Many schools collect the most commonly recycled materials including paper, plastic bottles and cans. But what about the many other items used at school? How can you make sure these stay out of the bin? As recycling and re-use become increasingly common habits, more companies are building businesses around collecting a wider range of materials to be transformed into new products.

To find out about recycling paper, plastic bottles and cans in your school please click here.

See below for details of additional items you can recycle at school.

Batteries
Battery Back  or ERP Batteries – Request a free battery collection box for your school and arrange a free collection once full.

ICT equipment
School Care – If you have over 30 items that need collecting then this is usually free. Charges apply for some items and smaller collections

Ink Cartridges
Empties Please – Request a collection bin and get paid for the ink cartridges you recycle. By signing up to this recycling scheme you can additionally earn green points which can be redeemed for free gifts for your school
Takeback – Collect used ink cartridges and mobile phones and get paid for these items. Collection is free providing you have a minimum of 20 qualifying ink cartridges

Light Bulbs
Recolight – Save your old fluorescent tubes and book a collection for recycling

Mobile Phones
Takeback – Collect old mobile phones and used ink cartridges and get paid for these items. Collection is free providing you have a minimum of 20 qualifying ink cartridges
Recycling for Good Causes – Get paid to recycle old mobile phones. Other items collected includes jewellery & watches, currency, cameras stamps and gadgets. Items are collected free of charge if the total weight is over 10kg

Pens
Terracycle – Recycle your pens and writing instruments for free. Register to become a BIC community champion and receive points for recycling

School Uniform
The School Uniform Bank– reusing school uniforms is great way to reduce textile waste.  Check out The School Uniform Bank project for more info.

Stamps
Recycling for Good Causes – Get paid to recycle stamps. Other items collected includes jewellery & watches, currency, cameras mobile phones and gadgets. Items are collected free of charge if the total weight is over 10kg

Textile Collections
Salvation Army – Arrange for a textile recycling bank to be installed on your school grounds. The banks are emptied when full and your school will be rewarded with an amount of money, dependent on the weight of donations
Starlight – Arrange for a textile recycling bank to be installed on your schools grounds. For every tonne collected your school will get £400 and Starlight will receive £100
Bag 2 School – Contact to arrange a date for textiles to be collected from school. They will collect the bags you have collected, weigh them and send a cheque based on the weight of the clothes received. Current rate is £0.40 per kg
UK Textile recycling – Arrange for a textile recycling bank for your school grounds. These can be customised with your school name. The amount received depends on the amount collected

Multi Item Schemes
Terracycle – Collect various items, download a shipping label and send to be recycled. Current items that can be recycled includes air & home care waste, baby food pouches, biscuit wrappers and pens
Recycling for Good Causes  – Get paid to recycle various items including jewellery & watches, currency, mobile phones, cameras stamps and gadgets. Items are collected free of charge if the total weight is over 10kg