Disposing and Recycling Pots and Pans

Everyone’s got that one pot or pan that they had for what feels like a lifetime. Maybe it was the one that you were sent to university with, withstanding thick and thin. Or the wedding gift which was an initial disappointment but which you can’t bear to part with now? Even so, there are utensils, pots, pans and other kitchen fixtures that may not be as sturdy and when they break they can be difficult to get rid of.

how to dispose of pots and pans

Here at Clearabee we are the UK’s largest rubbish removal service and can provide collections across the nation. Our smallest ‘Man and Van’ load is a cubic yard, which is obviously larger than a few pots and pans. This service will be well suited if you are refurbishing your kitchen and need to replace some utensils while you’re at it. Maybe you’re sweeping out your home for items you don’t need anymore, or are performing a complete home clearance. A good load may be made up of some old pots and pans, broken tech, old plant pots and a small piece of furniture.

Other items that you can find In the kitchen that we’ll be able to help get rid of include, bins, kitchen trollies, knife blocks, spice racks, glass/plastic containers, large porcelain dishes and much more. We are also a responsible waste handler with a proven track record and recycle over 95% of the waste we collect. This means you’ll enjoy a quick and convenient service while recycling pots and pans.

How to dispose of Teflon pans

Items like non-stick pans are difficult to recycle due to them being made up of two materials that a strongly intertwined with each other. The non-stick coating has to be separated from the stainless steel beneath. This is typical throughout most items that cannot be recycled easily. Another good example are crisp wrappers, they are a mix of plastic and metal that are difficult to separate. This is why a lot of councils will ask for your recyclable waste to be sorted with metal separate from items made of paper and cardboard.

How to recycle pots and pans

If you have scheduled a trip to your local recycling station you should be able to take your pans with you. We advise that you check what items they are able to accept before you leave just in case. You can find your local tip charges here, but tips across the country don’t tend to charge for pots and pans.

Our own rubbish removals are able to recycle 95% of the waste they collect so provide a much more convenient solution. Items made from stainless steel and cast iron are items that are typically very easy to recycle as they are made of one material.

If your non stick pan is getting fit for the bin you can try to contact the manufacturer of your pan and ask them if you can send the pans back to them. Some are able to re-coat the pans with a fresh layer of Teflon and send them back. Products from companies such as Samuel Groves have special return or ‘pan for life’ schemes.

How to prolong your nonstick pan’s life

Although it’s not a necessity, you can season your non-stick pan. This will prolong the effectiveness of the non stick layer which in turn will allow you to use it longer and create less waste. To achieve this you should give your pan a good clean then apply a light coat of high-smoke point oil such as sunflower or vegetable oil with some kitchen paper. With oil applied, you can now apply medium heat to the pan for around 2 minutes so that it is warm to hot, but not very hot. Then you can shut off the heat and let the pan cool completely. With your cooled pan, you can then wipe off any excess oil. This will fill in any pores and microscopic holes which will rejuvenate the non-stick layer.

Other WEEE waste found in your kitchen

Other items you can find in your kitchen which you can include in your collection are electrical items. The kitchen can house many electrical items ranging from large fridges to handheld blenders. Even if these items are smaller, when broken you shouldn’t dispose of them via your usual general waste bin. Electrical waste is categorised as WEEE and can house harmful chemicals and cause fires at waste centres.

Electrical items you may find in your kitchen such as toasters will be shredded and picked apart to separate all the materials it is made up of. This is so valuable metals found inside components such as circuit boards can be reclaimed.

Collecting pots, pans and other kitchen waste from your home

We’ve got a whole guide on how to effectively deal with kitchen waste, including how to guides on how to uninstall items such as kitchen cabinets. As well as our prementioned ‘Man and Van’ collection we are also able to provide wheelie bin collections, skip hire services and more.