Recycling
What can go in your recycling bin? UK guide
Recycling rules used to vary enormously between councils. Under Simpler Recycling, every council in England now collects the same core materials from 31 March 2026: paper and card, glass, metal, plastic and cartons. How they are collected still differs, so your council might use one mixed bin, or separate boxes and bags.
Usually yes
- Paper: newspapers and magazines, letters, envelopes, junk mail
- Card: cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, toilet roll tubes, egg boxes
- Plastic: bottles, pots, tubs and trays, milk bottles
- Metal: food tins, drinks cans, empty aerosols, clean foil
- Cartons: juice, milk and soup cartons
- Glass: bottles and jars, sometimes in a separate box
Usually no
- Plastic bags and film (until 31 March 2027 in England)
- Crisp packets and pet food pouches
- Coffee cups and paper cups
- Polystyrene
- Nappies, wipes and tissues
- Food and liquids
- Batteries, vapes and electricals, which cause fires
- Clothes and textiles, unless your council has a textile collection
Three habits that matter most
- Empty and rinse. A quick rinse is enough.
- Keep it loose. No bags, unless your council supplies them.
- Flatten boxes. It saves space and stops the bin overflowing.
When in doubt
If you are not sure, check the which bin A to Z or your council’s website. Putting a doubtful item in general waste is better than spoiling a load of recycling. Many packets also carry an On-Pack Recycling Label telling you whether to recycle them.
Which bin? Quick answers
- Cardboard boxes
- Plastic bottles
- Food tins
- Food and drink cartons (Tetra Pak)
- Plastic pots, tubs and trays
- Aerosol cans
- Aluminium foil and foil trays
Find your council
Common questions
Should I wash recycling?
Give it a quick rinse to remove food. It does not need to be spotless. Food left in containers can spoil paper and card in the same load.
Do lids go on bottles?
For plastic bottles, most councils now ask you to squash the bottle and put the lid back on. Metal lids from glass jars usually go in with cans.
Can I put recycling in a plastic bag?
In most areas no. Bags tangle the sorting machines, and bagged recycling is often treated as general waste. Put items in loose unless your council gives you specific sacks.