Textiles such as clothing and bedding and shoes can be deposited within a number of banks located around the borough. Some of these items will be reused for the voluntary organisations, some may be exported to developing countries, and the rest are recycled to create objects sucj as industrial wipers, bedding, anoraks etc.

At present it is estimated that 6% (by weight) of the domestic waste stream consists of textiles. It is estimated that some 700,000 tonnes of textiles end up in landfill sites in Britain each year. The recycling of textile materials in the production of woollen fabric can mean an energy saving of up to 50%.

Waitrose and Tesco also have these among other things

Can you tell us where the Waitrose facility is, as when I asked at their info desk, they said they don't have a recycling facility - which is really annoying if it's true, as it's on the council website that they do :confused:

Waitrose have recycling facilities for all materials including milk/juice cartons. The facilities are not in the main car park, they're more to the side (right hand side?) of the store. It's hard to describe where it is - someone help me out! But they are definitely there!

Its just to the left as you enter by the entrance near bottom of Cemetery Road..

They have all the usual facilities, bottles, paper, plastics, cans , textiles and books. Only annoying thing is sometimes there is a bin for recycling carrier bags and another time there isnt. Other than that a good site near centre.

Ive just started a compost bin in the garden - anyone have any useful tips?

My mum tells me you can put animal and human hair in. No cooked food or protein. Give it a good stir from time to time!!

Originally posted by POB1
...Ive just started a compost bin in the garden - anyone have any useful tips?
Worm compost is best. I think they're special worms, coz my dad got his from a pig farmer.

Have a root about in Google though, coz I'm sure I've discussed them with somebody before and found them available by mail order :thumbsup:

We now have three compost bins at the side of our house, which we fill with garden waste and things such as vegetable peelings and teabags. Hubby got some sort of liquid 'additive' to help things break down (not sure what it's called though, sorry). I remember him telling me that the compost needs to be kept moist so you may need to add a small amount of water at some point.

As the contents rot down, the total volume reduces so they can be topped up in turn. I'm just waiting for him to start using the compost on the garden.

I saw a 'wormery' on television and it looked extremelly useful - the one I saw showed the compost material going down the container in stages and the liquid separates off and can be accessed by a tap. I think most of the gardening magazines found in any newsagents/supermarkets have adverts for wormeries and have tips about composting too.

Well POB.......after looking at the amount of "waste" clothing in my wardrobe this weekend, I think that our local re-cycling site will be in for a real treat from me! lol. I did have one of those leaflets shoved through my door last week......asking for used clothes etc. Unfortunately I tend to ignore these because I have heard that they do not go to where the leaflet posters claim.
As for compost bins......we have 2 bins and a heap. Lovecactus is quite right with the human and pet hair being good for composting. Strix is right with the worm compost......tho you would be waiting quite a while if you wanted large amounts. The worms used are called bradling worms and can be bought from a fishing supplies shop much cheaper than by mail order. The commercially sold wormeries are quite expensive but with a bit of imagination you could make your own. I actually fancy one of these myself so I might have a root around for a "plan" for a home made jobbins. I would use the liquid for a plant feed and the compost would be mixed with other stuff to make material for potted plants.
As for the compost bins.......all plant and vegetable waste. Used compost. Used straw/hay and droppings from the rabbit hutch.........but not too much of it. Some grass clippings.....but again not too much. Prunings and clippings but not the really woody stuff unless it has been well shredded. Crushed, washed eggshells. Tea-bags. Nothing cooked or of a meat or dairy base. That will attract rats. You can use weeds but don't add the roots of pernicious weeds such as dandelions, nettles etc. They will thrive and go on to grow wherever you put your compost down! Nettle leaf makes an excellant accelerator which will rot things down quicker. You can also add a shop bought powder or liquid accelerator. Hels is quite right in saying that the bin needs to be moist so add small amounts of water if it is dry. On the other hand if you have a wet smelly mess you can add torn up newspaper to absorb excess liquid. I fork my bins over to allow air to get in which helps in the rotting down process. The heap doesn't need so much attention as it is open to the elemants apart from an old carpet covering it. It also has the benefit of excess water being able to drain into the ground. I find the heap makes compost a lot more easily with little attention as aside of the bins which have a false environment. BUT.......the bins are still an excellant way of composting and can be obtained from the council for a few pounds. In the winter the bins would benefit from keeping warm by wrapping them in bubble wrap or old blankets. Ours are quite well sheltered so I don't bother wrapping them and they do ok.
Hope this helps but there is an enormous amount of info to be found on the net as well.