We’re very keen on recycling here at Uncluttered. Here are some of the things we do to minimise waste, and we’re always on the lookout for more opportunities.
Local charity donations
Unless clients have another in mind, we tend to use one or two particular charities for donations. That’s because it’s easy to make deliveries to them and we know that they have a very good sorting process.
Small electrical items
We’re talking about, for example, electric fires, music centres and other hi-fi equipment. Not to forget hover movers, hedge trimmers and toasters. If electrical items look as though they work they go to a charity shop which can test them. (PAT – portable appliance testing – is required by law if electrical items are to be sold.) If they look broken or dangerous they go to the recycling centre where the valuable parts will be stripped out.
Recycling spectacles / glasses
From past involvement with vision charities we know how glasses can transform people’s lives. Marie Curie and Vision Aid Overseas both recycle spectacles in communities abroad for people who need them.
Books
Some books go to friends and family with the request to pass them on to another friend when they’ve finished with them.
Some go to charities with special book shops or special areas in their general shops. Here, volunteers who know about books sort them.
Specialist collections may go to a university or other library.
And, sadly, some books are at the end of the line and go to the recycling centre.
Recycling paper
With the client, we decide what is confidential and what is not.
We shred small amounts of confidential paperwork on site, using the client’s shredder or our portable workhorse of a shredder that doesn’t get stuck – or at least not very often! Antur Waunfawr, a local social enterprise, shreds any large amounts of confidential paperwork. These shreddings will probably be milled into tissue paper.
Some non-confidential paper, such as postcards and Christmas cards, are usually donated to a charity shop. The remainder goes in the recycling bin or heads directly to the recycling centre.
Glass
This goes in the recycling bin or directly to the recycling centre. That’s what we did with the almost 200 bottles that contained home-made wine. Yes, windows open and all emptied down the sink for safety’s sake!
Tins and other metal
If items can go into the recycling bin that’s where we put them. Otherwise, broken buckets, rusty fencing, assorted metal poles and the rest mostly go directly to the recycling centre.
Paint
Locally, our council recycling centres have a donation point for paint. It’s then re-used rather than recycled.
Recycling is a win-win situation!
We recycle wherever we can. Not only does it help in making the most of resources, it also makes our clients feel even better about decluttering and organising.