A B c d E f g h i J k l M n o p Q r s t U v W x y z

We are gradually building up this A to Z of recycling. Below are entries for the letters so far published in the ATC’s monthly Green Page in the Hebden Bridge Times. As recycling suggestions for each letter, A through to Z, are published, we will add them to our website.

If you have any suggestions or amendments, please e-mail them to the ATC

N.B. This list is supplied for your information only. The ATC does not warrant the competence, reliability or financial standing of any of the persons or businesses named. It is up to you to make your own enquiries about a contractor prior to entering into any formal agreement.

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Aardvarks — All A to Z’s start with aardvarks, but unfortunately there are currently no recycling facilities for aardvarks in Calderdale. Watch this space…!

Air Miles - Can be recycled by the World Wildlife Fund UK, North London office, 13 Redston Road, London N8 7HL.

Allotments — To find out about renting a council allotment or if you have questions about allotment maintenance phone 359454.

Aluminium cans and foil — Wash, flatten and take to a recycling point. To find out where your nearest recycling point is phone Calderdale’s Recycling Officer or log onto Calderdale Councils Website (see Advice above). Kerbside collect door to door in Calderdale, tel. 881110.

Alcan do a ‘buy back’ scheme on Tuesdays 11.00am — 3.00pm Broad Street Car Park, Halifax. Alternatively, contact the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation 0845 722 7722. For further information on how to organise the collection of aluminium cans to raise funds for organisations, contact environmental Health Services (01422) 392336.

Antique Dealers/Markets - There's one per head in Hebden Bridge! Try Antiquary in Halifax 341770 or Old Cawsey Antiques Sowerby Bridge 832140. Alternatively see Yellow Pages - there are hundreds listed!

Appliances (repairs) - Don't dump that old video - get it fixed! Try Lord Dales in Hebden Bridge (844148) or Valley Electronics in Mytholmroyd (885088), Calder Services in Halifax (366152) or Domestice Appliances in Halifax (0800 525960). For washing machine repairs, try Dakfix on 241666.

Architectural Salvage -Try Andy Thornton Architectural Antiques Ltd in Elland (01422) 376000 or log onto www.salvo.co.uk.

Art materials - Pennine Magpie in Halifax collects scrap material from small businesses and factories and supplies children's groups, schools and art projects. For further information, phone 344566 or alternatively try the Rochdale Play Resource Centre on 01706 640823.

Asbestos Waste/Removal — For information and advice phone the Environment Agency 0113 244 0191

Auctions/Markets - for information on Calderdale’s markets contact the Markets Office 359034. For your nearest auctioneer, refer to Yellow Pages under auctioneers or car auctioneers.

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B

Baby Clothes and Equipment — buy second hand from friends or charity shops. See notices in local shops / newspapers. Or hire Jack and Jill baby equipment - 844459.

Bags — most supermarkets now offer long lasting ‘bags for life’. Use these or an old fashioned, non plastic shopping bag — string bags are de rigeur for summer 2002. UK shoppers use 8 billion plastic bags per year (134 per person)! Refuse plastic bags in shops if you don’t need them. Safeways in Todmorden has a bin outside for recycling plastic bags or put your name down for the ATC’s Plastic Recycling Club — 842121.

Batteries — Household batteries are difficult to recycle — use mains where possible. Small dry cell batteries can be recharged (the ATC’s Green Shop sells battery rechargers). Call Duracell on 0800 716434 for a freepost label and Jiffy bag to return spent batteries or send Ever Ready batteries to Energizer UK, Recycling, Freepost LOL2311, Dunstable, Beds LU54YY.

Local community recyclers, Kerbside, have a pilot scheme for collecting and recharging household batteries — tel. 881110.

Car batteries can be taken to certain recycling point / civic amenity sites — contact Calderdale’s Recycling Officer for information - 392385. Kerbside collect used car batteries locally. Exhausted power tool batteries can often be taken back by the supplier so it’s worth asking eg Draper tools will take back spent battery packs in exchange for a 10% discount on a new one.

Beds — If you have any unwanted beds to get rid of — try a local charity shop or alternatively try registered charity CHAS - 01274 731909 — they will call on you if you live in the Halifax area, free of charge, to remove any unwanted items of furniture which are in a reasonable condition and may be of use to someone else.

Bicycles — will be repaired by most local bike shops or try and sell through local paper.

Books — Give second hand books to charity shops / jumble sales. Your local Oxfam / PDSA etc will be glad of them. Book Aid International sends books to developing countries —phone 020 7733 3577.

Bob the Builder - To get your hands on a ‘Bob’s recycling day’ sticker book along with a huge selection of books on Recycling / Environmental issues contact Eco-logic books on 01225 484472 or email: books@eco-logic.demon.co.uk.

Bottles — Find ways of reusing bottles and jars or rinse and take to your local bottle bank — contact your Recycling Officer 392 385 if you don’t know where yours is. Kerbside collect glass bottles door to door (tel. 881110). For plastic bottles, get your name down for the ATC’s Plastics Recycling Club (tel. 842121).

