A. As long as it's not been mixed with any other substances, used engine oil can be easily recycled. Re-refining strips out toxic

heavy metals such as lead, nickel and cadmium and leaves the oil as good as new. So good, in fact, that it performs just as well as normal engine oil, so make sure you ask for it next time your car's oil needs changing. To find your nearest oil recycling bank, simply call 08708 506506 or use the postcode search facility at www.oilbankline.org.uk. Please be aware that oil banks do not accept petrol, thinners, solvents or cooking oil.

If you're storing oil for any length of time, make sure it's kept in a sealed container and any spills should be mopped up with sand or soil before it can enter drains or watercourses. Never hose a spill down either. According to the Environment Agency, oil spills account for one quarter of all pollution incidents and just one litre of oil can pollute more than one million litres of fresh drinking water. By the same token, five litres of oil is enough to cover the surface of a small lake, drastically reducing the level of oxygen in the water and making it difficult for fish to breathe as well as coating plants and animals that come into contact with it.


Q. I'm not really a fan of supermarkets, but my local Waitrose now provides cycle trailers so customers can transport their shopping home using pedal power. How cool is that?
Mary Walker

A. What a great idea. As I'm a keen cyclist I got in touch with Waitrose's head office to find out some more details. Apparently, 35 Waitrose supermarkets have signed up to the scheme so far and, if it's a success, it's likely to be rolled out to more stores later in the year. Equipped with large canvas shopping bags, trailers are loaned out free of charge to any Waitrose customers who wish to use them. To qualify, all you have to do is sign up for the scheme in advance and you'll be given a special bracket to attach to your bicycle, enabling you to clip the trailer onto the back. Shoppers can then reserve a trailer before they start shopping and collect it when they leave with all branches having designated cycle spaces outside. You're allowed to keep the trailer for up to three days, so you don't have to return it on the same day you do your shopping. I think it's an absolutely fabulous initiative and I hope it's a huge success. If your local Waitrose doesn't offer the service yet, have a word with the manager.