Blue bins (recycling)
What you can / can't put in your blue bin
These items cannot go in your blue bin:
- Batteries - no batteries of any kind in any of your bins - see where to recycle batteries
- Disposable nappies - put in your grey household bin only - not in your blue recycling or green garden waste bins
- Garden waste - put this in your green bin if you have subscribed to the service
- Vegetable peelings - use a compost bin or put in your grey household bin
- China (plates, cups, bowls) - if in good condition donate to local charity or wrap carefully and put in your grey household bin
- Hazardous materials including paint, petrol etc
- Pet waste and pet food pouches - put in your grey household bin
- Electrical items
- Hard plastics
These items cannot go in your recycling bin, but can be collected through a Bulky waste collection or recycled at the Recycling Village:
- Televisions and monitors
- Oil - Engine and cooking oil should be disposed of at the Recycling Village
- Textiles - find out more about Textiles recycling
- Mattresses
- Carpets
- Electrical items
For more detail about what can go in your blue bin, see below.
Paper, cardboard & cartons
Yes
These items can go in the inner caddy:
- White office paper
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Junk mail
- Envelopes (including those with plastic windows, but not with padding)
- Catalogues
- Shredded paper (wrap in newspaper first)
These items can go in the main part of your blue bin:
- Cardboard packaging boxes (please flatten to make more room)
- Plain card (no glitter/glue)
- Cereal boxes
- Cardboard sleeves from food packaging
- Cardboard tube from toilet and kitchen rolls
- Drink cartons (such as 'Tetra Packs')
- Juice cartons
- Milk cartons
- Cardboard egg cartons
No
These items cannot go in your blue bin:
- Books
- Corks (from wine and champagne bottles)
- Padded envelopes (such as 'Jiffy Bags')
- Metallic gift wrap
- Christmas/birthday cards with glitter
- Any paper or cardboard soaked with food waste
- Gift wrap or wrapping paper
- Wallpaper
Take away containers
We do not accept takeaway pizza boxes or any takeaway food container that has contained food or grease.
No paper, cardboard or polystyrene containers should be put in the recycling bin.
No food can be recycled and the grease cannot be separated during the recycling process.
Plastic
Yes
These items can go in your blue bin:
- Milk bottles
- Juice bottles
- Mineral water bottles
- Washing up liquid bottles
- Fabric conditioner bottles
- Sun cream bottles
- Shampoo bottles
- Bleach bottles
- Plastic pots and tubs
- Yoghurt pots
- Margarine and butter tubs
- ice cream tubs
No
These items cannot go in your blue bin:
- Plastic carrier bags
- Black sacks
- Plastic trays (microwavable)
- Cling film
- Bubble wrap
- Polystyrene
- Styrofoam
- Plastic film and wrapping from packages
- Plastic egg boxes
- CDs, DVD cases
- Takeaway pizza boxes
- Hard plastics
Cans
Yes
These items can go in your blue bin:
- Food tins (soup, tuna, baked beans, spaghetti hoops etc.)
- Pet food tins
- Drink cans
- Cola tins
- Beer cans
- Aerosols (only when empty)
No
These items cannot go in your blue bin:
- Paint tins
- Cooking oil drums
- Any other metal items
Glass
Yes
These items can go in your blue bin:
- Jam jars
- Curry jars
- Mineral water bottles
- Pasta sauce jars
- Wine, Spirit and alcopop bottles
- Lager/beer bottles
- Juice bottles
No
These items cannot go in your blue bin:
- Window glass and window panes
- Mirror glass (do not recycle mirror glass)
- Pyrex dishes
- Drinking glasses