Bottled water - Filter your own or drink tap water! Plastic bottles are difficult to recycle — there’s also the energy waste in bottling / packaging and transportation. ATC recycle a limited number of plastic bottles. To find out more about plastic recycling contact the ATC or RECOUP on 01684 272185.

Bric a brac — take your unwanted goods to charity shops / jumble sales / car boot sales. Other people are always ready to give your cast-offs a new home!

Bring sites — another name for ‘recycling sites’ or ‘bottle / paper banks’. Phone Calderdale Council — 392385 - for a free, up to date list of what to take where in Calderdale or see www.calderdale.gov.uk

Building Materials — to find companies that sell second hand building materials such as bricks / gates / paving see Yellow Pages under Builder’s Merchants or Salvage and Reclamation or try www.salvo.co.uk.

Buy recycled — buying recycled helps the recycling chain. It encourages the growth of companies providing recycled goods and displaces products made from scratch. A UK recycled products guide can be obtained from Waste Watch on 020 7 253 6266.

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Cables — from electrical equipment generally contain copper wire and can be recycled. Contact Kerbside for details of collection procedure (Tel. 01422-881110)

Cameras — don’t buy one-use only cameras!

Cans — aluminium & steel cans, that is - wash, flatten, take to a recycling point. Some take mixed aluminium and steel, some require them to be separated. There are 33 aluminium can recycling points in Calderdale. Ring Calderdale Council for a free, up to date list on 01422-392385. Doorstep recyclers, Kerbside, collect cans — see Collections.

Car oil — some recycling depots (there are 5 that take oil in Calderdale) and petrol stations will recover oil — to find out more contact Calderdale Council on 392385 or phone the oil bank on 0800 663366.

Cardboard — flatten, remove staples and packaging and take to your nearest collection point — the council will tell you where this is. Shredded and scrunched cardboard can also be added to your compost heap.

Cards — try to only buy cards that have at least some recycled paper in them — by buying recycled goods you help stimulate the market for recycling. You can recycle greetings cards at branches of Boots and Wilko’s.

Carrier Bags — See Bags.

Car boot sales — a good way of recycling your unwanted household paraphernalia. Look in local paper or contact the Markets Manager 359 034.

Cartridges — for a list of companies dealing in recycled ink cartridges contact Waste Watch on 0207 253 6266 or try the Green Stationery Company on 01225 480556.

Charity shops — recycling at it’s best! Take any unwanted clothes etc to your local shop — make sure you close the loop too by buying recycled (ie secondhand). Some will arrange collections.

Christmas Trees - Buy a fake tree to use year after year (no needles all over your carpet either!). If buying a real tree, buy a UK grown tree — preferably with roots so that you can plant it out after Christmas. If you want to dispose of your tree, phone your recycling officer to find out about collection points 392385

Copper — pipes, tanks and wire can all be recycled — contact Kerbside for details of collection points and house to house collections (881110)

Clinical waste —includes things like soiled dressings, needles and syringes - there is a free collection for households and a chargeable one for businesses. Contact the cleansing section of Environmental Health 392318 / 392304.

Clothing — take to a charity shop or a clothes bank at a recycling point. Consider getting clothes repaired Stitch Express Halifax 348820 or learn how to fix ‘em yourself!

Coffins — each year 437000 wooden coffins are burned in the UK. To find out about cardboard coffins phone The Natural Death Centre on 020 8208 2853 or try www.naturaldeath.co.uk. Contact The Funeral Company to find out about energy saving woodland burials 01908225 222 or www.thefuneralcompanyltd.com

Collections — there is a weekly collection of recyclable materials (glass,paper etc) from households in and around Hebden Bridge. For more info contact Kerbside on 881110.

Commercial and office waste — A wide range of options are available for the collection and disposal of commercial and industrial waste. For information contact the Cleansing Section, Environmental Health Services 392318 / 392304 / 392339.

Computers and IT equipment — contact comm.unity on 01422 843792 or the Skillsgap (atJava Lounge) on 845740. For further info refer to the DTI’s website on `Unwanted computer equipment — A guide to re-use’ www.dti.gov.uk

Company details —For local office paper / plastic collections see your Yellow Pages under ‘recycling’. There are also hundreds of companies nationally making products using recycled materials — contact Waste Watch for a recycled products guide —0207 253 6266.

Composting —Almost 1/3 of our domestic waste could be put back into the soil to return nutrients and energy. 27 million tonnes of organic waste (eg tea bags and egg shells) goes to landfill each year — once it’s in landfill it’s deprived of oxygen and does not biodegrade. The ATC has lots of information on composting, compost bins and wormeries, as well as peat-free compost, for sale (or contact the Composting Association on 01933 227777 or contact the Community Composting Network at www.othas.org.uk or phone on 0114 2580483.)

