Do not put car batteries in your household rubbish or recycling - they contain hazardous materials and can cause fires.
Car batteries can be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centre. The site has a designated bin.
When shopping online use checkout options to group deliveries in fewer boxes. Select 'show what's inside' if your item doesn't need extra packaging.
Donate large boxes locally to people moving houses.
Use in the garden. Tear up and put under a layer of soil to minimise weeds. You can also add to your compost bin in small pieces.
You can put clean cardboard in your green recycling bin. You can also leave larger flattened boxes next to your bin in dry weather. Maximum size 1 metre by 1 metre. Please do not leave cardboard out by your recycling bin for collection if it is raining, if it gets wet it will not be collected. Keep for next collection or cut up and put it in the bin.
Take large volumes to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Dirty boxes and those with food on need to go in your black/grey waste bin.
Offer off cuts or used carpets in reasonable conditions on Facebook or social media giveaway groups.
Do not dispose of carpets at home. You can dispose of carpets and rugs at the Household Waste Recycling Centre
It is recommended that second hand car seats are not purchased from unknown sources due to safety concerns.
Car seats in excellent condition can be donated to friends and family providing:
Car seats that are not in an excellent condition or have been involved in a car accident should be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Look for similar products in packaging that you can recycle from home. For example, juice in plastic bottles and tomatoes/passata in tins or glass jars.
Plant based milk/drink are now available in powder form and can be made at home, avoiding the use of cartons.
Cartons including Tetra Pak can be recycled in the new temporary recycling banks at our six council-owned recycling sites. The materials should be clean/empty before they are deposited in the containers to mitigate against odours and pests (for example flies, wasps, ants).Find your nearest recycling site.
Hampshire County Council are building a new recycling sorting facility which means from Spring 2028 we will be able to collect these from the kerbside.
You could use these for collages, or donate locally for use on art projects.
Catalogues and magazines can be put in your green recycling bin. Please ensure they are clean, dry and not in bags.
You could reuse them as coasters, in the garden or allotment to deter birds.
Donate locally to a charity shop or give them away on local Facebook/social media gifting pages.
CDs and DVDs cannot be recycled and should be placed in your black/grey waste bin.
The Household Waste Recycling Centre accepts chemicals. Please ensure they are in sealed leak-proof containers.
Please speak to site staff who will ensure it is disposed of correctly.
Note: a maximum of five litres can be deposited per month per household.
Buy a tree with roots that you can keep in a large pot or plant out and dig up each Christmas
Real Christmas trees can be taken to one of the Christmas tree recycling sites we open each year in January.
If you have signed up to our garden waste collections, a real Christmas tree can be put out with your garden waste.
Artificial trees can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.
There is a special collection for clinical waste. Clinical/healthcare waste is sharp instruments, such as needles and scalpels, as well as infectious or potentially infectious soft clinical waste including dressings, swabs, wipes, gloves, gowns, masks, aprons and blood bags.
Contact us on 01256 844844 for more information.
Please do not dispose of clinical waste in your black/grey waste bin.
Consider shopping for clothes in charity shops to give second-hand clothes a new life.
Return unwanted items in time to get a refund.
Buy things you really love and that fit, not because they are a bargain or they will fit at some point. The bargain/it will fit one day items just don't get worn.
Buy quality items that will last. Where you can, maybe buy less items but that are better quality and will stay nicer for longer.
Clothes in good condition can be donated to a charity shop or sold online. Clothing not in good condition could be made into industrial cleaning rags or stuffing for car upholsteries.
You can recycle at the Household Waste Recycling Centre or at one of the textile bins in the borough.
Always opt to leave hangers in the shop when you purchase items.
Hangers in good condition can be taken to charity shops, where they will be reused. Call ahead to check.
Coat hangers cannot be recycled and should be disposed of in your black/grey waste bin.
Reusable coffee pods are now available to fit all coffee makers and are great for eliminating waste.
Different brands offer different take back schemes for used pods. For example Nespresso have over 5000 drop off points or customers can arrange a collection. Find out more information on Nespresso recycling. Search your preferred brand online for the best way to recycle your pods.
If you are unable to recycle, please put these in your black/grey waste bin.
Repairing items can be far more affordable, as well as better for the environment. There are many repair options in and around Basingstoke. Search 'IT repairs near me' online to see options and reviews
Computers and laptops can be donated to specialist charities, such as as Jamie's Computers - The Society of St James and Computer Aid who refurbish items and sell or reuse.
Alternatively, you may wish to gift items on local social media/Facebook pages.
Take the electrical item to a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) drop off point.
Can be reused as animal bedding.
Shredded confidential waste cannot be recycled in your green recycling bin, you should dispose of it in your black/grey bin.
These items can often be repaired. Search online for local companies and reviews who may be able to advise you.
If in good condition you can donate to the Basingstoke Community Furniture Project.
If it no longer works and needs to be recycled you could check if your electrical retailer will take your old appliance when they deliver your new one. Alternatively, these items can also be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre or collected via our bulky waste collection service (fees payable)
Allow it to cool to room temperature, strain it through a sieve to remove any leftover food and store it in a reusable container.
Put in a container and place in your black/grey waste bin.
Do not dispose of oil down drains, in toilets, onto soil or near water.
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