Recycling
Recycling your unwanted clothing and shoes is not only a simple way to declutter your space but also a powerful way to support Yorkshire Air Ambulance and our life-saving missions.
How It Works
Every year, a staggering amount of clothing ends up in landfill sites across the UK. By recycling your unwanted items, you contribute to both environmental conservation and funding our essential services. Through our partnership with Recycling Solutions, Yorkshire Air Ambulance receives a portion of the proceeds from the sale of recycled materials.
“Yorkshire Air Ambulance has been recycling for over 20 years, reducing landfill by selling all items that can be worn again to the second hand clothing market in the Europe, Afrida and India and selling all other items to be recycled into fillings for vaious items. In addition, thanks to the donation of these items we have received over £3.8 million, which contributes directly to our running costs. These donations over the years have saved many lives, and our recycling partnership allows us to plan long-term for the charity.“
Katie Collison, Partnerships Manager, Yorkshire Air Ambulance
What Happens to Your Donations
Yorkshire Air Ambulance recycling banks are regularly emptied by our recycling partner Recycling Solutions.
Donated clothing is transported to local hubs, baled, and then sold to trading partners in the UK and abroad. These partners sort and grade the items, reselling wearable clothing to second-hand shops and markets worldwide. Items unfit for wear are shredded and recycled into various materials.
Recycling Bank Locator
Donating your unwanted clothing and shoes to Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an easy way to help our Charity raise vital funds and enable us to continue flying across the region and saving lives.
All you need to do is drop off items, that are in reasonably good condition, to one of our many recycling banks located at supermarkets and independent sites across the region – it’s that simple! Please ensure that only items inside a bag are placed into the banks.
Locate your nearest recycling bank using the tool below and help us continue our life-saving mission.
If the recycling bank you visit is full, please do not leave your donations outside the bank. Please try again at a later date.
If you need to report an issue with a YAA clothing bank, please email the details to recycling@yaa.org.uk
Home Collection
We offer home recycling collections for your convenience.
If you have clothing and shoes you’d like to donate, please fill out our Request a Recycling Collection form, and Recycling Solutions will arrange a collection from your doorstep.
Request a collection
Hosting a Recycling Bank
If you own or manage land and can provide space for a recycling bank, we’d love to hear from you!
Our standard bank is 5 feet wide, 5 feet deep and 6 feet high, other sizes are available.
Contact Katie Collinson at k.collinson@yaa.org.uk with your name and location, and we will arrange for our recycling partners to visit your site to assess the space and suitability and take it from there!
Ink Cartridge Recycling
Have you ever wondered what to do with your empty printer ink cartridges? Did you know that they can help to raise funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance?
We will receive £1 for each ‘wanted list‘ cartridge sent to Recycle4Charity using their Freepost bags and collection boxes.