Cycles- advertise an unwanted bike in your local paper or find local bike shops in the Yellow Pages. You can get bikes repaired at Cyclegear in Sowerby Bridge 831676 or Dougie Mansfield’s in Mytholmroyd on 884397.

Cut someone’s trek to collect water / food by 3 hours a day in a developing country by donating your bike to ReCycle - Tel 01206 382 207.

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Death - you can be green even in death! Consider a woodland burial or cardboard coffin. Visit www.naturaldeath.org.uk

The wire and cellophane that comes with bought flower arrangements takes years to decompose and becomes an eyesore. Why not take a rooted plant to be planted by the grave instead?

Decorating? — 6.2 million litres of paint sold in the UK remains unused — but it can be recycled. Re-Paint redistributes paint to local community projects. For more info see www.communityrepaint.org.uk.

Desks - There will always be someone who will take it off your hands - advertise in the local rag or try Sitting Comfortably, a charity which will collect decent used furniture and household goods in the Calderdale area, tel. 01274-731909 (except Tuesdays — tel. 01422-392482). For Bradford area contact CHAS, also on 01274-731909.

Dining out? Ask your pub / restaurant if they currently recycle their glass — 80% of this goes to landfill at the moment. If local commercial collection schemes are inadequate suggest they team up with others / lobby local council. The Recycling Helpline will tell you what’s out there 01686 640600.

Disabled equipment and vehicles - Several companies offer nearly new / reconditioned stair lifts, wheel chairs and scooters - see Yellow Pages under Mobility & Access Equipment.

DIY equipment / tools - Tool hire companies offer a huge range of equipment e.g wall paper strippers, lawnmowers etc. Much greener than investing in your own tools which were probably made in a sweatshop on the other side of the world. Try Calder Tool Hire 01274 774406 or EPS in Mytholmroyd 885619.

Or maybe you can find someone with what you need through Calderdale LETS (Local Exchange Trading Scheme), tel. 01706-814722.

Unwanted tools may be welcomed by Tools For Self Reliance who mend old tools and ship them out to community projects in poorer nations — e-mail: info@tfsr.org

Donate! — Recycle your organs by picking up a donor card from your GP’s surgery. There are always people waiting for donors. The ultimate in recycling!

Don’t buy it…! If it’s overwrapped or packaged in non-recyclable materials.

Don’t throw it away! Whatever it is, there must be a more constructive way. If you really are stuck with something and don’t want to bin it contact the ATC for further ideas.

Doors - Every skip contains a door! Think about ways in which you could revamp a door without having to dump it - try local stripping/restoration services .

Dress hire - More environmentally friendly than owning your own. Try Cream Dress agency, Hipperholme 205080.

Dustbin — Put as little as you can in it — by recycling and composting some of your waste you can make a huge diff

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J's
Jars - we each use approximately 100 glass jars a year! Before they are ultimately recycled jars are ideal airtight storage containers, invaluable for homemade jams and chutneys, as well as being excellent mini-cloches or propagators in the garden.
Jeans, jumpers and jackets - buying second-hand clothes from, and donating to local charity shops or jumble sales is an everyday example of effective recycling.
Jewellery - buy second-hand or jewellery made from recycled materials. Donate any unwanted items to local charity shops.
Jiffy bags - These take up loads of room in landfill, are quite expensive to buy, but can be re-used countless times. Why not save and re-use them with new homemade labels!
Join in your local recycling scheme! – To find out if you are on Kerbside’s weekly collection route contact them on (O1422) 881110.
Jokes - did you hear the one about the inflatable boy who took a pin to school with him?
Journalism - try not to follow Bernhard Ingham’s policy of regularly recycling old ideas and articles and sending them to our local newspaper.
Junk mail - junk mail produces a shocking waste of resources. 44% of junk mail is thrown away without being opened! Rather than perpetual recycling why not initiate your very own Zero Waste Strategy and reduce this waste at its source? Contact the Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London WE1 7EZ (Telephone – 0207 7664410) and ask for your name to be removed from mailing lists. If junk mail persists you can return it marked "return to sender" with a note asking to be taken off their lists.  

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 M's  M is for  Magazines – Suitable for recycling with  your newspapers (remove any plastic packaging  from unread magazines!) but also  worth passing on to health centres, hospitals  or doctors and dentists surgeries if they  contain well-researched articles on alternative  therapies, non-mercury dentistry, or the  fluoridation of water supplies. 

Manure – Farmyard manure can be rich in  plant nutrients and ideal for improving soil  structure. Well -rotted manure has a carbon  to nitrogen ratio similar to good compost  and can be used as a fertiliser or compost  activator. Manure from intensively reared  animals is likely to distort the balance of  your compost heap and should perhaps be  avoided. 

Maps – Old road maps, rendered obsolete  by successive government passions for  concreting over the countryside, make  excellent wrapping paper! 

Markets – Wednesday’s second hand  market in Hebden Bridge is often full of  really useful second-hand goods for re-use  and recycling! 

Medicines – Make a concerted effort to  reduce your use of unnecessary antibiotics!  Although some medicines are classified as  hazardous most can be returned to the  chemist or doctor’s surgery for disposal. 

