RECYCLING
The UK produces about 28 million tonnes of household waste every year - 50 per cent could be recycled but we only manage about nine per cent.

Local Recycling Links

See also Sustainability (LA21): www.lancaster.gov.uk/sustainability

For more info on waste management in Lancashire visit:
www. lancswasteinfo.com.

Lancaster UK Freecycle
About to move and worried that you will have to throw away loads of stuff? Just arrived and need living essentials? The Lancaster UK Freecycle(tm) group is open to all who want to "recycle" that special something rather than throw it away. Whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano or an old door, feel free to post it. Or maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself! One main rule: everything posted must be free. This group is part of The Freecycle Network, a nonprofit organization and a movement of people interested in keeping good stuff out of landfills.

Carnforth Freecycle covers the area between Bolton le Sands and Arnside, LA5 & LA6 areas.

ENVIROfirst
The Old Power Station; Lune Business Park; Lancaster
LA1 5QP.
Tel: 01524 844334 Mob:07806 761117
Recycles a multitude of materials commercially, including industrial and building waste.
Offers a "Free Tip" service for Lancaster businesses where by they can drop off their recyclable material such as cardboard, plastic bottles, cans and paper. Also provide ENVIRObins to licensed retailers for a weekly mixed glass collection.


WHERE TO TAKE THINGS

LANCASTER AND MORECAMBE RECYCLING DIRECTORY
Available online and from libraries in Lancaster District, Morecambe & Lancaster Town Halls, Tourist Information Centres, White Lund Depot and Many other venues throughout the Lancaster District - keep your eyes open for it! More info Tel 01524 582061

Aluminium - foil/milk bottle tops to Quernmore School
Tel. 01524 66628

Dead Battery Recycling
Lancaster Town Hall [nr. reception desk], Booths in Carnforth, Robertson's of Brock Street, and the Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Bicycles
Pedal Power [Lancaster Cycle Recycling Project]
Tel. 01524 65328.
Pedal Power collect unwanted bicycles, recycle them to a safe standard and quality, then pass them on at a low cost.
They also do repairs and will help you sort out an 'awkward' bike at an unbelievably cheap price.

Book Crossing
The Gregson Centre is now an 'Official Book Crossing site'. See www.bookcrossing.com for lots of books being given away here and elsewhere, in Lancaster and across the world. Swap your entire library for free!

Computers / Parts
www.computerswap.org.uk Local website for swapping computer bits & bobs. See also

Blackpool PC Recyclers
PC Recycler, 29-35 Ripon Road , Blackpool FY1 4DY
Tel: 01253 293258
Open - Mon-Fri, 10am - 2pm
www.pcrecycler.co.uk
16/8/06: For a £50 joining fee you get a recycled computer (which you have to collect from their workshop). This also covers you for one month of membership of the Computer Supporters Club. One benefit of this (there are others) is that anytime a member's computer breaks down, it is either fixed or replaced by PC Recyclers. Continued membership costs £4 per month (by standing order only) and the benefits continue.
More details are available here

DIY / Decorating
Community DIY Shop 3
7 Yorkshire Street, Morecambe LA3 1QF.
Tel: 01524) 413064
takes opened tins of paint, wallpaper, tools and other useful DIY items. Also takes computer bits.

Furniture and Appliances
Furniture Matters - The charitable organisation which helps renovate and check furniture and redistributes it to people in need (sofas etc. must be fire retardant).
Tel. 01524 426622 to
donate, to volunteer, or find out more!
BULKY MATTERS
Bulky Matters is the name of theservice set up in partnership between Lancaster City Council and local recycling charity Furniture Matters. From June 2006 Bulky Matters began to provide a bulky waste removal service that provides appointments at convenient times and makes collections within seven working days, reuses or recycles at least 40% of all items collected, reuses items to benefit the local community and helps sister charity Furniture Matters to provide training opportunities in subjects such as furniture restoration and domestic appliance repairs.
The Bulky Matters service is available to all householders within the district so if you've got items that you want to dispose of request a collection by ringing the council's customer service centre on 01524 582491.

Ink Cartridges
Thumbprint is a registered charity which recycles printer cartridges. The aim is to generate opportunites for people with learning disabilities to gain an income (a "micro-business"). They are particularly looking for offices and other workspaces where there is a significant turnover of cartridges who would be willing to act as collection points.
There is a short description of the project on our website
Tel: (015242) 63084
If you shop online, why not begin your journey here as Thumbprint
receives a commission on every purchase made http://www.buy.at/thumbprint  

Also you can get postage prepaid envelopes in WH Smith (at the Printer Cartridge section) so that you can send the empties to various charities.

Mobile Phones
• Recycle Your Mobile
Oxfam can turn unwanted mobile phones and their accessories into money to support work with people all over the world.
On average, each working donated handset is worth £5 to Oxfam - but some are worth much more. Donating a Nokia 3310 for example, could enable Oxfam to provide a mosquito net to protect a child from malaria.

Preston Recycling
Kent Street, Preston, Tel. 01772 562411,
Sell recycled PCs and will take your old stuff

Scrap Metal
Internation Aid Trust, Albert Road, Morecambe
Tel. 01524 413345,
Collects scrap metal

Tetrapak cartons
Recycling Banks for Tetrapaks have been placed at the following recycling sites in the district:
BOOTHS, Carnfoth; TESCO, Morecambe; ASDA, Lancaster; GEORGE HOTEL, Torrisholme; GREAVES PARK, Lancaster [near the pub]

NATIONAL RECYCLING LINKS

• 'Are you doing your bit?' campaign
Tel 0845 7868686
Ideas for individuals to protect and improve the environment.

• DEFRA (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Waste Strategy Division
Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE
Tel: 0207 944 6414

• Envirowise
Helps UK companies work out the true cost of waste and take action to reduce it.

• Thumbprint
Tel: (015242) 63084 E-mail: dave@thumbprint-online.org.uk
A registered charity which recycles printer cartridges. The aim is to generate opportunites for people with learning disabilities to gain an income (a "micro-business").
The charityare particularly looking for offices and other workspaces where there is a significant turnover of cartridges who would be willing to act as collection points.
If anyone would like to help please get in touch.

• Useitagain.org.uk
Tips and ideas on energy saving around the home. Created by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.Has a good list of recycling organisations: Go

• Waste Watch
Europa House, Ground Floor 13-17 Ironmonger Row London EClV 3QG
Promotes action on waste reduction & recycling.

• Planet Mobile UK
FREEPOST NAT 5496, Morecambe LA4 5ZZ
Tel: 0845 600 3617 E-mail: recycle@planetmobileuk.com
This company recyles old phones by refomatting them and exporting them to developing countries. You can raise money for your company or your favourite charities by using this service.

Recycle Now - National Recycling site with local info.

http://www.eta.co.uk Environmental Car Breakdown.
http://www.unit-e.co.uk Renewable sourced Electricity suppliers.
Freephone 0800 0288 552 RSPB Renewable sourced Electricity suppliers.
http://www.webswappers.com National swapping on the Net.
http://www.ethicalconsumer.org Where (not) to shop.
http://www.phonecoop.org.uk The Phone Co-op, the best phone deal.