Alternative recycling options

Although most items can be recycled in some way, we cannot currently collect all items in your red and yellow recycling bins. Putting incorrect or potentially reusable items in the recycling bins can result in contaminating a clean batch of recyclables.

The machine that sort's and process the materials also become damaged, which creates an inefficiency.

However, there are alternative recycling options for many items which cannot currently be accepted at kerbside.

What items can you put in your recycling bins?

For a full list of items you can and cannot recycle in red and yellow lidded recycling bins please visit what can I put in my recycling boxes and bins?

Alternative reuse and recycling options

The following information offers alternative ideas for reusing or recycling unwanted items, which we can't accept:

Give away your unwanted items

Why not consider giving away your unwanted items for others to reuse.

Freegle is an online service which allows you to get and give unwanted items for free from residents within your local community to help keep potential reusable items out of the waste system.

For more information on giving away your items and how to join the community visit I Love Freegle - Preston Freegle Group.

To find out what residents are giving away in Preston currently visit I Love Freegle - Preston items.

Alternatively, you can donate your unwanted items to local charities, a number of which will collect free of charge.

Lancashire County Council's Reuse Shop

You can buy and take items here that you think someone else may get some use out of. The shop is open between 10am and 4pm Wednesday to Sunday.

The reuse shop accepts donations and sells:

• Bric-a-brac
• Electrical goods
• Furniture
• Spare parts
• Bits'n'bobs
• Pre-loved bargains

Supermarkets

Most supermarkets accept plastic bags, plastic film and batteries.

Some smaller shops also offer recycling collections for other types of packaging. For example Superdrug will collect your empty medicine blister packets for recycling. For details visit Superdrug - waste and recycling.

You can also bring small electricals to some stores where they will be sent off for recycling. To find your nearest store visit Recycle your electricals - electrical recycling near me.

Household Waste and Recycling Centres

The Household Waste and Recycling Centres, run by Lancashire County Council, recycle many items including:

• hard plastics
• light bulbs
• cartons or Tetra Paks
• batteries
• electrical items
• textiles

Tetra Pak/Carton recycling

We have partnered with the University of Central Lancashire's Student Union to offer a drop off point for all your used cartons and Tetra Paks. This is located on the ground floor between the hours of 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.

Please note: you must rinse out and flatten your cartons before dropping them off at the recycling point. This stops smells and saves space within the bin.

You can also recycle any paper-based containers with metal ends in this carton bank, such as:

• Pringles tubes
• Gravy granule containers
• Hot chocolate containers
• Coffee containers
• Ready made dough tubes

Make sure to remove any plastic lids before putting them in the bin.

Drop off point location

Student's Union
Student's Union Building
Fylde Road
Preston
PR1 7BY

TerraCycle

TerraCycle is a recycling company that offers a range of recycling programmes for typically hard-to-recycle waste. You can search for a range of programmes and drop-off locations in the Lancashire area at Terracycle - recycle more.

Coffee pod recycling drop off point

Plastic Free Preston have partnered with TerraCycle and Podback to offer a recycling point for aluminium and plastic coffee pods from the following participating brands:

• Tassimo
• Nespresso
• NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto
• Lavazza eco caps

Drop off point location

St Michael and All Angels with St Marks Church
2 Egerton Rd
Ashton-on-Ribble
Preston
PR2 1AJ

You can drop off your coffee pods in the labelled green bins within the car park where they will be sent off for recycling.

Map address for drop off point locations

Cartons and Tetra Pak drop off point - Student's Union, Student's Union Building, Fylde Road, Preston, PR1 7BY
Coffee pod recycling drop off point - St Michael and All Angels with St Marks Church, 2 Egerton Rd, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, PR2 1AJ
Reuse shop - Lancashire County Council's reuse shop, Tom Benson Way, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 1SG