Metals – Contact Kerbside (01422 881110)  or the council’s recycling officer (01422  392385) for information on all aspects of  metal recycling. 

Milk bottles – Glass milk bottles are regularly  re-used up to 20 times before being  recycled and their continued use must be  supported. Plastic milk bottles can be recycled  by members of the ATC’s Plastics  Recycling Club (01422 842121). 

Mobile Telephones – Broken mobile  'phones can often be repaired, try i-tec  (0870 840088) or cellcomm (01274  688788) but in the UK alone it is estimated  that there are 90 million mobile phones  lying around un-used! A directive due to  take effect in 2004 will make manufacturers  responsible for their recycling but until then  freepost bags for recycling your unwanted  mobiles are available from various charities  including Action Aid. Contact  recycling@aarecycling.org.uk 

Mosaics – The art of mosaic making dates  back into prehistory. Almost any recycled  objects can be incorporated into mosaic  designs and the results are often stunning.  Mosaic making kits similar to those used on  projects by the ATC are available from The  Green Shop. 

Motor Oil – Waste lubricating oil from  vehicles is recyclable and it is illegal to  pour oil into drains or dump it. Waste oil  contains toxic substances and just four litres  (about the amount from one oil change)  will contaminate an area of water twice the  size of a football pitch. The annual amount  of dumped oil in the USA is eleven times  the amount that polluted the environment  after the Exxon Valdez Tanker spill! Car oil  can be deposited in a special receptacle at  Eastwood Waste Transfer Station. 

Mulch – Covering the ground with a layer  of recycled materials such as leaves, newspaper,  cardboard, grass clippings or even  black plastic can keep weeds at bay, retain  moisture, and protect the soil from rain and  sun. Some mulches will add fertility to the  soil and mulching is generally regarded as  an excellent tool for all gardeners.    

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N's  N is for  Nappies – Despite what the Absorbent  Hygiene Products Manufacturers  Association might try to tell you (and I bet  they have exciting parties!), disposable  nappies are not recycled and are not good  for the environment! 8 million disposable  nappies are used every day in the UK  creating 800,000 tonnes of dirty nappy  waste every year. It is possible to purchase  more environmentally friendly disposable  nappies but “real” re-usable nappies  supplied by a laundry and delivery service  are the only cost-effective and more environmentally  friendly alternative. 

Neighbourhoods – Community inspired  projects with effective resident participation,  free from the hands of overpaid  consultants and outside contractors, will  breathe life into all depressed urban and  rural areas in need of regeneration! 

Nettles – Nettle leaves and young nettle  plants are good activators in compost heaps  and make a superb liquid plant feed. 

Newspapers – On average over a third of  the contents of everyone’s waste bins is  paper and card. Kerbside Recycling (01422  881110) will collect newspapers on their  local collection routes and all Council recycling  sites have facilities for newspaper  recycling. With vinegar newspaper can  make an excellent window cleaner,  shredded newspaper makes a good bedding  for pets and other animals, it is used both  commercially and domestically as an effective  insulation material and can be used in  small quantities in compost heaps.  Alternatively, cut down on the amount of  gossip and misinformation you consume.  On average each American uses the equivalent  of one mature tree of newsprint annually!  Try rejecting “free” publications and  replacing daily newspapers with quality  publications and alternative electronic  media sources. 

Notebooks – What more ethical statement  could you possibly make than purchasing a  notebook with a recycled plastic cover and  100% recycled paper! 

Nostalgia – Recycle those rose tinted spectacles  with the local optician and take a  fresh look at the issues affecting contemporary  life. 

Nuclear power – Beware of messengers  from deepest Surrey who will try to  convince you that nuclear power is clean,  non-polluting and the answer to all of  society’s ills. Remember that the total  radioactivity released into the atmosphere  after the Chernobyl accident was 200 times  that of the combined releases from the  atomic bombs exploded at Hiroshima and  Nagasaki!    

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Oddments and ornaments - Donate all  unwanted but re-usable items to Zion  Housing Co-Op (01422 845990) who will  sell them at their Wednesday market stall in  Hebden Bridge. 

Oil – It is highly dangerous and illegal to  pour oil into drains or dispose of it on open  land. The amount of oil dumped each year is  estimated to be 11 times that which was lost  in the Exxon Valdez tanker disaster. Waste  lubrication oil from vehicles is recyclable.  Car oil can be deposited at Eastwood Waste  Transfer Station. More information can be  obtained from the Oil Bank Line 0800  663366. 

Offices – It is reasonably easy and enjoyable  to start up a basic office recycling and waste  reduction scheme. If you can afford to pay to  have your waste paper and drinks cans collected  contact Kerbside (01422 881110) otherwise  work co-operatively with colleagues  and create your very own system. Re-using  envelopes and packaging materials, recycling  unwanted CD roms, contact the ATC (01422  842121), inkjet printer cartridges (envelopes  available from the Green Shop), and donating  unwanted office furniture and equipment  to worthy causes, such as the ATC, will dramatically  reduce your waste creation and  help you to sleep at night. 

