Hot water bottles became a bit of a divisive topic on Talking Rubbish as you will hear. Traditional hot water bottles are usually made of rubber, which is not usually collected in standard household recycling collections. Rubber bottles are particularly tricky, as natural rubber can degrade and isn’t widely processed in recycling systems. However, some local recycling centres may accept them, although we couldn't find many! They can be repurposed, like using old bottles as ice packs, padding, or even for crafts. The most sustainable option is to use them for as long as possible, and then turn them into something else at the end of their life. 

This episode of Recycled Content, is the 'Rubbish or Not' from episode 34 of Talking Rubbish, which first aired on 20th March 2025.

While every effort has been made to provide the most accurate information, recycling guidance changes quickly and some advice may become outdated over time. Always check with your local council for the rules that apply to recycling in your area. On the main Talking Rubbish podcast, we include an additions and corrections section where we update anything we may have got wrong.

These clips come from the weekly show, Talking Rubbish - The Recycling Podcast

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