A to Z of recycling

Description: Reduce: Carefully consider how much you need by using the guidelines on the tin and only buy what you need.

Reuse: Put the lid on tight and store leftover paint for patching or using in other areas.

Recycle (restrictions apply): Paint can be taken to Staffordshire's recycling centres. Centres can accept up to 10 x 2.5 litre paint pots (or equivalent volume) every 6 months.

Recovery: Small amounts of water based paint can be left in the tin to go hard and placed in your kerbside general waste bin. The drying process can be sped up by adding sawdust or cat litter and the lid left off. Make sure that these are left away from children or pets to avoid spillage. Paint which is still liquid or solvent based paint should not be placed in the bin.

Description: Reduce: Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive. Register with the mail preference service to reduce the amount of unsolicited marketing mail you receive. Contact the Royal Mail to stop unaddressed mail being delivered by them to you.

Reuse: Blank pieces of printed paper and old envelopes can be used for notepaper.

Recycle:
• Home compost: Small amount of paper (avoid adding glossy paper), especially shredded paper can be added to the home compost bin.
• Kerbside collection: Dry clean paper can be recycled through your kerbside collection. Do not place tissues, kitchen paper or shredded paper in the recycling. Check your local council for further information.
• Recycling centres: Staffordshire's recycling centres can accept all dry, clean paper for recycling, including shredded paper.

Description: Disposal: Petrol or diesel cannot be accepted at Staffordshire's recycling centres. These should be recycled through a garage/licensed scrap dealer.

Description: Reduce: Wherever possible repair broken items to keep them in use that bit longer.

Reuse: Before you throw anything away why not see if it can be reused or upcycled. There are lots of ways this can be done.

Recycle: Hard plastic items can be recycled at any Staffordshire recycling centre in the rigid plastic container they are not accepted in your kerbside recycling collection bin.

Description: Reduce: Carefully consider how much you need by calculating what is required.

Recycle (charges apply): Plasterboard should not be placed in any of your kerbside bins. Plasterboard is made up of gypsum and when this is disposed of with biodegradable waste it can produce a poisonous gas. It is a legal requirement that plasterboard is disposed of separately. It must be dry and any tiles, wood etc should be removed. Six of our recycling centres accepts this waste. There is a charge of £4.80 per bag* or 180cm x 90cm sheet for plasterboard recycling.

Description: Reduce: Instead of buying a bottled drink, have you considered taking a reusable container?

Recycle: Bottles including drinks, cleaning and hair and beauty product bottles can all be recycled. These should be rinsed and the caps put back on as these can otherwise be easily lost in the recycling process. Bottles can either be placed for kerbside collection or taken to one of Staffordshire's recycling centres.

Description: Reduce: Is it possible to choose a product with less packaging?

Recycle: Unfortunately polystyrene is not commonly recycled and cannot be recycled through your kerbside collection or at Staffordshire's recycling centres.

Recovery: Cardboard can be placed in your kerbside general waste bin or taken to any of Staffordshire's recycling centres. Waste placed in the general waste bin or residual waste skip will be sent to one of Staffordshire's energy recovery plants.

Description: Reduce: Where possible remember to take a carrier bag with you.

Recycle: Check your local council for further information on what can be placed in the rubbish bin. Some supermarkets accept used carrier bags for recycling.

Recovery: Plastic bags and polythene sheeting can be brought to any of Staffordshire's recycling centres and placed in the residual waste skip which be sent to one of Staffordshire's energy recovery plants.

Description: Recovery (restrictions apply): PVC items such as soffits, facias, guttering, pipes, windows and doors can be disposed of at Staffordshire's recycling centres. You can take up to 1 cubic metre (1m3) broadly equivalent to a load that can be brought to the recycling centre in a family car, every six months. The material will be taken to one of Staffordshire's energy recovery plants.

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