Resource Cumbria : Recycling in Cumbria : Materials : T

Unlike most paper items, paper cups can`t be recycled because they`re actually coated in plastic—around five percent per cup, this means they can`t usually be collected in your kerbside recycling. In the UK less than 1% of takeaway coffee cups are recycled. Investing in a reusable coffee-cup is a super easy way to cut down - more and more places are offering to fill your own cup.

Takeaway food boxes/plastic/card/compostable

See Compostable Cups / Bags / Food Trays. See Pizza boxes

Tea leaves/tea bags

Loose tea leaves can be composted at home. Tea bags can be composted but only if they are plastic free - many types do contain plastic so please check first - they will have to go into the general waste bin if they contain plastic.

Telephone directories

If you do still receive a paper telephone directory, you can recycle it in your paper recycling facilities. Yellow Pages directories stopped being produced in 2019 but if you still have an old one, please check with your local council if they will accept it for recycling - the yellow paper meant some councils wouldn`t accept them.

See Electrical Items (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment - WEEE)

Tetra pak cartons/drinks cartons/beverage cartons/ cartons

Tetra Pak cartons (like juice and soup cartons) are generally made from a mixture of paperboard, plastic and aluminium. Tetra Pak cartons are accepted in some local council`s kerbside recycling schemes but please check first as services do vary depending on where you live. Some areas may also have recycling banks at local recycling centres - again please check first.

If there are no collections in your area, they can be disposed of at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre or in your local council`s kerbside general waste bin.

Textiles - clothes/curtains/towels/bedding/rags/pillows/duvets

See individual entries

Tissues should be disposed of in your general household waste bin, please don`t put them in with your paper recycling as they will contaminate it. Why not use cloth handkerchiefs, these can be used, washed and reused endlessly in place of tissues.

There are so many ways to use old laddered tights. By cutting up your old tights you can use them to attach your plants to stakes in the garden. Two pairs of laddered tights in the same colour? Cut the bad leg out and wear them together as a new pair - you`ll have two layers up top to keep you warm! Back to the garden for harvesting. Hanging onions up in old tights, with a knot between each onion, is a tried and tested way of keeping them, and other root veggies, fresh. Stop things escaping by using tights as huge elasticated ties. Stick them over your vacuum hose to find lost objects, tights make great filters. Put a bar of soap in them and tie to the shower so you never lose your soap again. If they aren`t good enough for reuse you can still put them in a textiles bank where they will be shredded and used for stuffing material for industry

Instead of hoarding old or broken tools in your workshop, consider these alternative ways to get rid of them. Give them to a friend - if they are functional and you really don`t need them anymore. Donate them to the likes of Tools for Self Reliance or Tools With A Mission. Help stock a local Tool Library - just like a regular library, tool libraries allow members to check out tools, use them, and return them. Donating tools to one of these organizations can allow someone who can`t afford them a chance to use some of the best tools. Why not see if there is one in your local area. If tools can`t be repaired or reused they should be disposed of at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Toner cartridges

Empty ink and toner cartridges can often be collected by the company that provided them. There are many charities that will accept unwanted ink cartridges or you can refill and reuse them using a number of companies. Alternatively, you can send your cartridges freepost to organisations such as The Recycling Factory who will then make a donation to the charity of your choice. The easiest way to find out how is to enter a search on the internet.

Toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes

Toothpaste tubes and plastic toothbrushes can`t be recycled from home. However, Terracycle runs a free oral care recycling programme with public drop-off points across the UK which you can use to recycle plastic toothbrushes. toothpaste tubes and caps.

Charity shops may accept a wide range of other textiles including towels, clean bedding and bedding sets and curtains. See our Charity Shop and Reuse Map for a charity shop near to you.

Old Toys and Games in good condition could be given away to friends, nurseries or schools. Most Charity Shops will also accept items in good useable condition. Always check with organisations first though. Never put any plastic toys in your kerbside recycling - they are often made of multiple materials and can`t be recycled easily.

Over 38 million tyres are discarded in the UK each year and can sometimes occur as fly tipping on garage forecourts, industrial estates or car parks. As garages are responsible for disposal and recycling of waste they create you should get your tyres changed at garages rather than replace your own. Look out for garages that send tyres for recycling. Old tyres can be taken to any of our Household Waste Recycling Centres - up to 4 tyres in any one visit. Only car/motorcycle or `personal use` quad-bike tyres are accepted. No agricultural tyres (tractor or `farm use` Quad-bike), no commercial vehicle tyres. Tyres should be placed in the correct disposal area/container - please seek advice from site staff as to where this is.