounts via the household waste sites at Clatterbridge, Bidston and West Kirby.

Gas bottles

Do not place gas cylinders in your bin because they may explode if they are crushed.
Old gas cylinders can be returned to the retailer or supplier. For gas cylinders other than Calor Gas, you can ring the LP Gas Association on 08457 626379 for advice. For Calor Gas Bottles, please call 0800 662 663 and they will tell you where to find your nearest Calor Gas Direct Outlet.

Glass / bottles / jam jars

Put in WBC grey bins. Re-use for making jam, washing paint brushes etc. Take to your nearest bottle bank. Wash them first.

Hearing aids

Collected by Wirral Lions at libraries.

Ink cartridges

See under 'Printer & toner cartridges'.

Junk mail

Contact Mailing Preference Service www.mpsonline.org.uk, DMA House, 70 Margaret Street, London W1W 8SS or call MPS Registration line - 0845 703 4599 for details of how to cut down (but probably not completely eliminate) unwanted direct mail. Otherwise return to sender in reply paid envelope or recycle as paper in WBC grey bins.

Large items

Use Wirral Council's ERIC Service for the removal of up to six items of furniture, including large electrical goods / white goods. (£10 charge) Waiting time of approximately 10 days for collection. For details call Streetscene on 0151 606 2004 or ask at One Stop Shops. If you are able you can take your old fridge or freezer to Bidston Waste Recycling Centre.

Low energy light bulbs

These should not be put in your green bin. Recycle at larger Sainsbury's stores, or collection point at Bidston Household Waste site.

Magazines

May be welcomed in hospitals, waiting rooms, hairdressers etc. Otherwise recycle as paper in WBC grey bins. Remove plastic wrappers first.

Medicines

Return to your pharmacy for safe destruction. Do not put in the bin, toilet etc.
Returned, unopened packs of medication within 'use by date' can be recycled at GP surgeries registered with Intercare. Ask at your local surgery. www.intercare.org.uk

Mobile phones

Wirral Environmental Network is currently collecting old mobiles. They will be refurbished for use in developing countries. Please send them (stamps not required) to Greener Solutions, FREEPOST LONI7592, PO Box 32343, London, SW17 9ZZ. Please enclose a note saying that WLN is your nominated charity as we get a small payment for each phone donated. For further details, please phone us on 0151 639 2121 or email info@la21.net

Nappies

Lollipop (give advice and demonstrations) - contact Emma Erskine
tel 07743 790260 or email emmy@missemmylou.com
Happybums - contact tel 200 3416 www.happybums.co.uk

Oil

It is illegal and highly polluting to pour engine oil down the drain. There are oil banks at all of Wirral's waste disposal sites. For large quantities of oil contact the National Oil Care Helpline 0800 663. Vegetable oil cannot be mixed with motor oil for recycling.
See separate entry for cooking oil.

Paint

Community Repaint Wirral. Please check this website for details www.la21.net/crp.htm accepts most types of paints less than 8 years old, the paint is redistributed to community groups and individuals in need. For details contact Jim O'Neil 0151 639 2121, email jim@la21.net

Paper

Wherever possible buy and use unbleached recycled paper products. Use the back of old photocopies, junk mail, etc for scrap paper by the telephone. Recycle using WBC grey bins. The Yellow Pages Directory Recycling Scheme offers a freephone recycling helpline - 0800 671 444. Wirral Play Council use paper to make papier mache. 0151 650 0030 / 201 7883.

Photographs

If of local topographical interest, donate to your nearest library and simply ask them to pass on to the relevant library or records office.
More general snaps can be sent to Barnardo's Photographic Archive, which is a fascinating insight into 19th and 20th century social history. Tel. 020 8498 7345
email stephen.pover@barnardos.org.uk

Plant cuttings

Friends of the Earth welcome rooted cuttings to sell at events and raise funds. Call June Davies, 638 1294. Check with local gardening clubs.

Plant pots

Gordale Nurseries collect plant pots and trays for recycling. Other garden centres that offered this service have withdrawn it due to the cost.
Burton Garden Centre offer reused sturdy plant pots and seed trays for sale at a very low cost.

Plastic bags

Refuse or re-use where possible. Co-op now supply biodegradable bags. Charity shops often need clean carrier bags.
Some supermarkets accept bags for recycling. Sainsbury's Upton now accept any plastic bags in their bag recycling units. This includes thin bags for fruit and vegetables, Sainsbury's pre-packed grape & cherry bags, bread bags, magazine covers, dry cleaners' bags and bubble wrap. They say if you're unsure to put the bag in for recycling anyway. If it can't be recycled they'll dispose of it safely.

Plastic bottles

Recycle in your grey bin. Wash but don't squash and please put the tops back on as this aids the mechanical sorting process. The plastic bottle bank at Asda in Wallasey has now closed.

Plastic containers

Plastic yoghurt pots, fast food containers etc cannot be recycled. Place in WBC green bins.