Onion skins – Produce an excellent golden  brown dye for all types of material and can  also be used in the manufacture of recycled  paper. 

Open spaces – Ensuring community  involvement in revitalising unused open  spaces is a guaranteed way of repairing and  recycling community well-being. 

Optimism – Reduce cynicism, re-use enthusiasm  and determination, repair energy levels  and recycle all optimistic thoughts. Even  through the very smallest of actions we can  all make a positive difference to our own and  other’s lives and have a good time doing it! 

Orange Peel – Apart from being composted  when fresh, dried orange peel makes excellent  firelighters. 

Organs – Application forms for organ donor  registration are available from Valley Road  Medical Centre, Hebden Bridge. 

Organic waste – It is generally agreed that  about a third of all household waste is organic,  such as vegetable and fruit peelings, food  and garden refuse, and could be composted.  If organic waste is buried in landfill sites it  normally rots in the absence of oxygen and  causes potentially dangerous gases such as  methane and leachates that poison our air,  land and water supplies. 

Ostrich Feathers and Ottomans– see  Oddments and Ornaments.    

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P's  P is for  Packaging: Recent estimates suggest that  up to 30% of domestic "waste" is packaging.  Producers have a theoretical responsibility  to reduce packaging but consumers  will force change by demanding goods with  minimal packaging and a high recycled  content, returning unwanted packaging,  supplying their own bags whenever  possible, and buying loose products for  which packaging is not necessary. 

Paint: Community Repaint is a network of  paint re-use schemes across Britain that  collects leftover re-useable paint and redistributes  it for re-use! Contact  www.communityrepaint.org.uk for your  nearest scheme. 

Pallets: Wooden pallets that cannot be reused  make excellent frames for compost  and leaf mould bins, and trendy furniture. 

Paper: Our use of all types of paper must  be fundamentally re-considered. Paper  consumption can be reduced, recycled  paper goods should be purchased at every  opportunity, and paper must be re-used  whenever possible. All used paper can be  recycled. Contact Kerbside (01422) 811100  for local paper recycling information. 

Paramilitaries: Often recycled into MPs of  various political leanings. 

Parkas and pogo sticks: Surely it’s time to  dig out those fur lined fashion statements of  the seventies and bounce into town to join  in the current Retro bonanza. 

Plastics: Re-use plastic carrier bags, refill  washing-up bottles, buy recycled plastic  goods, avoid products made from PVC  (polyvinyl chloride) or mixed plastics, write  letters to local councillors demanding  plastic recycling facilities, and support your  local plastics recycling project! With  careful product design the use of plastic can  lead to energy and resource savings when  compared with other materials. 

Plywood: If buying plywood check that it  is not made from an unsustainable source.  Consider buying salvaged timber or imitation  wood made from recycled plastic  instead. 

Postage stamps: Used postage stamps are  currently collected by those lovely people  at the Post Office, Holme Street, Hebden  Bridge. 

Poppycock: Regularly recycled by a  former Prime Minister’s press secretary in  his monthly contributions to the Hebden  Bridge Times.

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Q's  Q is for  Quangos – Easily recycled into money  saving, accountable and democratically  controlled organisations, or even a regionally  elected assembly! 

Quantities of plastic 4-pack beer/baked  bean can holders – Donate all clean plastic  can holders to Ekko, the ATC’s very own  plastics recycling factory. 

Questions – Got a recycling query?  Contact Calderdale’s Recycling Officer  (01422) 392385. 

Quiffs – A useful source of nitrogen, damp  hair can be placed directly into your  compost heaps in small quantities, or used  dry as a slug-blocker around immature  plants. 

Quilts (1) – Excellent insulators for  compost heaps and a superb packaging  material for large fragile items. Contact  Rhythm Bridge Foundation (01422 845074)  if you have quilts suitable for protecting  their drums and percussion instruments in  transit. 

Quilts (2) – Although traditionally born out  of necessity, making warm bed coverings  from discarded rags, patchworking and  quilting remains a fashionable recognised  art form and an excellent way of reducing  the amount of textiles being wasted.    

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 The R’S…reduce, re-use,  repair, recycle!  Radiators- Old radiators can be used in the  construction of basic solar water heating systems.  Self-build courses are offered by  Heeley City Farm, contact Nick Parsons  (0114 2505108). 

Rags- About 5% of all domestic waste consists  of old clothing, fabric remnants and  unwanted furnishings. There is however a  thriving textile reclamation trade and reprocessing  a tonne of rags uses considerably less  energy than manufacturing a tonne of new  fabrics. Kerbside (01422 881110) will collect  all clean and dry clothes and paired shoes for  recycling. 

Rainwater- British gardens make up our  biggest nature reserve and water butts to collect  rainwater for watering during dry spells  are an essential feature of any self-respecting  garden. 

