Recycling in Skipton
At Share Skipton, we’re all about keeping good things in use for longer — by borrowing instead of buying, and repairing instead of replacing. Through our Library of Things and monthly Repair Café, we’re helping our community cut waste, save money, and live more sustainably. If you’re having a clear-out or a declutter, here are some local and national ideas to make sure your unwanted items get a second life rather than ending up in landfill.
There’s so much more to recycling than just your household waste!
Cartridges & Batteries
Donate to local charity shops on the High Street like Preloved on Belmont Bridge, Oxfam, British Heart Foundation, or Martin House Hospice — and support local causes.
Clothing
Bras in good condition → Smalls for All, 108 Buchannan Crescent, Eliburn EH54 7EF — supporting women at risk in Africa.
Lightly used makeup → Give and Makeup, PO Box 855, London W4 4AW — helping women escaping abuse and refugees.
Primark “Re-loved” bins → Clothing, bags, and textiles reused or recycled; profits go to UNICEF education programmes.
British Heart Foundation → Free postal donations (up to 10kg) for clothing and household items. Organise or join a clothing swap (“swishing”) — a fun way to refresh your wardrobe and reduce textile waste!
Bedding & Furniture
St Vincent de Paul Society → collects large items (Bradford: 01274 726790,
info@helpinglocally.org.uk) and redistributes furniture, clothing, and clean bedding to those in need.
Books, CDs, DVDs, Games
Donate to local community libraries (like Embsay Library) or charity shops such as Oxfam Books in Skipton.
Sell or recycle online:
Cassette collector? Contact Mars Tapes in Manchester.
Tools, Tech & Gadgets
Got unused tools, sewing machines, or garden kit? Bring them to Share Skipton’s Repair Café — we can often repair, restore, or share them through our Library of Things!
Other options:
Workaid refurbishes donated tools and sends them to help small businesses in Africa and Sri Lanka (contact Frank McCrickard, Ilkley, 01943 608655).
Electronics and old tech → recycle via compareandrecycle.co.uk or weeecharity.co.uk. CEX (webuy.com) buys and reuses tech.
Printer cartridges → drop off at Morrisons.
Batteries → recycle at Aldi or Morrisons (never put in household bins).
Food & Household Products
Skipton Foodbank located in St Andrew’s Church hall welcomes unopened, in-date tins and packets.
Refill Roots (Crosshills) and the Cononley Village Shop let you refill cleaning and personal care products.
Tablet blister packs → some Superdrug and Terracycle drop points collect these for recycling.
Trash or Treasure?
Turn unwanted items into cash or community sharing: Embsay Sell and Swap on Facebook Gumtree, Preloved, Shpock, or eBay
Computers & Spectacles
Trade in or donate working computers to local refurbishers, schools, or projects like The Restart Project.
Specsavers and Marie Curie accept used spectacles for reuse overseas.
Recycling Centres & Reducing Waste
Check Craven District Council for local recycling guidance (blue, green, and brown bins).
Other resources:
recyclenow.com – find out what to do with specific items
Olio – share surplus food or household goods
Pawprint.eco – measure your carbon footprint
Bower Collective – track and reduce plastic waste
Milk & More – glass bottled milk to your door
Please let us know if there are more places to recycle items that are not on this list!