Where do Carpet and underlay go?

Carpet is a mixed material — nylon or polypropylene pile on a latex and hessian or polypropylene backing — and separating those is only economic at the small number of dedicated plants that exist. In practice most household carpet goes to energy recovery or landfill through a household waste centre or a bulky collection. A fitter replacing it will normally take the old one away, which is the least effort. Cut it into rolls of a metre or so, bound with tape or string, because loose carpet is unmanageable and heavy when damp. Charges and quantity limits for carpet differ by authority, so check your local rules first.

How to prepare it

1. Cut into strips and roll them, taping each roll.
2. Let the fitter take the old carpet if you are having new fitted.
3. Check for a take-back scheme; a few manufacturers run one.

What not to do

• Never put carpet in the kerbside bin or the wheelie bin; it jams collection equipment.

Kerbside collection rules genuinely vary by council and county, and local rules always win over general guidance. The reasoning above is what transfers — if your service differs, it will usually be for a reason described here.

Other things that go to bulky or special collection

• Fridges and freezers A licensed handler has to remove the refrigerant first. Household waste centre or a council collection — never a scrap man with a van.
• Mattresses Council bulky collection, a household waste centre, or a mattress recycler. Almost all of it is recoverable, and none of it belongs in a lay-by.
• Needles, syringes and lancets A rigid sharps bin, returned through the route your prescriber or council specifies. Never loose in any bin.
• Large appliances (washing machines, cookers, dishwashers) Household waste centre, a council bulky collection, or the retailer delivering the replacement.