When putting items into your recycling, make sure they are clean, dry and empty.
For items that cannot go in your bin, such as flexible plastics and crisp packets, use the Recycle Now locator to find out where you can take them.
What you can put in your household recycling bin
Paper and cardboard, including:
- wrapping paper (not foil based)
- newspapers
- envelopes
- directories
- magazines
- shredded paper (small amounts - paper wrapped/bagged to stop escape)
- cereal boxes
- greetings cards
- cardboard (including corrugated card)
- photos
Most rigid household plastics (any colour) from food, drink and household products, including:
- plastic bottles (including milk, soft drinks, shampoo, shower gel and cleaning products)
- plastic pots (including yoghurt, cream and soup)
- plastic tubs (including margarine, butter and ice cream)
- plastic trays (any colour, including fruit and vegetable punnets)
- plastic lids (they must be placed back on the plastic bottles, pots and tubs)
Household metal packaging:
- tins and cans
- aerosols (including deodorant, hairspray and furniture polish)
- aluminium foil
- metal lids
Tetra Pak cartons and glass bottles and jars can also be recycled.
What you cannot put in your household recycling bin
You cannot put the following into your recycling bin:
- plastic bags and wrapping
- crisp packets
- plastic toothpaste tubes
- anything compostable or biodegradable
- polystyrene
- paper tissues and paper towels
- paper cups
- glass - sheets, windowpanes, broken glass, oven proof glass such as Pyrex or light bulbs
- metal
- food and liquids
- wood and rubble
- nappies
- textiles and clothes
- electrical items such as batteries and vapes - batteries can be put into a carrier bag and placed on top of the recycling bin on collection day
- commercial waste
- garden waste
- clinic waste such as syringes or medical sharps
- lateral flow testing kits
- personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves
Find out what happens if you put the wrong items in your recycling bin.