There's no greater feeling than going to the dump on a Sunday morning. Testosterone levels reach…read morenew highs as every piece of unwanted clutter hits the bottom of the skip. If you're throwing something away that's smash-able and you make the loudest noise you automatically become the dump alpha male! Luminous coats will assemble and applaud you all the way home! On a serious note this dump or recycling centre as they call it these days is one of the best around. There's a one way system that makes driving in easy. They have separate skips for cardboard, scrap metal, plastics and non-recyclables. They also offer electrical recycling, clothing banks and specialist fridge recycling. There's always plenty of staff here ready to assist you, last week I had a discussion about whether a clothes rail constituted scrap metal. Strictly this dump ain't for commercial waste. Really easily accessible from the Antrim Road If you fancy heading down here to mingle with other manly men smashing up household goods!

As dumps go this one is pretty awesome, you can recycle almost anything and there is somewhere to…read moreget rid of the non recyclables too. There is a one way system in place and the road section is raised above the skips which means you drop stuff in rather than trying to lift it up into the skip. Some staff are super helpful and will help you with your junk but others just grunt and point! There is something rather satisfying about chucking bottles into recycling bins and hearing them smash especially if you're in a bit of a grumpy mood!

It probably seems a little bit bizarre to write a review about your local recycling centre but…read morehaving been to quite a few dumps as they used to be known I have to say that not one will ever compete with the tidiness and organization of this one. Talk about a place for everything and everything in its place well this recycling centre is the epitomy of that. This makes it so easy to of load your unwanted items and if you are not sure where to leave something there is always someone to advise and give that helping hand. The caretakers are regularly out with their brushes making sure that there is no debris lying about. Gone are the days that you have to wear your oldest of old clothes to go to this recycling centre because it's kept so well that this certainly isn't necessary any more. The opening times are suitable to allow those hard working 9-5 people to access it during the summer months as it is open to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10-4 Saturday and Sunday. During the autumn and winter months this changes to 8-4 weekdays and 8-12 Saturday. So there is no excuse for us to hoard our unwanted clutter.

Millisle Dump or sorry I mean Millisle Recycling Centre as it is now known, is my favourite of all…read moredumps. I know normal people do not usually have favourite dumps or recycling centres but I will talk you through its attributes and explain why it has topped my list of places to throw away unwanted goods. Firstly it is simple, there is no car lane or steward directing cars as if they are 747's. Secondly it is not too big and thirdly you can feel free to walk around the yard without fearing being run over by a trailer. This is a good old fashioned dump and I feel they should do it justice by giving it back its dump status. The best thing about this place is that you can actually smash your rubbish up, remember the old style dumps where you got to throw that old TV into a large pit and watch the debris scatter everywhere, this is that place. The Dump is fun again, Millisle Dump takes me back to the joy of the dump. Over dramatic you may say, but it still offers the same facilities as all the other recycling centres, wood, plastic, garden waste...you name it they will recycle it. They are open to everything but vegetable oil, I am not sure what the issue with this is but they are none to keen on the stuff down at Millisle dump.

I love to buy, well, stuff, you know? But there comes a time you've got to rationalise,…read morestreamline, dare I say it - get rid of some of your stuff. I give unwanted things to charity shops, but I also recycle and regularly use Palmerston Road Recycling Centre (where else do you get full recycling facilities and art installations made from rubbish?). The staff in the centre are great - they are there to step in with anything you might need a hand with. They smile when it's raining and still smile when you nearly run over their toes in your car. You can bring everything here - the usual bottles, paper, car batteries but you can also bring spectacles, old books, clothes that are sent on for re-using by charities in Northern Ireland and the developing world. You should really make the effort, less stuff to landfill, someone else getting some benefit, you also get to feel good about yourself. You also get more room at home to fill with, well...more stuff!

It feels like entering a high security military complex when entering this dump with automatic…read morebarriers in and out, and all eyes locked onto your car as soon as you drive in. First impressions are wrong though and the staff ask you if you need help and let you know which skip you should put whatever rubbish you have in to. Id tend to use carryduff or ballygowan dumps most but if I'm only dumping my own rubbish ill save my petrol and use Palmerston road.

If you're having a clear out and you don't want to chuck your clothes away but you also don't want…read moreto donate them to a charity shop then why not meet half way and bring them down to Used Clothing Company. These guys offer 40p per kilogram for your old clothes. If you're planning on bringing things down here make sure they are in half decent condition as they won't accept any old junk! This store is quite new in Belfast but there others under the same banner. This particular one has great parking outside so if you have a large amount of clothes you can get the car nice and close. A good option if you want quick cash for your old clothes!

There are not many shops that you can walk out of richer than you went in but this is one of those…read moreplaces. Used Clothing Co is a unique concept that turns your old Clothing, shoes, belts. Bed linen, curtains and even handbags into cold hard cash. The idea is that Used Clothing Co sort through your old tat and either give it to charity or use the material for other purposes. This is an ingenious idea that I think just might catch on. They weigh the bags and offer 50p for every Kilogram, that's an amazing £5 per 10 Kilograms. 7 bags of junk that included Kappa poppers, some knackered ancient trainers and my old Flintstones bed sheets got me a staggering £11.80. The best thing is that all I was going to do was throw them in the bin but now I can afford to update my wardrobe. This is an unbelievable idea and you feel like you are robbing them. The best thing about it is they even offer a home collection service, so if you can not be bothered hooking the trailer to the car and heading to the local refuse centre, just give these guys a call.

I love the ethos of this store. In brief it buys your old clothes from you then sells them on to…read morecharity shops and the money they make all goes to different charities. They take all types of good condition old clothes including shoes handbags belts etc. They don't take underwear except bras and they don't take bedding although the Bangor store will take towels and quilts without payment and then they will pass them onto Assisi, the local animal sanctuary . So all in all everyone benefits. I found the staff very friendly and knowledgeable . The store is easy to access being situated in Balloo retail park. So instead of leaving your old unwanted clothing into the local charity shop why not take a detour and get a few pennies for it and know that it will eventually reach a charity shop for sale and still make money for underprivileged , in other words a double whammy !

Dropped off some stuff to recycle. Very easy layout and helpful staff. But closes at 5 and closed…read moreSunday!!!

Bryson Charitable group is a really excellent organisation and it deserves the praise and attention…read moreof all Northern Irish yelpers! The activities of Bryson can be split into two main areas: care services and recycling services. From programmes for children and youth to services for the elderly, Bryson House provides the highest standards of care to those who need it most. I actually volunteered for a while with Bryson in the People, a volunteer befriending scheme matching adults with learning difficulties with individuals from the wider community on a one-to-one basis. In addition to our well-known Care Services, they have undertaken created a number of environmental projects including Recycling Services, an Energy Efficiency Advice Centre and a range of education programmes to help young people understand their relationship to the environment. From my experience the people of Bryson are passionate about their jobs and the people and communities they help in. If you have any desire to volunteer, or perhaps want to recycle more effectively, look no further than Bryson!