Think first! Before you throw anything out or put it into a recycling centre consider:

• can you repair it?

• can you use it for another purpose?

• does anyone else want it?

Use the sub-categories on the left hand menu to find information on the material or product you want to recycle.

Check out our recycling symbols charts.

As you start to recycle more, take note of the amount of landfill you are creating each week by checking the level of your bin when you put it out for collection. You should find that as you start to separate out recyclable items your bin becomes noticeably emptier each week. Personally speaking ours has reduced by around 50% over the last year.

WasteConnect – search for your local recycling centre. However, search results can be a little vague, and there is no accompanying map to direct you to the spot.

The Recycled Products Guide has a large collection of items, from bathroom accessories to cattle bedding, made from recycled materials.

Recycle allows you to advertise unwanted items to give away, and also there is a Wanted section for things you want to get hold of. Nicely designed site, but very little usage to date by the looks of it.

2recycle also allows the advertising of unwanted items, and has a Wanted section.. It is not yet a heavily used site though – you may struggle to find what you want.

RecycleNow have loads of information on recycling.

Recycling Expert also have lots of good advice.

Freecycle is probably the best known worldwide reuse organisation. Very useful and effective, we have been amazed at what people are willing to take off your hands.

Free-Cycling is similar, but from their own website stats they only have 60 members. Surely this can't be right?