A-Z: What goes in my bins

This page is an A-Z guide of what you can place in each of your bins and your paper box, to help you to keep recycling as much as possible.

Please note our Garden Waste Service is a paid for service. Please only place items in the garden waste bin if you have paid for a subscription to this service.

A

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Aerosol cans Recycling Bin Only empty aerosol cans can be recycled.
Asbestos For advice on asbestos please contact WasteAware  
Aluminium foil Recycling Bin Scrunch any foil into a ball roughly the size of a tennis ball as smaller bits may get lost down the sides of the recycling machinery.
Ash (coal or wood - once cooled) Refuse Bin  

B

Item Where Shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Baby/make-up wipes Refuse Bin  
Bags (plastic) Refuse Bin Reuse carrier bags on your next shopping trip. Alternatively, some supermarkets have a collection scheme for plastic bags.
Balloons (latex) Refuse Bin  
Bark

Home Composting or Garden Waste Bin

 
Batteries Household Waste Recycling Centre Some local supermarkets offer a collection scheme for used batteries.
Biodegradable packaging Refuse Bin  
Biros Refuse Bin Terracycle offer a recycling service for your used pens. Visit the website for more info and to find your closest drop-off point.
Biscuit/chocolate tins Recycling Bin  
Black sacks Refuse Bin  
Blister packs (for pills) Refuse Bin  
Bones (meat or fish) Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Books (good quality) Charity Shops  
Books (beyond reuse) Kerbside paper box - pages only (remove cover and spine)  
Bottles, glass - any colour (e.g. wine, beer, spirits) Recycling Bin Lids can be recycled. Labels can be left on, but any left over liquid or food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. It does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Bottles, plastic Recycling Bin Lids can be recycled.
Branches from trees (smaller than 3cm in diameter) Garden Waste Bin  
Bread Home Composting or Refuse Bin Bread can be kept in the freezer until you're ready for toast! Alternatively, you can blitz stale bread in a food processor to make breadcrumbs.
Brita water filter cartridges Refuse Bin Some shops accept returned Brita filters to be recycled.
Bricks and rubble (non-trade only) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Brochures Kerbside Paper Box  
Brown paper and envelopes Recycling Bin  
Bubble wrap Refuse Bin Reuse bubble wrap when food shopping to protect delicate items. It will also help to keep items coolers for longer!
Buckets, old washing up bowls/tubs Household Waste Recycling Centre or Refuse Bin  
Builders waste (non-trade only) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Butter tubs Recycling Bin  

C

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Candles Refuse Bin  
Cans Recycling Bin Left-over liquid or food residue can contaminate other recyclables so please empty your containers. It does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Cardboard boxes (e.g. cereal boxes, delivery boxes) Recycling Bin Please flatten before recycling. Remove plastic inserts, polystyrene and tape from boxes.
Cardboard egg boxes Recycling Bin  
Cardboard packets lined with metal (e.g. gravy granules, cocoa powder, Pringles tubes Refuse Bin Terracycle offer a recycling service for some of these products. Visit the website for more information and to find your closest drop-off point.
Cardboard sandwich boxes (including the plastic window, if clean from residue) Recycling Bin Left-over food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. 
Cardboard sleeves (e.g. ready meal sleeves) Recycling Bin  
Cardboard tubes (e.g. from inside toilet rolls and kitchen roll) Recycling Bin Keep a recycling bin or bag in the bathroom to remind you to recycle your bottles and toilet roll tubes.
Carpet Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Carrier bags Refuse Bin Reuse carrier bags on your next shopping trip. Alternatively, some supermarkets have a collection scheme for plastic bags.
Cartons (food and drink) Recycling Bin Card with food residue should be placed in the general rubbish bin.
Cat food pouches (with silver lining) Refuse Bin Terracycle offer a recycling service for some of these products. Visit the website for more information and find your closest drop-off point.
Cat litter Refuse Bin  
Catalogues Kerbside Paper Box  
Cassette tapes (plus cases) Remove all tape first and place in Refuse Bin - the plastic cassette case can then be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre  
CDs Refuse Bin If still in good condition, why not donate unwanted CDs and DVDs to charity shops?
CD Cases (hard plastic) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Cellophane Refuse Bin  
Ceramics Refuse Bin  
Cereal Boxes Recycling Bin Please flatten where possible, to take up less space.
Cereal packets - inner liners (plastic) Refuse Bin  
Chewing gum Refuse Bin  
Chocolate and biscuit tubs and trays Recycling Bin  
Christmas cards Refuse Bin Upcycle or reuse as gift tags.
Christmas trees (real) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Christmas trees (artificial) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Cigarette ends Refuse Bins  
Cleaner and detergent bottles (e.g. bathroom cleaners, washing up liquid, bleach) Recycling Bin Check they are empty first as left-over liquid cab make other recyclables dirty. Lids and labels can be left on.
Cling film Refuse Bin  
Clothes, textiles and shoes Donate to Charity Shop or Textiles Recycling Bank Have you considered holding a clothes swap with your friends or community group? WasteAware has advice and equipment available if you are looking for a cheap, easy and fun way to de-clutter and update your wardrobe.
Coat hangers (plastic or wire) Donate to Charity Shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre Be sure and refuse these if you make new purchases.
Coffee grounds Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Coffee pods Refuse Bin Terracycle offer a recycling service for some of these products. Visit the website for more information and to find your closest drop-off point.
Coloured paper (except brown) Kerbside Paper Box  
Compostable packaging/bags Homes Composting or Refuse Bin  
Cooking oil Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Corks (real or plastic) Refuse Bin  
Corrugated cardboard Recycling Bin  
Costa cups Refuse Bin Return your cup to Costa to have it recycled.
Costa lids Refuse Bin  
Cotton buds Refuse Bin  
Cotton reels Refuse Bin  
Cotton wool/make up pads Refuse Bin  
Crisp and sweet packets or wrappers Refuse Bin Terracycle offer a recycling service for all brands or crisp packets. Visit the website for more information and to find your closest drop-off point.
Crockery (broken) Refuse Bin  