Razors- Invest in a quality, long lasting  shaver, help protect the environment and save  yourself money! Never buy a disposable  razor! 

Reduce- Make a conscious effort to reduce  unnecessary consumption, avoid overpackaged  goods, and shop local! 

Reed-bed systems- Chemical treatment of  polluted water supplies is costly both financially  and environmentally. Reed beds act as  pollution filters and can extract toxic substances  such as phenols, phosphates, and  nitrates from water and even deal with harmful  bacteria. 

Refill- Ec0-friendly washing up liquid, surface  cleaners, fabric conditioner, toilet cleaner  and washing powder can all be obtained as  refills from the Green Shop! 

Refrigerators- When you are replacing your  fridge try to buy a low/no CFC, high energy  efficient model and ensure that your old  fridge is recycled safely (contact Calderdale's  Recycling Officer on 01422 392385). Low  income households throughout Calderdale  can trade-in old, damaged and inefficient  fridges using the Council’s Fridge saver  scheme (01422 392487). 

Re-use- Avoid disposable products whenever  possible, use local charity shops, re-label  used envelopes, re-use carrier bags, and  attempt to extend the life of all the products  you purchase.    

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 S's  S is for  Saucepans - Stainless steel, aluminium, cast  iron and copper pans should all be recycled  when damaged beyond repair. With Kerbside  in suspended animation the nearest recycling  amenity for scrap metals is Eastwood Waste  Transfer Station. 

Second-hand goods - Salvage and reclamation  are essential elements of recycling and  whenever possible we should always consider  buying second-hand before buying new.  Though a touch on the expensive side, Hebden  Bridge is awash with good quality second  hand and charity shops. 

Seeds – Seed saving is an environmentally  friendly and money saving option for anyone  with a growing space. For advice contact Susy  01422 842121. 

Sewage – Up to 99% of sewage is water! By  storing your grey-water (from washing  machines, washing up and baths) and using it  in the garden you will not only be saving water  but also reducing the amount of sewage which  is increasing every year throughout the world. 

Shoes and Boots – Over 260 million new  pairs of shoes are bought each year in the UK.  Some will be incinerated, others dumped.  When most footwear materials are burnt they  release harmful dioxins, when dumped they  generally fail to biodegrade. White Lightning  Dry Cleaners, West End, Hebden Bridge  currently collect shoes for recycling. For your  nearest collection point contact the European  Recycling Company at ercoltd@aol.com . 

Shortlife goods – We use many necessary  items with a short lifespan. It is essential that  all of these goods, such as toilet paper are  made from recycled materials. Other short  lifespan disposable goods should be avoided  whenever possible. 

Sitting Comfortably – Use the new furniture  recycling service and charity shop managed by  Sitting Comfortably at Calderdale Business  Park, Ovenden, Halifax. They currently supply  furniture, electrical goods, clothing, household  goods, babywear and flooring. Contact them  on 01422 329895 or 01274 731909. 

Slapstick – Currently not being very successfully  recycled by miscreants such as the  Chuckle Brothers. 

Stamps – Used postage stamps are worth  money to charities and are collected at various  shops and the Post Office in Hebden Bridge. 

Steel - Steel is the most commonly used metal  in the world and also Europe’s most recycled  packaging material. The raw materials of steel  are all finite resources and energy savings of  approximately 75% are made when steel is  recycled. Recycling steel is far less environmentally  damaging than making new steel! 

Straw – An excellent mulch in the garden and  very useful addition to the compost heap.   

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T is for…  Tables – Good quality tables will be collected  and re-used by Sitting Comfortably (01274  731909). 

Tartan – Well I’m holding onto mine…A Bay  City Rollers revival is surely just around the  corner. 

Tautology – I’m not saying Bye Bye Baby to  my Scottish fabrics…I reckon that we’ll all be  singing Shang-a-lang before the year’s out. 

Tea bags – A suitable ingredient for your compost  heap. Tea leaves are a very good source of  nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. 

Telephones – There are several mobile telephone  recycling schemes (old mobiles can be  packed in a strong envelope and sent to  SENSE, Recycling Centre, FREEPOST  NAT5224, Peterborough PE2 6BR) but it is  also possible to recycle your non-mobiles too.  BT will recycle BT telephones and should provide  you with a freepost padded envelope (they  currently recycle over a million telephones  every year!). 

Telephone directories – Telephone directories  can be recycled at most cardboard recycling  facilities but can also be mixed with other  papers if they are ripped down into smaller volumes.  For those who need to talk to someone  about what to do with their Yellow Pages, The  Directory Recycling Helpline can be reached  on 0800 671444. 

Televisions – It is estimated that leaving your  television on standby instead of switching it off  contributes to an extra 200,000 tonnes of carbon  dioxide being dispersed into the atmosphere  each year. Most faulty televisions can be  repaired. In 1989 a survey revealed that a quarter  of televisions found dumped had no obvious  fault and another 20% could have been  repaired by an hour’s work.

Thyrsus – Return to Dionysus. 

