To celebrate Recycling Week 2021, Safestyle UK has uncovered the surprising household materials that Brits can recycle — and mattresses, keys and carpets top the list.
With the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) discovering that households generate up to 26m tonnes worth of waste each year, it's clear that more needs to be done to tackle the ongoing climate crisis. Paper, plastic and cardboard might all be items commonly recycled, but many other household materials can be given a new lease of life, too.
Renovating the home is an exciting project, but it can sadly produce a lot of waste. If it's your windows you want to replace, did you know that every month 80 tonnes of old glass is turned into energy-saving glass? Meanwhile, 64 tonnes of discarded plastic is recycled into plastic decking as more companies introduce eco-conscious initiatives.
"Spend some time researching different retailers and try to scope out options that provide eco-friendly disposal services. Often companies will reward customers with some form of compensation for this, which is great for anyone on a tight budget," Adam Pawson, Head of Digital at Safestyle UK, says.
"We're also aware of all the other household materials that are being disposed of as more people take on renovations - it's just as important to see how much of these you're able to recycle. From carpets to mattresses, there's a whole list of other things you might not have thought to recycle."
Take a look at the items below...
5 surprising household materials you can recycle
- Mattresses
- Keys
- Tiles
- Carpets
- Doors
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11 reusable advent calendars to bring out every year
Emma Bridgewater's Christmas 2024 collection includes this beautiful patchwork advent calendar. It features 24 fabric pockets and a lovely design on each one.
Perfect for children, this wooden rocking horse contains 24 small compartments which can be filled with a treat or gift for every day of Advent. We love the festive red and green colour scheme.
Personalised Postcard Letterbox Advent Calendar
This beautiful reusable advent calendar — in the shape of a postbox — is perfect to buy now and reuse every year. Best of all, you can personalise it with a name of your choice. It also has a slot for letters to be posted to Santa Claus in the North Pole.
Fill Your Own Personalised House Advent Calendar
This beautiful reusable advent calendar — featuring 24 wooden houses and miniature Christmas trees — is perfect to buy now and reuse every year. Best of all, you can personalise it with a name of your choice.
Brighten an empty wall with this velvet patchwork advent calendar from Oliver Bonas. It features 24 pockets to fill, golden embroidery and tassel corners.
Ginger Ray Hessian Stocking Fill Your Own Advent Calendar
With 24 stockings and pegs, this fill-your-own-stocking is the perfect DIY activity. It's easy to assemble and can be strung across walls or the fireplace.
Brighten up the festive season with this traditional wooden advent calendar. Inspired by the Christmas tree shape, it has 24 wooden doors that can be opened and Father Christmas figurines situated on top. It's the perfect way to count down the days and make precious memories.
This wooden advent calendar will complement any interior scheme. It features 24 little drawers to fill and a snowy scene on top.
Personalised Children’s Activity Advent Calendar
Instead of sweets or goodies, this advent calendar features slips of paper with fun activities on.
Embrace the magic of Christmas with this LED wooden advent calendar. Perfect to fill with mini treats and reuse every year.
Christmas Advent Calendar Tree Hanging Sacks
We love this set of 24 Christmas advent calendar hessian sacks with a choice of metallic numbers in copper, gold, silver, pink, green and red. You can either hang them from your Christmas tree or mantle or upgrade to the accompanying personalised wooden advent calendar when you order.
Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