D

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Dairy Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Disposable cutlery Refuse Bin  
Disposable cardboard 'paper' or plastic plates (without heavy food residue) Recycling Bin If you are hosting a party, why not look into local reuseable party kits available to hire? These kits are cheaper and more environmentally friendly than buying disposable equipment!
Disposable drinking cups (plastic) Recycling Bin  
Disposable drinking cups (cardboard or polystyrene) Refuse Bin  
Disposable nappies Refuse Bin Why not give Real Nappies a try? Visit Hertfordshire WasteAware for more information.
Disposable razor blades Refuse Bin  
Dog waste Refuse Bin  
Drinks bottles (e.g. juice, squash, milk) Recycling Bin Please remove plastic film and place in the general rubbish bin. Lids and labels can be left on. Save space by squashing bottles.
Drinks cans Recycling Bin Lids and labels can be left on, but any left-over liquid or food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. it does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Drinks cartons (e.g. juices and milk) Recycling Bin Lids can be recycled. Left-over liquid or food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. It does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Drinking glasses Refuse Bin Many glass items such as cookware, glasses and vases can be taken to charity for refuse if in good condition. Otherwise, please dispose of in the appropriate container at your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Duvets and pillows Household Waste Recycling Centre  
DVD cases Refuse Bin  

E

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Egg boxes (cardboard) Recycling Bin  
Egg boxes (plastic) Recycling Bin  
Egg boxes (polystyrene) Refuse Bin  
Egg shells Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Electrical items Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Engine oil Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Envelopes including windows (brown) Recycling Bin  
Envelopes including windows (white) Kerbside Paper Box  

F

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Film lids from the pots or trays Refuse Bins  
Financial Times Kerbside Paper Box  
Fish Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Flower pots - plastic (small only) Recycling Bin Large pots are more rigid plastic and should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or Placed in Black Bin.
Flowers Home Composting or Garden Waste Bin  
Foam food trays and food packaging Refuse Bin  
Foil Recycling Bin Please rinse to remove food residue
Foil trays (e.g. take-away trays) Recycling Bin Any disposable BBQ trays must be completely cool before adding to your recycling container. Douse with cold water then leave overnight to cool completely.
Foil/plastic wrapping (e.g. crisp packets) Refuse Bin Terracycle offer a recycling service for all brands of crisp packets. Visit the website for more information and to find your closest drop-off point.
Food and drink cartons (e.g. TetraPak©) Recycling Bin Left-over liquid or food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. It does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Food cartons (e.g. soups) Recycling Bin Lids can be recycled. Left-over liquid or food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. It does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Food scrapings Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Food tins Recycling Bin Lids and labels can be left on, but any left-over liquid or food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. It does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Fruit Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Fruit peelings Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Fruit punnets Recycling Bin  
Frying pans Refuse Bin  

G

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
General kitchen ware (e.g. cutlery, pots & pans) General kitchen ware (e.g. cutlery, pots & pans) and home goods can be taken to charity for reuse if in good working order. Otherwise, please dispose of in the appropriate container at your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.  
Gift bags Refuse Bin  
Glass bottles and jars (lids can be recycled) Recycling Bin Left-over liquid or food residue can contaminate other recyclables so please empty your containers. It does not have to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Glass cookware (e.g. Pyrex dishes, drinking glasses, vases, ceramics) Refuse Bin Glass - Many items such as cookware, glasses and vases can be taken to charity for reuse if in good condition. Otherwise, please dispose of in the appropriate container at your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Glass - sheet/window panes Refuse Bin or Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Glasses - drinking Refuse Bin  
Grass cuttings Home Composting or Garden Waste Bin  
Greaseproof paper Refuse Bin  
Greetings cards Refuse Bin Cut old cards up and reuse them as gift tags, or send an E-Card as a zero-waste alternative.

