The average person in the UK throws away approximately 400kg of waste each year. As a nation, this figure amounts to around 26 million tonnes, of which 14 million goes straight to landfill sites.
There are still certain things which can’t be recycled – many plastics, for instance, or ceramics. But a surprising amount of commonly thrown out items can be reused and recycled in unexpected ways.
From the small stuff to big jobs, here are five things you’ve probably never thought to recycle – and some tips on where to do it.
1. Paint cans
Paint cans unfortunately can’t go in household recycling, but that doesn’t mean you should automatically throw them away.
Paint specialists Dulux run their very own specialist recycling scheme for paint cans to be repurposed into new products.
Or if your can still contains leftover paint, you may even be able to pass it on to a local re-use scheme, so that nothing has to go to waste!
2. Stairlifts
If you’re moving into a new home, you may find a range of unwanted articles left behind, from old furniture to family heirlooms.
And if the previous owners had a stairlift for any reason, you may find yourself needing to get rid of this addition. If that’s the case, stairlift removal and recycling services like We Buy Any Stairlift will dispose of the mobility aid free of charge, and in some cases will even pay cash for it!
3. Mattress recycling
General guidance recommends you should replace your mattress every 6-8 years.
But on top of the expense of purchasing a brand new one, you may also face added cost in your attempts to dispose of the old one.
However, it’s a little-known fact that there are ways to recycle your mattress that are significantly cheaper – or indeed, free – and better for the environment too.
4. Dentures
While dentures are not amongst the most common recyclables, the Japan Dentures Recycling Association do fantastic work in raising money for UNICEF through donated sets of dentures, which are dismantled for the metal components that can be sold on.
The organisation is run by Isao Miyoshi, who runs a denture laboratory in Japan alongside his charitable efforts.
5. Eyeglasses
Again an unexpected addition to this list, but there are many ways your old glasses can be recycled.
For a start, if you really don’t want rid of your old frames when your prescription changes, your optician can often put the new lenses into them so you can keep the same glasses for longer.
Alternatively, if you’re looking forward to a brand new pair, your old ones can be donated to organisations such as Lions Club UK, who recycle and reuse old spectacles to send to contacts running eye clinics in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Nepal, as well as volunteers from the charity Unite for Sight.
These are just five unusual ways you can do your part to help the planet through recycling.