Plastic film

See 'Plastic bags'

Polystyrene

Save-a-Cup Recycling Co supply drinks machines using recyclable hard walled polystyrene cups. Tel. 1494 510167

Printer & toner cartridges

Drop them in to Wirral Environmental Network office in the Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER (NOT Thursdays) there's a box in the entrance area. (NOT Epson cartridges or toners)
Staples recycle printer and toner cartridges and give a £1 voucher towards new ones and also £1 to Child Line.
Send your printer or toner cartridges to www.greensource.co.uk who sell them on to raise funds for charities. You can ask them to send preprinted envelopes or arrange collection if it involes a large number of toner cartridges. Greensource Solutions, 14 Kingsland Trading Estate, St Philips Road, Bristol BS2 0JZ. Tel: 0117 304 2390

PVC-u

Nearest recyclers for doors, window frames, gutters etc are Recovinyl, in Manchester (0161 426 7731) or Axion, Langley Rd South, Salford M6 6HQ (0161 737 6124)

Rags

British Red Cross shops get money for their work by selling rags. Deliver to shops in Bromborough 343 0056, Upton 604 0913, New Ferry 644 1997, Birkenhead 666 1160, Hoylake 632 6937, Moreton 677 7316, Prenton 608 3372. Please clearly mark bags 'rags' to distinguish from sale items.

Records (vinyl)

Specialist record shops still buy and sell vinyl LPs, singles and even 78s in good condition. Charity shops welcome vinyl donations (no more James Last or Sound Of Music LPs please). Record Fairs and Ebay are also a good place to trade or sell your vinyl.
If you have a large amount that you want collected, ring Recyclertex on 647 6532.

Scrap metal

Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority Waste Recycling Centres. (see front page of guide)

Sewing machines

Singer machines:Tools for Self Reliance www.tfsr.org, Stephen Pillow 0151 334 6318. Other brands: Out of Africa. Julie Martin, 01202  694 492.

Shoes / trainers

Many shoe shops take shoes and trainers to be recycled or resold in aid or charity shops. Check with yours.

Spectacles

Drop them in to the WEN office in the Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER (NOT Thursdays) theres a box in the entrance area.
Also collected by Wirral Lions at libraries, and many opticians collect them for use in developing countries. Check with yours. Alternatively, send clean, good condition spectacles well wrapped (without case) and pack them in a sturdy cardboard box clearly marked to: Vision Aid Overseas, 12 The Bell Centre, Newton Road, Manor Royal, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 2FZ enclosing a compliments slip (so that they know who to thank). www.vao.org.uk

Stamps

Drop them in to the WEN office in the Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER (NOT Thursdays) there's a box in the entrance area.
Or donate to RNIB
  • Leave about 1cm of envelope bordering each stamp. The rest of the envelope can be discarded (which will make it cheaper to send).
  • Separate the stamps into British or Overseas
Collected stamps should be sent to:
RNIB Stamp Recycling, PO Box 185, BENFLEET, SS7 9BH

Tetrapaks

See drinks cartons section above.

Tools

Tools for Self Reliance www.tfsr.org ship tools to Africa. Also accept Singer sewing machines. Contact Stephen Pillow 0151 334 6318.

Tyres

Tyres can be accepted at West Kirby (Greenbank Road) and Clatterbridge (Mount Road) Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Valve radios

Pete Roberts (Runcorn) will service and repair many makes of valve radios (and other valve gear), and 1950s and '60s transistor radios. Email PeteRoberts007@aol.com

Video tapes

See entry under CDs

Wallpaper

Any UNOPENED rolls of wallpaper and borders can be given to us at Wirral Environmental Network. We offer the wallpaper for reuse as part of our Community RePaint Scheme ...[more]
For more details tel 0151 639 2121, or email us:info@la21.net

Any OPENED rolls to go in the grey bin, or offer to Wirral Play Council. Please phone (0151 650 0030 or 0151 201 7883) or email enquiries@wirralplaycouncil.org.uk if suitable for craft.

Water filters

Britta water filters can be recycled at Sainsburys and Argos stores.

Wedding dresses

Oxfam have a department at Heswall for wedding & bridesmaid dresses. Donate at any branch. Viewing and purchases on Saturdays, or by appointment.

Wellies

Dunlop Hevea recycle these but cannot collect. Stephen Ellis 07775 765 704. Also ask at your local shoe shop. Many take these for use in developing countries.

White Goods

Cookers, washing machines, fridges, freezers etc. See entry under 'Electrical goods'.

Wirral Toy Library

Wirral Toy Library, Woodchurch Lane, Prenton. 0151 608 8288 would be grateful for:
Used stamps: if your envelopes are too tatty for re-use, just tear / cut stamps from envelopes, leaving about ¼" paper all around. Don't remove from paper.
Toys: ring to see if they can make use of them. If not, give to charity shop (NOT electrical items).

Wirral Play Council

www.wirralplaycouncil.org.uk can use the following materials for use in arts and craft activities with children - Paper or card off cuts. Rope, ribbon and string. Fabric, wool and thread. Wallpaper and paint. Packaging materials. Please phone (0151 650 0030 or 0151 201 7883) or email enquiries@wirralplaycouncil.org.uk if you think you have suitable materials to donate.


Information is supplied in good faith and we have tried to be as accurate and up-to-date as we can, but we take no responsibility for any problems however caused. If you spot a mistake, or would like to add to this list, please contact us.
Wirral Environmental Network, Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER.
Tel 0151 639 2121, or email us:info@la21.net

Remember to print on both sides of the paper!

Distributed in conjunction with Transition Town West Kirby (www.transitiontownwestkirby.org.uk) 0151 632 5366