Walking stick recycling at Meanwood recycling centre

The NHS estimate annually over 4,000 pairs of walking aids are not returned by patients in Leeds, costing £46k a year.​ With residents confused about where to return the items, a significant number were being deposited in recycling centres' metals or general skips or even household black bins, and not given the opportunity for reuse.

In March 2025 we launched a trial at four recycling centres (Kirkstall, Seacroft, Pudsey, and Yeadon) in partnership with NHS Teaching Hospitals Trust to collect walking aids from residents, with items including:

• aluminium zimmer frames​

• aluminium walking sticks​

• crutches​

Within four months, 700 walking aids were collected​, with a 98% carbon saving for each recycled item vs. buying new, equating to 6.9 tonnes C02e​ saved.  

Thanks to its success, the scheme has now been rolled out to a further three recycling centres, with 2 of the distinctive yellow containers at each site:​

• Meanwood​

• Middleton​

• Wetherby