A to Z of rubbish and recycling

M - Recycling A to Z

Magazines and catalogues

  • Place magazines and catalogues in the grey recycling bin
  • For shared facilities, place them in the mixed recycling bins
  • They can also be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centre/tip

Margarine tubs

  • Remove all food residue
  • Wash and dry tubs and lids and place in your grey bin
  • For shared facilities, place them in the mixed recycling bins

Mattresses

  • Clean mattresses can be donated to charity or through a reuse network
  • Unwanted mattresses can be disposed of at the Household Waste Recycling Centre/tip
  • See our web page for special and bulky collections. There is a charge for this service. Charges vary depending on the size, type or quantity of bulky waste. For further information or to arrange a collection please contact Envirolink on 0345 2000 103.

Meat trays

  • Aluminium meat trays
    • Before recycling, rinse off any food residue
    • Aluminium meat trays can be placed in the main part of your grey bin
    • For shared recycling facilities, use the mixed recycling bins
  • Black plastic food trays
    • Black plastic food trays cannot be recycled
    • Therefore, dispose of these in your rubbish bin

Medicines

  • Unused, or partially used, medicines can be returned to a chemist (pharmacist) to be safely disposed of.
  • We recommend you do not dispose of these in your green general waste bin.
  • Empty glass medicine bottles can be placed in your caddy.
  • They can also be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centre/tip

Metal cans

  • Before recycling, wash and squash
  • Place metal cans in your grey recycling bin
  • For shared recycling facilities, place them in the mixed recycling bin
  • They can also be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centre/tip

Metal cutlery/trays

  • Place metal cutlery / trays in your grey recycling bin
  • They can also be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centre/tip

Metal pots and pans

  • Metal pots and pans can be placed in your grey recycling bin
  • Can be disposed of in the metals container at the Household Waste Recycling Centre/tip

Metal tubes, e.g. tomato puree

  • Not currently recycled
  • Therefore, please dispose of them in your rubbish bin 

Milk containers - plastic

  • Remove any lids
  • Before recycling, rinse out and squash
  • Place plastic milk containers and lids in your grey recycling bin
  • For shared recycling facilities, place them in the mixed recycling bin
  • They can also be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centre/tip

Mirrors

  • Mirrors can be donated to charity shops or through an online reuse network
  • Alternatively, dispose of them in the flat glass container at the Household Waste Recycling Centre/tip 

Mobile phones

  • Mobile phones can be donated to a charity or through an online reuse network
  • Small electrical appliances such as toasters, kettles, radios, hairdryers, e-cigs and vapes, phones and chargers can be recycled in the collection boxes at: the Household Waste Recycling Centre/tip, White Swan Centre in Killingworth, North Shields Customer First Centre, Wallsend Customer First Centre, Whitley Bay Customer First Centre, Oxford Centre, Battle Hill Library, John Willie Sams Centre in Dudley, or the council’s headquarters at Cobalt Business Park. Remove any batteries first and dispose of these in the separate battery collection box alongside.