General information
Where can I recycle? – Map of recycling locations throughout the Borough.
What can I recycle – Useful advice from the Council on recycling collections and drop off points in the Borough
Recycling boxes – click here to order recycling boxes (including food bins) from Richmond Council
West London Waste – lots of useful information on waste and recycling
Recycle now – advice on how to recycle all sorts of things and on what is/isn’t recycleable
Recycle-more – another site offering advice on where to recycle all sorts of things – search by postcode
London recycles – directory of recycling in London – searchable database
How can I recycle A-Z?
Plastic that the Council can’t take – Sainsburys Richmond and Hampton (and other large Sainsburys) now collect lots of plastics – click link for details
Bikes
Re-Cycle – accepts used bikes in the UK and donates to partners in Africa. Drop offs include Halfords Twickenham
The Bike Project – refurbishes donated bikes for refugees to use. Various drop off points in the Borough
CDs and DVDs
Richmond Furniture scheme now collects CDs and DVDs and sends them off for recycling
Child car seats
Silver Cross recycle their own car seats for free – click on link for details
Clothes and textiles
Bras – Charity that will take bras in good condition for Africa and M&S will also recycle them
Clothes swapping (swishing) – Swishing – West London waste runs clothing exchanges in libraries
Shoes – Up & Running Teddington (and Chiswick) recycles shoes
Shoes – Cobblers and Keys Richmond have a shoe recycling bin outside during opening hours
Shoes – Schuh (branches in Kingston & Hounslow) will recycle any brand of shoe and give you a £5 voucher
Children’s shoes – Sal’s shoes is a charity that sends children’s shoes to children overseas
Fara Kids charity shop – second hand children’s clothes and other items (Teddington)
Textiles that can’t go to charity shops (1) – Traid will collect textiles that can’t go to charity shops including rags
Textiles that can’t go to charity shops (2) – H&M take all textiles for resale, reuse or recycling – branch in Kingston
Underwear – Y.O.U. will recycle any brand of underwear
Coffee pods – can be recycled at the Council’s Townmead depot
Cosmetics, toothpaste tubes etc
Cosmetics (unused) – Charity accepting unused make up
Cosmetics (used) – Boots in Richmond & Kew Retail Park, Sainsburys St Clares in Hampton, and Superdrug Teddington or Whitton have a recycling bin for things like toothpaste tubes and lip stick tubes and Tesco Twickenham has a Maybelline recycling bin which accepts all brands.
John Lewis – also takes some used cosmetic cases through its BeautyCycle scheme.
Blister packs (medicines) – Boots have bins for these in most stores locally
Electricals
Small electricals – Richmond Council to start collections – click link for details
Recycle your electricals – searchable website lists electrical recycling places in your area. Includes phones and tablets etc
More general information on electricals recycling from Which
Large white goods – AO.com will collect and recycle old white goods for £20. Richmond Council also collects (free for those on benefits) but unclear if it then recycles them.
Electrical appliances (working) – St Margarets based furniture recycling – also accepts electrical appliances
See also our Give Away page for charity shops locally that accept working electricals
Electrical appliances (working or not) – Weeecharity relieves poverty by offering a free recycling of working and non-working computers and electrical equipment
Small electrical goods – Most libraries have collection points for these – follow the link for more information
Electrical cables – VT electronics recycles old audio, TV, dvd and video cables
Food waste
Food waste – click here for RSPB advice on what scaps you can safely feed to birds
Garden waste
Plastic plant pots and trays – Squires provides recycling bins for pots and trays
Compost bags – Squires provides recycling bins for compost bags of any type or colour
Household disposables
Coffee pods – coffee pod recycling service
Face masks – Wilko (stores in Hounslow and Kingston) are trialling face mask recycling (check before travelling)
Ink cartridges – organisation recycling used ink cartridges for charity
Lightbulbs – Robert Dyas stores recycle LEDs
Pens – Rymans stores recycle pens
Postage stamps – list of charities accepting used postage stamps. Or link here for some more animal charities
Recyclable razor blade cartridges – small company offering freepost recycling service for its used razor cartridges
Toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes – One of many things Kew Riverside school collects
Water filter cartridges – Robert Dyas stores recycle Brita water filter cartridges in their branches in Richmond and East Sheen
Medicine tablet packs
Superdrugs with Pharmacies (currently only East Sheen in the Borough) recycle blister packs – click link for details
Metal
Non-Ferrous metal – Mortlake company buying copper, brass, lead, aluminium and other non-magnetic metals
Metal – If you can’t take scrap metal to the dump, call Mark on 07842 794953, and he will collect
Mobile phones
Oxfam recycle phones for charity – drop off at any Oxfam shop or donate online via Fonebank
Plastic packaging
Plastic bags – Most supermarkets have recycling points for carrier bags.
Plastic mailing films / Plastic bags – Sainsbury’s takes mailing films as well as carrier bags in their bag recycling bins
Various
Jewellery, watches, old money– free recycling for charity
Postage stamps – charity Population Matters take stamps (freepost address)
Mattresses – collection of mattresses for recycling (charge applies)