Other Waste

Local charities and charity shops often accept items for reuse or recycling to generate income.

Island Waste Services are the council’s domestic waste collection contractor responsible for collections of refuse and kerbside recycling.

You can order a free black recycling box or green organics bucket online or by calling 823777.

Commercial waste should not be placed out for collection with your household refuse, and it is not accepted at the household waste recycling centres.

Businesses should dispose of their waste with an authorised contractor, found in the phone book.

Remember to shred any personal information to safe guard against identity theft, then dispose of it with your general rubbish.

For commercial waste: the Data Protection Act places companies under statutory obligation to ensure the safeguard of information. When companies are disposing of large amounts of confidential waste, especially in paper form, it can be recycled. Check the phone book for companies who provide confidential collection and destruction services for sensitive documents and data.

Chopped up pieces of natural cork can be composted or you can use pieces of cork in the base of plant pots to help your plants retain moisture.

If you find a dead animal on the roadside contact Highways and Waste Services department, on 01983 821000, who will arrange to have it taken away.

Please note: they will not take away: Rats; Ferrets; Birds; Pheasants; or Squirrels.

If rubbish has been discarded in a public place please call the council on 823777 to report it. For more information please click here.

Have you tried freecycling? Find new homes for things you no longer need and save useful items from the top! Click here for the Isle of Wight group.

In the UK around 3 billion nappies are thrown away each year and around 90% end up in landfill, which can take hundreds of years to break down. If you choose to use disposable nappies choose ones that are dioxin free and/or unbleached. This should be marked on the packaging.

Before throwing something away, think about whether you could reuse it for the same or a different purpose – or maybe someone else could.

There are lots of suggestions for reuse:

Donate to local charities and community groups

Car boot sales / whitebay / ebay

Freecycle

Look at our reuse page for more ideas.

These collect waste such as fabric remnants, wood offcuts, unwanted paint, paper etc. from commercial and industrial sources. Community groups can then use various materials for creative play. Visit www.come.to/scrapstores.uk for details on local schemes.

If you have items that you think might be suitable for donation please click here.

Collecting Stamps can help raise money for Charities. Call Oxfam's Stamps and Coins Unit on 01869 355 100.

Unwanted spectacles can make a real difference to people in developing countries, so please donate yours to the many opticians who take part in these schemes.

The 'World in Sight Appeal' is run by Help The Aged and aims to bring much needed relief to people suffering from poor vision in some of the poorest parts of the world. They will accept all glasses including broken and irreparable frames. You can donate them to this appeal at Dolland & Aitchison Opticians or your local Help the Aged shop. Visit www.helptheaged.org.uk for more details.