Hire a carpet cleaner or a cleaning company to clean carpets, instead of buying new carpet. For local contacts check the Yellow Pages or see W: www.yell.com.

Carpet in good condition is sometimes accepted and collected by the larger charity shops or reuse projects. See CHARITY SHOPS, check the Reuse Map on the Changeworks website

The Edinburgh Furniture Initiative accept good quality carpet tiles: T: 0131 557 7900, W: Four Square Homeless Charity Edinburgh

Can be used as a cover for compost heaps to prevent too much rain or sun, and acts as a good insulator in the winter.

Can be laid as mulch to smother weeds in the garden, although this is not advisable where the presence of New Zealand flatworm is suspected as they breed under carpet.

Old carpet is also sometimes used by scaffolding companies, to wrap round pavement-level scaffold to offer protection to pedestrians. For local contacts check the Yellow Pages or see W: www.yell.com.

Old carpet, underlay and rugs are accepted for recycling at the Community Recycling Centres. See Household Waste Recycling Centres Edinburgh

Phone your local Council for the special uplift service. See Local Councils. There will likely to be a charge for this service, or take to your local Community Recycling Centre for disposal. See COMMUNITY RECYCLING CENTRES.