Greener Month Recycling Guide

Greener Month is Oakland Care’s annual sustainability initiative, encouraging our teams, residents, and communities to take small, meaningful steps toward a greener future. Throughout September, we’re sharing practical ways to reduce waste, reuse resources, and recycle more — both at home and in our care homes.

One way to make recycling easier is by knowing where to take everyday items. Many UK supermarkets and shops now offer drop-off schemes for things like toys, textiles, books, and soft plastics.

Recycling is not only a great way to reduce waste and protect our environment, but it also helps us make more conscious choices in our daily lives. By knowing where to recycle specific items, we can keep valuable materials in use and support community initiatives.

• Tesco – Hard Plastic Toy Recycling

Tesco has trialled a toy recycling scheme in partnership with Wastebuster and Hasbro. Bins were placed in 19 stores across Sussex, where broken hard plastic toys are collected, cleaned, and melted into pellets for reuse. Schools can earn Planet Care Points for book vouchers. This scheme is currently limited to selected stores in Sussex.

• Dunelm – Homeware & Textile Recycling

Dunelm accepts clean home textiles, clothing, shoes, and accessories in over 175 stores. Larger items like furniture and mattresses can be donated via Clearabee or the British Heart Foundation. Not available in 12 stores (e.g. Crawley, Jersey, Bracknell). Electrical recycling is only offered when purchasing a replacement item.

• Asda – Children’s Book Donation

Asda has partnered with the Children’s Book Project to collect pre-loved children’s books in over 380 stores. These are redistributed to schools and families with limited access to books. Only children’s books are accepted.

• Soft Plastics – All Major Supermarkets

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Waitrose, Aldi, Lidl, and Morrisons offer soft plastic recycling bins for items like bread bags, crisp packets, and pet food pouches. Items must be clean and food-free.

Please note that recycling schemes vary by location and availability. Tesco’s toy recycling is a limited trial in Sussex only. We recommend checking with your local store before visiting to ensure the scheme is available near you.