If you don't want to toss it, you can ring your council, they're bound to have some recycling centres where you can bring things that can be recycled (or require special disposal) like scrap metal, used motor oil, coolant, batteries, broken or outdated computers, electronics, appliances, used paint and chemicals, etc.
From there you'll know whether its worth the trip...depends how far you have to drive. The fuel filter doesn't have much scrap metal in it. Whenever I have something like a used water pump or knackered CV joint, I take it to my recycling centre that's on the way to the supermarket.