How to dispose of anything
97 household items, grouped by where they usually go. Each page explains the usual route, step by step.
♻️ Recycling bin
Usually goes in your household recycling.
🗑️ General rubbish
Usually goes in your general (non-recycling) bin.
🍎 Food waste
Food caddy if your council collects food waste, otherwise general rubbish.
🌿 Garden waste
Garden waste bin or home compost, if your council offers it.
🏭 Recycling centre or take-back
Too big or not suitable for a household bin. Take it to a recycling centre, a shop take-back point or book a collection.
- Artificial Christmas tree
- Bath, toilet or sink
- Boiler
- Car seat or pushchair
- Carpet and underlay
- Christmas lights
- Exercise equipment
- Fridge or freezer
- Garden furniture
- Garden shed
- Gravel and stones
- Hot tub
- Kettle, toaster or small electrical
- Kitchen units
- Lawn mower or garden tools
- Light bulb (LED or energy-saving)
- Loft insulation
- Mattress
- Microwave
- Mobile phone
- Piano
- Plasterboard
- Rubble and bricks
- Scrap metal
- Smoke alarm
- Sofa or armchair
- Soil and turf
- Trampoline
- TV or computer
- Tyres
- Vacuum cleaner
- Wardrobe or furniture
- Washing machine or cooker
- Window or door
- Wood and timber
⚠️ Special care: never in any bin
Can cause fires, pollution or injury. Use a specialist route.
🔁 Return or reuse
Take it back to a pharmacy, supplier or shop, or pass it on.
Rules vary between councils. This is general guidance: always check your own council’s website.