Tiles – Using unwanted tiles to make mosaic  decorations is one of the most rewarding and  worthwhile re-use/recycling projects. Mosaic  stepping stone kits are available form the  Green Shop. 

Timber – Although wood is a renewable  resource many forestry practices are unsustainable  and it makes economic sense to re-use  wood whenever possible. Contact Aarons  Reclaimed Timber (01422 330138) or Aaron  Beam Centre (01422 300300) for good quality  reclaimed and recycled timber. Unwanted timber  can be recycled locally at Eastwoods Waste  Transfer Station.  Toilet Paper – Despite several experiments we  have not been able to perfect the re-use or recycling  of toilet paper. However it is of course  essential to buy toilet paper made from 100%  recycled and unbleached fibres, and to reduce  the quantity used whenever possible!!! 

Twaddle – Regularly recycled in articles by  Bernard Ingham. 

Tyres – The production of tyres consumes vast  amount of raw materials and it is essential to  prolong the life of your tyres by regular maintenance,  and frequent checking of tyre pressure.    

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U's

U is for  Ukuleles - Visit the Green Shop to see an  excellent example of a 4-stringed Hawaiian  style guitar made from reclaimed and recycled  materials by local amateur luthier Robert  Collins. 

Umbrellas - Bring your parasols, they may  be small, they may be big, he will fix them all  with what you a thingamajig, or alternatively,  before discarding old umbrellas, it’s always  worth asking if your local school is carrying  out a science project on waterproofing 

Unbleached products - Whilst bright white  paper might look clean, producing it from  brown wood pulp or recycled paper fibres  can be a dirty, dangerous and wholly unsustainable  business. Chlorine bleaching creates  poisonous by-products in the atmosphere and  watercourses. Other types of bleaching are  less hazardous but often unnecessary. Make  the effort to buy unbleached toilet and  kitchen rolls and experiment with unbleached  recycled stationary.  Underwear - Don’t recycle radioactive Yfronts  from the Ukraine because Chernobyl  fallout. 

Universe - Many little things done by many  little people will change the face of the world. 

Upholstery - Sitting Comfortably will  recycle all good quality furniture through  their furniture shop that is based in  Calderdale Business Park, Ovenden, Halifax.  Contact them on 01422 329895 or 01274  731909. 

Uranium - As BNFL have proved there is no  safe method of disposal or recycling for the  heaviest of our naturally occurring elements  that is used as a source of non-environmentally  friendly and utterly unsustainable  nuclear energy.  Urine - Human urine is an excellent activator  for compost heaps even though our esteemed  head of the Environment Agency will most  probably think that we are taking the piss. 

Usury - Avoid loan sharks or credit cards  with excessive loan repayments and extortionate  interest rates by joining your local  credit union, an effective community banking  system. Contact Calderdale Credit Union on  01422 393106.  Utopia - Visit the Green Shop and let us help  you visualize your very own sustainable    

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Vacuum cleaners and video  recorders – Unwanted  working vacuum cleaners  and video recorders can be  donated to Sitting  Comfortably (01422 329895  / 01274 731909) or deposited  in the special unit at  Eastwood Waste Transfer  Station. Lord Dales (01422  844148) and Valley  Electronics (01422 885088)  will repair vacuum cleaners  and video recorders.  Vegetable waste and peelings  – Estimates vary, but it is  generally agreed that up to a  third of all household  “waste” is derived from  kitchens and gardens. All of  it can be successfully composted  with other materials  to produce a valuable  resource for your garden or  allotment. On the other hand,  if food waste is continually  dumped in landfill sites it  will invariably create a highly  dangerous pollutant that  will damage water supplies  and affect air quality. 

Vehicles – Each year in the  UK about 2 million vehicles  are scrapped and nearly a  quarter of the weight of all  scrapped vehicles is not currently  recycled. The End-of-  Life Vehicles Directive,  which became law in 2000,  but is yet to be fully implemented,  aims to reduce the  use of hazardous substances  in vehicle manufacture and  sets recycling targets for all  governments in the European  Union.  Car share clubs (Hour Car -  www.hourcar.org.uk) offer  the opportunity for a reduction  in the need for vehicle  ownership whilst giving  members a convenient and  cost-effective access to car  use. 

Vending Cups – By recycling  non-reusable plastic  cups from vending machines  many companies and other  organisations can cut their  costs and help improve the  environment. The recycled  plastic is used in the manufacture  of many innovative  products including personalised  business cards. For  more information contact  www.save-a-cup.co.uk. 

Vermiculture – Worms will  eat most types of organic  waste to create vermicompost,  a high quality growing  medium which can be used  in many ways throughout the  garden. Setting up a vermiculture  system requires very  little work and should produce  very few offensive  smells! Worm bins can be  bought or home-made and  will fit even in the smallest  of back-yards. 

Viagra – See Vitality. 

Volunteers – Anyone with a  few spare hours on their  hands who is interested in  any aspect of sustainability  can be easily recycled into a  much-loved volunteer at the  Alternative Technology  Centre. For more information  about the current opportunities  for volunteering at  the ATC please contact us 

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Waffle – Regularly recycled by Bernhard  Ingham. 

Wages – By spending your money wisely on  local goods and services you will be helping to  recycle wealth! If 80p in every £1 was spent  locally it would eventually create £50 worth of  income within the community. If just 20p in  every £1 is spent locally it only creates  £12.50! By shopping locally you can save  yourself time and energy whilst supporting  your local community! 

Washing Powders and Washing Up Liquids  – Number 25 in the Environment Agency’s  Top 60 Ways To Save The World is “use environmentally  friendly cleaning products”. All  cleaning products are harmful to the environment  in varying degrees and it is therefore  essential to choose products that biodegrade  rapidly and emit minimum toxicity into the  aquatic environment. The washing power of  most eco-friendly brands is equal and occasionally  better than conventional, ecounfriendly  products and they do not include  synthetic “optical brighteners” (which can  react chemically when in contact with human  skin!), synthetic fragrances or genetically  modified enzymes. 

Waste Paper – On average every family in the  UK disposes of about 8.5 kg of paper and card  each week and approximately 5 million tonnes  of household paper is not recycled each year.  Recycling paper saves energy, reduces waste  disposal problems, protects ancient forests  from being replaced by plantations, reduces  air and water pollution, and its easy to do! –  (Contact Kerbside - 01422 881110) The UK’s  national income rises by £154 for every additional  tonne of paper that is recycled! 

Wax candles – Old, part used and unwanted  candles can be recycled at Meltdown Candles,  Hebble End Mill, Hebden Bridge. 

Weapons Of Mass Destruction – Usually  only found in vast quantities in countries that  don’t need them, but who are nevertheless  supposedly looking for them in other countries,  which don’t seem to have them, in an  effort to stop them having them.  Wood – Up to 25% of all construction and  demolition waste is recyclable wood.  Households can recycle timber locally by  using the special skip at Eastwood Waste  Transfer Station whilst recycled and reclaimed  wood can be purchased from Aarons  Reclaimed Timber (01422 330138) or Aaron  Beam Centre (01422 300300). 

Wool – Most textiles can be easily recycled.  Woollen clothing that can be re-used is often  sold or used as humanitarian aid by many  charity shops. Balls of wool can be donated in  Oxfam shops from where it will be used to  create clothing and blankets for use in humanitarian  aid packages. 

Worms – Create a wormery to dispose of food  scraps in an environmentally friendly way  whilst producing a useful    

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X

 is for…XMAS  (well you try thinking of something else beginning  with X!)  Over the Christmas period the United  Kingdom throws up to 30% more glass bottles,  and aluminium and steel cans than usual into  its dustbins, helping to create more than 3 million  tonnes of rubbish. A staggering extra 500  million aluminium and steel drinks cans will be  used over the Christmas period. It’s estimated  that as much as 83 square kilometres of wrapping  paper will end up in the bin. That’s  enough to cover an area larger than Guernsey  (now there’s a thought!). The main sources of  extra rubbish during the festive season are  packaging and cards, glass, cans and Christmas  trees, all of which can be recycled. Recycling  is the most cost-effective solution for re-using  these valuable resources so don’t forget to fill  up those black kerbside boxes and make regular  visits to your local recycling sites (your  body will appreciate all the activity it can get!). 

Christmas cards – Up to 1 billion cards will  end up in the waste stream this Christmas  (that’s 17 for every man, women and child!).  Whenever possible buy cards made from recycled  materials. Consider making your own  (The Green Shop has a large selection of recycled  card), perhaps try sending e-cards, but  make sure that you bring all of your unwanted  cards to the ATC after January 5th for recycling  with Kerbside. If you can’t get to the ATC there  will be collections at most WHSmith and Tesco  stores.  Christmas presents – Buy locally, buy recycled  and buy durable presents whenever possible.  Visit The Green Shop or www.rethinkrubbish.  com to see a wide range of excellent recycled  gifts. Avoid presents with excessive packaging!  Around 125,000 tonnes of plastic packaging  is thrown away over Christmas. If you  receive an unwanted gift consider passing it on  to a charity shop, or after school club! More  than 80,000 tonnes of old clothes are thrown  away every Christmas. Consider donating  unwanted clothes to charity shops or place  them in a textile bank. Use labels and tags on  presents that are recycled from your old  Christmas cards. If you didn’t save any last  year the ATC has a large collection for you to  sort through! 

Christmas trees – Instead of buying a tree  consider renting a living tree that can continue  growing after Christmas is over. Over 6 million  trees were bought in the United Kingdom last  year. Most were thrown away after Twelfth  night, creating an additional 9,000 tonnes of  rubbish. The ATC will once again be renting  out trees this year that have been grown on Hill  Top Farm, Edgworth. Contact Abby at the ATC  (01422) 842121 for more information. Trees  will also be available at the Farmer’s Market in  Hebden Bridge    

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