A - Z of recycling, waste and materials

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9. Q - S


R

Rags (textiles unfit for donating)

Clean but poor condition: check which charity shops will accept these. Currently, Force in Heavitree and Salvation Army on Exe Bridges will accept them. Do not donate these without checking first with the shop.

Soiled/stained: put these in your black bin.

Razor blades

Take these to a supermarket razor blade collection point.

Roll-on deodorant bottle

Recycle these in your green bin.

Rubber bands

Place these in your black bin.

Rubber gloves

Place these in your black bin.

Rubble

Take to a recycling centre.


 

S

Salad bags

Take this to a supermarket collection point.

Sanitary wear

Place these in your black bin.

Scrap metal (non-packaging)

Take these to a recycling centre.

Sealant tubes (hard)

Recycle these in your green bin.

Sealant tubes (soft)

Place these in your black bin.

Shampoo bottles

Recycle these in your green bin.

Sheet glass

Take these to a recycling centre. Do not put it in a glass bank.

Sheets (bed sheets)

Take these to a recycling centre or shop collection point (check online).

Shoes

Take these to a recycling bank.

Shower gel bottles

Recycle these in your green bin.

Shredded paper

This should be taken to a recycling centre. Please do not put it in your green bin as it will either clog up our machinery or fall through our screens and not be recycled.

Bank statements and other personal documents can often be made safe by removing any identifying information such as names, addresses and account numbers. The remainder of the document can then be recycled in your green bin.

Silicone baking trays

Place these in your black bin.

Silicone caulking tubes (hard)

Recycle these in your green bin.

Silicone caulking tubes (soft)

Place these in your black bin.

Silver plastic (laminated foil)

Take this to a supermarket collection point.

Soap bottles with pumps

Remove the pumps and place these in your black bin.

Recycle the bottle in your green bin.

Soft toys

Take these to a recycling centre.

Soil

Take to a recycling centre. Charges may apply.

Soya milk cartons

Recycle these in your green bin.

Spectacles

Place these in your black bin unless you can find a charity scheme online.

Spray bottles

Keep these on the bottle and recycle both in your green bin (take glass bottles to a recycling bank).

Spray nozzles

Keep these on the bottle and recycle both in your green bin (take glass bottles to a recycling bank).

Spray pumps

Keep these on the bottle and recycle both in your green bin.

Staples (in magazines, leaflets, etc.)

You do not need to remove these before placing the item in your green bin

Staples (loose)

Place these in your black bin.

Sticking plasters

Place these in your black bin.

Stuffed toys

Take these to a recycling centre.

Styrofoam

Place this in your black bin.

Sweet/chocolate tins/tubs (metal or plastic)

Recycle these in your green bin.

Sweet/chocolate wrappers (plastic)

Take these to a supermarket collection point or place them in your black bin.

Sweet/chocolate wrappers (foil)

Recycle these in your green bin as long as they are balled up to around tennis ball size or folded inside a larger piece of used foil.

 

 

When this content has been updated

Last updated 8 September 2026