Recycling the tricky stuff

A solution for those hard to recycle items!

Since November 2023, at Cafe Zero, Haddenham residents have collected…

We are still collecting the following groups of items at the Café Zero in Haddenham Village Hall on the 1st Saturday morning of every month between 9am-12 pm. There is more detail about what is and isn’t included in each category below, as well as where you can recycle (or repurpose) other tricky stuff!

Simply collect up your items each month and put them in the appropriate receptacle – they need to be separated into the categories above, as that’s how we send them off.

Can you help?

Wherever possible, we would like to encourage individuals who can, to recycle these tricky items themselves. Luckily, it has become easier to do so… Boots has introduced a new scheme: to help recycle tricky stuff, and you can even receive points on your Boots Advantage Card when you do so! This is called ‘Recycle at Boots’ – see here for more information.

For those who cannot recycle themselves, do not worry. We will still be collecting medicine blister packs, oral care waste and packaging and contact lenses and packing, on the 1st Saturday of the month at Haddenham Village Hall.

Please note that at our collection point we cannot accept:

  • Hazardous waste (for example sharp, flammable, reactive, corrosive, ignitable, toxic, infectious or pathogenic) which presents a danger to the environment, or to people.
  • Batteries, pressurised canisters, broken glass and medical waste

Recycling the Tricky Stuff

Recycle at Boots

This scheme enables you to recycle your ‘hard-to-recycle’ empty beauty, health, wellness and dental products. The ‘hard-to-recycle’ items are those made of composite mixed materials such as metals and plastics, or non recyclable materials such as toothpaste tubes and lotion pumps.

To find out more – click here: Recycle at Boots and for a full list of what is accepted, see here: https://boots.scan2recycle.com/recyclable-types.

Medicine blister packs

Accepted

  • Any brand of empty medicine blister packs

Not accepted

  • Any medicine and medication residue including tablets, pills, lozenges and caplets (we cannot accept medicine or medication residue – medicine should be returned to a pharmacy for safe disposal
  • Blister packs which have originally been destined for disposal as clinical or hazardous waste
  • Blister packs which have come into contact with biological contaminants (e.g. from within an operating or treatment environment)
  • Cardboard, paper and any other types of waste other than empty medicine blister packs
  • Any other medicine containers such as bottles, inhalers or sprays

If you are able to, we would encourage you to recycle your empty blister packs yourselves. There are collection points in:

  • Boots
  • Superdrug pharmacies in High Wycombe or Bicester

Oral care waste and packaging

Accepted

  • Toothpaste tubes and caps
  • Plastic toothbrushes
  • Electric toothbrush heads which don’t contain an RFID chip
  • Interdental brushes and floss containers
  • Dental aligners

Not accepted

  • Electric toothbrushes
  • Smart brush heads with RFID microchip
  • Plant-based or biodegradable plastics (e.g PLA wooden and bamboo brushes)

If you are able to, we would encourage you to recycle these items yourselves. There are collection points in:

  • Boots
  • The Bank House Dental Centre in Princes Risborough will recycle oral care products

Contact lenses and packaging

Accepted

  • Contact lenses
  • Plastic film
  • Pods
  • Empty solution bottles

Not accepted

  • Cardboard packaging

If you are able to, we would encourage you to recycle these items yourselves. There are collection points in:

  • Ivan Cammack Opticians in Thame (contact lenses)
  • Boots Opticians (contact lenses and blister packs)
  • Boots (contact lens blister packs and solution bottles only)
  • Specsavers in Aylesbury, Thame (contact lenses and blister packs)
  • Nu-Sight Opticians in Aylesbury (contact lenses and blister packs)

Other Tricky Stuff: some tips on how to recycle (or repurpose) items which we’re often asked about…

Batteries

Widely accepted at most supermarkets.

Can be taken with the kerbside waste disposal service. Place in a separate clear bag and put on top of any bin on collection day.

Note: they cannot collect damaged/leaking batteries, car batteries or industrial batteries.

Books/CDs/DVDs (Re-home)

Donate to Charity shops or sell via companies such:

www.webuybooks.co.uk

www.MusicMagpie.co.uk

www.worldofbooks.com

Cutlery (Re-home)

Oxfam in Thame

Note, not all charity shops accept cutlery.

Duvets

Can be used by Greyhound Trust (charity number 269668) – contact Michelle on 07961 283215.

Or can be taken to Dunelm stores – must be cleaned and put into bags.

Electricals

Can be handed in to Currys stores to earn a £5 voucher to be spent in store. https://www.currys.co.uk/services/delivery-installation/recycling.html#how

Can be collected with the kerbside waste disposal service (if smaller than a shoebox in Aylesbury Vale). Leave on top of bin in a standard carrier bag, do not put electrical items in the bin.

Larger items can be taken to your nearest household recycling centre.

Furniture (Re-home)

Can be taken to (or collected by) Florence Nightingale Hospice – ring 01296 383963 or see website for more information about what goods are acceptable. https://fnhospice.org.uk/donate-furniture/

British Heart Foundation offer a collection service. See website for further information. https://www.bhf.org.uk/shop/donating-goods/book-furniture-collection-near-me

Note – items must be in a saleable condition and any upholstered items must have fire safety labels.

Scrap metal

Can be sold to ASM – see website for further information https://www.asm-recycling.co.uk/scrap-metal-collection/

Or can be recycled at your household waste recycling centre.

Soft plastics

Widely accepted at most supermarkets, including the Co-Op store on Tibbs Road, Haddenham

Stamps

Haddenham Community Library

Open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10am – 5pm

Saturdays 10am-1pm

Tools (Re-home)

Tools including horticultural tools / sewing machines / haberdashery can be donated to Workaid in Chesham.

Please check lists on website to make sure that your donations comply. https://workaid.org/donate-tools#donate-map

Tools should be in good working order.

Other useful sites:

Bucks Council has a ‘Waste Wizard’ which can help identify where to recycle items: https://www.recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk/waste-wizard/.

Recycle now https://www.recyclenow.com/ also has tips to help people recycle more of the right things, more often.

Don’t forget about local facebook groups such as Haddenham Freebies which may enable you to re-home items you no longer need.