You are here

What can I put in each bin?

We use separate bins for your household waste, green waste, card and paper and glass, cans and plastic. Ensuring the right things go in the right bins means we can recycle your waste without it being contaminated.

Below is a list of the type of materials you can put in each bin. Please don't put your recycling in plastic bags in your bin:

Brown bin - paper and card 

You can recycle the following items in your brown bin:

  • Newspapers, magazines and brochures
  • Telephone directories and catalogues
  • Wrapping paper (which isn’t foil and glitter) if unsure do the scrunch test
  • Cardboard packaging –flattening the boxes will allow more space for more recycling. 
  • Junk mail, office paper and envelopes (you don’t need to remove the windows). Please ensure your protect yourself against identity fraud and down throw anyway anything with your name, address or financial details.
  • Greeting cards (remove any additions such as ribbons, glitter and craft decorations)
  • Clean card such as cereal boxes, food packaging and egg boxes
  • Shredded paper 

You can’t recycle the following items in your brown bin:

  • Food and drinks carton
  • Foil and foil-lined packaging
  • Wrapping paper made with foil or glitter
  • Tetra packs

The new bins will give you more space to recycle more waste but if you have extra paper or card this can be put out at the side of your bin.

Blue bin – household glass, cans and plastic

You can recycle the following items in your blue bin:

Please ensure all containers are fully cleaned before recycling and squash them if you can so they take up less space in your bin.  

  • Plastic bottles including milk, shampoo and fabric softener bottles 
  • Plastic yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, plastic food trays
  • Plastic chocolate boxes including Quality Street, Celebrations and Heroes
  • Clean ready meal trays (plastic or foil)
  • Empty aerosols
  • Glass bottle and jars
  • Clean foil  including takeaway containers
  • Empty tins and cans

You can’t recycle the following items in your blue bin:

  • Glass milk bottles – these should be returned to your milkman
  • Light bulbs or broken glass
  • Pyrex dishes, window glass or drinking glasses 
  • Crisps packets, sweet wrappers and other foil lined packaging.
  • Glasses or spectacles
  • Bubble wrap, plastic wrapping or plastic carrier bags
  • Paint cans
  • Empty toothpaste containers 
  • Tetra packs 

Extra glass, cans and plastic can be recycled at one of the Household Waste and Recycling Centres.

Green bin – green waste 

You can use your green bin for the following items:

  • Grass cuttings
  • Flowers
  • Plants and weeds
  • Leaves
  • Hedge clipping
  • Prunings, twigs and small branches (up to 4cm thick)

You cannot use your green bin for the following items:

  • Food waste including meat, fish, vegetable peelings or tea bags
  • Nappies
  • Soil, rubble or stones
  • Glass, metal and plastic
  • Treated wood including fencing
  • Animal faeces, bedding or pet litter  
  • Turf or compost
  • Plant pots
  • Sacks or plastic bags
  • Japanese Knotweed or other invasive weeds or plants

If you need an additional green waste bin they’re available at a cost of up to £26 per year depending on when you receive your bin.

Grey (black) bin – household waste

Our grey (black) bin is for all non-recyclable waste.

You can’t use your grey bin for the following items: