Textiles

Unwanted linen can be reused as dust sheets, children’s play materials or animal bedding.

Unwanted items in good order could be reused.

They can also be recycled at one of the household waste recycling centres, or your local mini recycling site. Donations to yellow textile bins with the blue butterfly benefit Earl of Mountbatten Hospice.

Belts in good order could be reused.

Otherwise, they can be recycled in a textile bank at your local mini recycling site household waste recycling centre. Donations to yellow textile bins with the blue butterfly benefit Earl of Mountbatten Hospice. Or placed in a bag in your kerbside black box.

Carpets that are not reusable can be laid as mulch and local allotments and gardening groups may welcome them.

Do not place unwanted carpets in your rubbish bin.

Good quality carpets and rugs can be sold second-hand or donated to charitable organisations, voluntary groups or furniture reuse groups.

Otherwise they can be disposed of at one of the household waste recycling centre.

Clothes, unless in really bad condition, should never be thrown away. You can donate clean and good condition items to local charity shops or voluntary organisations such as The Salvation Army or Oxfam, who will be able to reuse them. Alternatively clothes (including those in bad condition) can be recycled at your local mini recycling site, or household waste recycling centre. Donations to yellow textile bins with the blue butterfly benefit Earl of Mountbatten Hospice.

Check to see if any charity shops could make use of them for displaying clothes.

Otherwise place with your general rubbish and they will be sorted at the resource recovery facility.

Many charities will accept curtains if they are in good condition. If they are not in good condition they can be recycled at your local mini recycling site, household waste recycling centre. Donations to yellow textile bins with the blue butterfly benefit Earl of Mountbatten Hospice.

Handbags in good order could be reused.

Otherwise, they can be recycled in a textile bank at your local mini recycling site or household waste recycling centre. Or placed in a bag in your kerbside black box.

You can take your unwanted or damaged jewellery into any Marie Curie Cancer Care shop or to Laura Ashley store, which will be recycled to help Marie Curie Cancer Care, which provides more nursing care at home to terminally ill people. You can also place your jewellery in an envelope and send it to Marie Curie Cancer Care, FREEPOST, Central Recycling.

Many charity shops accept jewellery in good condition for re-sale.

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.

Most schools require uniforms so don't throw old ones away. Check with the school to see if they raise funds by selling old uniforms.

Shoes in good order could be reused.

Otherwise, they can be recycled in a textile bank at your local mini recycling site or household waste recycling centre. Or placed in a bag in your kerbside black box. Donations to yellow textile bins with the blue butterfly benefit Earl of Mountbatten Hospice.

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.

Textiles could be reused try donating the to your local charity shop.