Blue recycling bin

There are two parts to your recycling bin

• the main body of the bin and
• the inner black box

Different recyclable items should be places in separate parts of the bins

What to put in the main body of the bin

Note: Please don't put items into a plastic bag and then into your recycling bin, as plastic bags cannot be recycled.

• All white, grey and brown cardboard - such as cereal boxes, toothpaste boxes and ready meal boxes
• Food and drink cartons - such as empty juice cartons, milk cartons and food cartons
• Household plastic packaging - all plastic bottles and plastic food packaging such as yogurt pots and plastic milk cartons
• Empty food tins, clean foil, drink cans and aerosols - such as clean foil pie tins, baby milk formula tins, pet food tins and pop cans
• Glass bottles and jars - such as jam jars, perfume bottles and coffee jars
• Greeting cards without glitter

Please rinse out food and drink containers before you put them in your blue bin.

What to put in the inner black box (caddy)

Note: Please don't put items into a plastic bag and then into the caddy, as plastic bags cannot be recycled.

• Paper including newspapers, magazines, junk mail, telephone directories, catalogues, envelopes, printed paper and loose shredded paper.

What you can NOT put in the bin or caddy

• Any type of batteries - they can cause fires. Instead, take them to:
  • battery collection points in most supermarkets and many high streets, find out which local shops they are by visiting Recyclenow (opens new window).
  • local community centres and venues that have battery collection containers/tubes
  • the Household Waste and Recycling Centre, in the dedicated battery recycling bins, they should not be put in the general waste skip. Ask a site attendant if you're not sure
• Disposable vapes - they contain batteries and can cause fires. Instead please take them to:
  • the Household Waste and Recycling Centre and put them in the correct containers, they should not be placed in the general waste skip. Ask a site attendant if you're not sure
• Small electrical items containing batteries - they can cause fires. Instead, take them to:
  • the Household Waste and Recycling Centre and put them in the correct containers, they should not be placed in the general waste skip. Ask a site attendant if you're not sure
  • a shop that accepts electrical items - recycle your electricals shop locator (opens new window)
• Any electrical items
• Inhalers - used inhalers should be returned to a pharmacy to be disposed of safely
• Tissue paper or wallpaper
• Textiles, fabrics and shoes - such as old clothes, tea towels and towels
• Nappies
• Plastic films - such as cling film, bread wrappers, crisp packets, biscuit wrappers, vegetable wrappings and magazine wrappings, cellophane and bubble wrap
• Take away pizza boxes which have grease stains or food residue on the cardboard
• Hard plastic - such as toys, kitchenware, electrical plugs and CD or DVD cases
• Plastic guttering, plant pots and planting trays
• Glittery cards and other glittery items
• Styrofoam or Polystyrene packaging
• Wrapping paper
• Light bulbs
• Dog waste bags
• Food waste
• Garden waste - such as prunings and grass cuttings
• Paint tins
• Wood

Watch our video to find out what can and can't go into your blue recycling bin:

And if you've ever wondered what happens to your recycling once it's been collected from your blue bin, you can find out in this video: