This recycling centre, or tip as it's more commonly known, is a fantastic resource sitting over in…read moreSt Phillips. It's a little tricky to find but is well worth seeking out. It's obviously very important to recycle but what of the odd bits and bobs that the door collectors won't take for whatever reason? Well, this place takes EVERYTHING. As well as the obvious things like paper, glass and metal, you can also clear out the stuff that's always left in the bottom of your box, like plastic and cardboard. Going beyond that, they also, off the top of my head, take batteries, clothes, electrical appliances. There's even a special section for TVs and a gardening area where you can dump all the overgrown waste from your garden. A great way to unclutter your house and help the envorinment, all in one. NOTE: IT SHUTS AT 4.15PM IN WINTER, 6.45PM IN SUMMER.

Helping Bristol with its greener-than-thou eco points is the amazing tip, sorry, yes, recycling…read morecentre. So organised and staffed by what most be the most tolerant very large men in the city, you drive through and can throw all sorts of stuff over the precipice into their correct sections. If you want to get rid of it, chances are that they have a section for it. If in doubt, just ask any of the men and they will help rather than blindly going for the 'general' section. It does get very busy on bank holiday weekends and sunny Sundays but even with a queue out to Barrow Road you won't have to wait too long because of said organisation. In one way and out the other, easy as pie.

A brilliant venue for up and coming artists to use and forfill their creative talents. The spaces…read moreavailable are pretty good, from rehearsal rooms for bands to some quite large spaces for theatre groups to use to rehearse in. The price is extremely reasonable as well fo rent spaces. The one downside is that if you rehearse late at night then the heating isn't good, so wrap up warm. I'll usually turn up with a t-shirt, jumper, hoodie and coat as well as a scalf, hat and gloves, and if I stand still for 2 minutes i'll still feel the cold!

The Island is absolutely without a doubt my favourite venue in Bristol…read more The Island is run by Artspace Lifespace, an artist led initiative that recycles vacant, under-used and problem properties. They have sone a stunning job at revamping this old fire station. The walls of the Boneyard Bar are painted a bright cerulean and their are some stencils by the art tart above the door and day of the dead artwork on the walls. Artwork dons all the walls and every event is done differently. The Island is a huge complex, not all of which opens up. For some of the larger events, stalls are built in the large courtyard. Every event I go to, the experience is different. The Island is the HQ for The Invisible Circus, who undoubtedly put one of the most creative and interactive nights in the UK. I have seen the best fireshow, the best arial performance and had the best crumpets at the Island! Its a fantastic space and worth keeping an eye out to see what nights are happening here, from the spectacular carnyville, heavy metal acid panto to klezmer craziness, the Island is an amazing creative hub in the heart of the City.

For anyone who doesn't know what it is (skip this paragraph if you do), Freecycle is a brilliant…read moreinternet network, not a place (so ignore the map location and get on the website). The basic idea is to keep good stuff out of landfill: so anyone who has stuff to give away can advertise it, anyone who needs stuff can reply or post their wants. The only rule is it should be totally free. Personally I've been involved in movements of food, plants, a mattress, a spin dryer, furniture etc etc I've included more details of how it works and how to sign up on my review of Hackney Freecycle (http://www.qype.co.uk/place/87119-Hackney-Freecycle-London) , so I won't repeat that. Very busy Freecycle group covering Swindon and surrounding villages. Judging by the speed adverts go up I think it may be unmoderated either that or the moderators are very dedicated and on hand all the time! It gets the usual glorious mix of stuff. Right now as I write there's a camera, Hancock's Half Hour tapes and a 'grabbing machine'. The latter being one of those fairground machines that grabs things when you put money in Personally I haven't moved stuff on here as yet, but I'm keeping an eye out for a bike!

Freecycle is a non profit organisation that aims to save stuff from landfill…read more The idea is that you let other people have stuff that you would otherwise send to landfill and you can get stuff from other people that they no longer require. You advertise stuff online on a forum and then people reply to you by email if they would like it and then you choose who to give it to and make arrangements for them to collect it. We have got rid of some furniture this way that has helped someone else who needed it and saved us from having to pay the council to come and take it away. You will see all sorts on there, for example baby clothes that are now too small for the other persons baby or used jiffy bags that one person would just throw away, but another person could use to send stuff in the post. It is certainly a good way to help the environment.

If you have a wood fire or a wood burning stove, head here to buy very cheap, recycled wood to burn…read morethrough the winter. In the site around the corner from Temple Meads, they're also a wood workshop and reclaimation yard - I picked up a very nice antique chest from here to use as a coffee table. They deliver and collect recycled wood from all around the city and like the Sofa Project they also help out people with social problems, so they're a social enterprise as well as being completely green.

What's not to like about this place? The name gives it away; they recycle wood, and put it to use…read moreagain.. and again, if it comes back round to them again! They have all sorts of furniture here that have been donated, which they sell on to the public quite cheaply! So if you're looking for something for the house that won't break the bank, check this place out before you head to Ikea for something new. They also have a small workshop on site where they can make simple furniture pieces from the wood that you choose. It's such a great concept, so do pop on by if at any time you think you need any wood or anything made out of it!

Who'd have thought you could have such a positive experience at a recycling centre?!…read moreEvery member of staff we met was friendly, welcoming and incredibly helpful. These guys really couldn't do enough to help. They made a 'trip to the dump' an enjoyable one and made 2 girls very happy! Thanks so much.

I was just wondering if anyone had reviewed the dump and I find not only has it been done but…read morethey've used exactly the same phrase I was going to use. I too get excited about visiting the dump. As Mushtiff says you can recycle so much stuff and the staff are very helpful. Mushtiff hasn't mentioned you can now even recycle tetra packs, plus the normal paper, plastic and glass. thereare shoe banks and clothes banks for reasonable quality stuff. And things that are too good to go into landfill get left near the skips for you to pick up and take home with you. They no longer take paint but Orinocco probably do. They are over the other side of Oxford and not open all the time but you can checkout their website. They take stuff that could be used by community groups, school groups and individuals. So they'll take paint and other scrap. I've recently realised that you can get onto the other side of the ring road by going under the bridge towards Kennington and taking the first left - this gets you onto the ring road going towards the A34 and avoids you having to go all round the roundabout and the traffic lights. Now I'm off to see if anyone has reviewed Ardley dump which has dinosaur footprints and newts!

I'm a hoarder but I also like a good purge. The place to chuck clutter if you're really serious is…read moreof course the local tip. Bessemer road is my local so to speak and is also one, if not the, newest refuse recycling centres in Cardiff. As such it recycles pretty much everything, bar asbestos and a few other hazardous materials. You can recycle rubble, plasterboard, metal, card, plastic, bikes, electrics, car batteries, tins of paints, clothes, general waste and more. Most of the guys here will help you unload your stuff. Keep your eyes peeled. One time I visited Bessemer close I was lucky enough to see an urban fox (see photo). He just sat and watched us - what an amazing experience!

it's also great for picking up some great unwanted stuff to take back with you. I've picked up some…read morepaint, there's always kids bikes & scooters there, & i've see bits of furniture & records. Just be careful you don't come back with more than you took!

I have had a pair of Loake Brogues repaired with a full sole and heel. It was a perfect job and…read morethe shoes truly look as good as new.

Westbury-on-Trym is teeming with carpenters, scaffolders and other such labourers walking around in…read morepaint-splattered overalls reading Nuts magazine and drinking milky sugary tea. It's a lad's town. The guys working in A and J are no exception except that they are always actually working. As with many of these sorts of shops, a whole host of services are offered from standard (and very speedy) key cutting to engravings and repairs. This place is a family run business and they've been doing what they do, passing the skills down, for generations. As a result they're very good at what they do. One additional point I like about this place is their collection bins outside for old shoes. Everyone always has a couple of old pairs knocking around and recycling these offers a sustainable way to carry on fixing!