Upcycling
Jars and containers
Send the jar, tin or tub you have too many of, plus what you want it to become.
See upcycling projectsSend it as it is
Ask us a waste question
If you are stuck on a specific waste problem, this is the place to send it. The most useful questions come with a real constraint attached: a flat with no outdoor space, a shared kitchen, a council that does not collect food waste, a product that keeps failing.
Tell us what you have already tried and we will answer with something that fits the situation you actually have.
Every message is read
What to send us
Details beat polish
Send the question, and include the details that matter: where you are in the UK, what kind of home you are in, what you have already tried, and what has not worked. If the question is about a specific council’s rules, tell us which council, because collections vary a lot between boroughs. If it is about an item you do not know how to deal with, describe it.
You do not need to write it up nicely. A rough description is fine and helps us give a useful reply rather than a generic one. Photographing the thing that is bothering you is often easier than describing it.
- Where you are Town or city, and the council if your question is about collections.
- Your home Flat, terrace, shared kitchen, house with a garden, no outdoor space at all.
- What you tried The swaps, storage or disposal routes that failed, and roughly why.
- The item What it is made of, roughly how much of it you get through, and what you want to do with it.
What we can help with
- Reducing household waste in a UK home, from zero waste tips for beginners to habits you keep for years.
- Zero waste kitchen swaps, plastic free food storage, and eco friendly kitchen cleaning that actually holds up.
- Creative upcycling ideas, including how to upcycle glass jars and simple upcycling projects for repurposing old clothes.
- Composting food scraps at home, and the realistic options when you have no garden.
- Refill and bulk shopping, reusable produce bags, beeswax wraps usage and care, and other sustainable home essentials.
Where we stop
We cannot give legal advice about waste disposal, assess enforcement or fines, or tell you where to take hazardous materials in your area. For those, your local council is the right contact.
What happens after you send
Your message reaches the Rubbish Rebels inbox and is read by the editorial team. Straightforward questions usually get a reply within a week. During busy periods it can take a little longer, and we would rather take the time than send you something vague.
If a question is complex or falls outside what we cover, we will say so plainly rather than guessing. Where we cannot help, we try to point you at a better source.
A reply, or an honest no
We answer what we can with useful information and tell you when we cannot. A short “that one is outside our patch” is better than a misleading answer.
Your permission, first
If your question would help other readers, we may ask to write it up as a guide for the low waste home guide section. We will not publish your message without asking you first.
Suggest a project or topic
Constraint first, please
If you have an upcycling project that worked, a composting setup that suits a small flat, or a low-waste tip that solved a specific problem, send it. We add reader suggestions to the relevant page when they fit and will credit you if you want. Suggestions are most useful when they include the constraint: what home, what kitchen, what budget, what broke.
Textiles
Clothes and fabric
Tell us what the garment is and what failed. Holes in different places change the fix.
See upcycling projects
Food scraps
Composting with no garden
Balcony, shared yard or windowsill only — say which, because the setup changes.
Read composting at home
Shopping
Buying in bulk
Which shop, which town, and what went wrong with the refill or the wrap care.
Browse sustainable shoppingGet in touch
One message is enough
Use the form below to send your message. Include your email address if you would like a reply. We do not share your email or your message with anyone else, and please do not send the same question to several channels — one message is enough.
Where we are
Rubbish Rebels
42 Greenfield Lane
Bristol, BS5 6TY
United Kingdom
Phone
Working hours
Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
If you would rather check the site first, the starter guide, kitchen swaps, upcycling, composting and shopping pages cover most of what people write in about. The answer may already be there.
Before you write
Three things people ask first
How long does a reply take?
Usually within a week for straightforward questions. During busy periods it can take longer. If we cannot help with a specific question, we will say so and point you elsewhere.
Do you handle complaints about a specific brand or shop?
No. We do not take complaints about brands or retailers. For those, contact the brand directly or use a consumer body like Citizens Advice.
Can I ask about a council-specific rule?
Yes, though tell us which council. Rules vary by borough and we can only answer accurately if we know which one you are dealing with.
Not sure where to start?
The starter guide walks through the swap order that works for most UK homes, and the kitchen swaps page covers plastic free food storage and eco friendly kitchen cleaning in more detail. If your question is still open after that, send it and we will take it from there.