H

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Hair Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Hard covers (from catalogues and books) Recycling Bin  
Hard plastic (children's toys, storage boxes, recycling boxes) Donate to Charity Shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Hay and straw Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Hedge cuttings Home Composting or Garden Waste Bin  
Holiday brochures Kerbside Paper Box  
Hoover bags and dust Refuse Bin  

I

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Ice-cream tubs Recycling Bin  
Incontinence wear Refuse Bin  

J

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
J Cloths Refuse Bin  
Jars (e.g. sauces, jam, baby food) - lids can be recycled Recycling Bin Labels can be left on, but any left-over liquid or food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. It does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Jiffy bag envelopes Refuse Bin  
Junk mail including Kerbside Paper Box  

K

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Kitchen roll tubes Recycling Bin  
Kitchen towels Refuse Bin  

L

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Laminated plastic food/drink pouches (e.g. baby food pouches, cat food pouches or coffee pouches. Refuse Bin  
Latex gloves Refuse Bin  
Leaves Home Composting or Garden Waste Bin  
Leftover food Home Composting or Refuse Bin Visit https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for recipe ideas on how to use up leftovers.
Lids (metal or plastic) Recycling Bin You can keep lids on the containers, or put them separately into your mixed recycling bin.
Light bulbs and fluorescent tubes Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Light bulbs (energy saving) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Light bulbs (halogen) Refuse Bin  
Light bulbs (LED) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Light bulbs (old style) Refuse Bin  

M

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Magazines Kerbside Paper Box Remove any plastic wrapping or free gifts from newspapers, magazines and flyers. These should go in your refuse bin.
MDF Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Margarine tubs Recycling Bin  
Meat - raw or cooked Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Medicines Return to Pharmacy  
Medicine pill packets (e.g. blister packs) Refuse Bin  
Metal items such as kettles, irons, pipes, white goods Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Metal lids and tops Recycling Bin Pop food tin lids inside the tin and gently squash the top to stop them falling out.
Metal tins (biscuit/chocolate -including lids) Recycling Bin  
Microwave meal trays (including black plastic) Recycling Bin Please remove plastic film and place in the refuse bin.
Milk bottles (lids can be recycled) Recycling Bin  
Mirrors Donate to Charity Shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Motor oil containers Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Moss Home Composting or Garden Waste Bin  

N

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Napkins/serviettes Refuse Bin  
Nappies Refuse Bin Why not give Real Nappies a try? Visit Hertfordshire WasteAware for more information.
Netting - plastic (e.g. orange nets) Refuse Bin  
Newspapers Kerbside Paper Box Remove any plastic wrapping and free gifts from newspapers, magazines and flyers. These should go in you refuse bin.

O

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Office paper Kerbside Paper Box  
Other glass bottles (e.g. perfume, aftershave, face/body cream) Recycling Box Labels can be left on, but any left-over liquid or food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. It does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Other metals Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Other non-paper wrappings Refuse Bin  

P

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Padded envelopes (e.g. Jiffy bags) Refuse Bin  
Paint and solvent tins (full or empty) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Paint including varnishes, gloss (over half full) Ecowaste offer a paint recycling scheme  
Paper (coloured except brown) Kerbside Paper Box  
Paper (office, mail, newspaper, magazines, white envelopes) Kerbside Paper Box  
Paper towels and tissues Refuse Bin  
Parchment/baking paper Refuse Bin  
Peelings (fruit and vegetables) Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Pencils Refuse Bin  
Pet bedding for vegetarian pets (hay and straw) Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Pet litter (carnivorous) Refuse Bin  
Pet faeces (bagged) Refuse Bin  
Pet food pouches Refuse Bin Terracycle offer a recycling service for some of these products. Visit the website for more information and to find your closest drop-off point.
Phone directories Kerbside Paper Box  
Photo negatives Refuse Bin  
Photographic paper Refuse Bin  
Pill (blister) packs Refuse Bin  
Pillows and duvets Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Plant pots - plastic (small only) Recycling Bin Large pots are more rigid and should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or placed in refuse bin.
Plants (no soil) Home Composting or Garden Waste Bin  
Plastic bags (e.g. carrier bags, compostable bags, bread, salad, fruit/veg bags, frozen food bags Refuse Bin reuse carrier bags on your next shopping trip. Alternatively, some supermarkets have a collection scheme for plastic bags.
Plastic bottles (all drink, detergent, shampoo bottles) Recycling Bin Check they are empty first as left-over liquid can make other recyclables dirty. Firm lids can be recycled. Plastic film goes in the general rubbish bin. Try putting a bag or bin in the bathroom to remind you to recycle your bathroom bottles and toilet roll tubes. Save space by squashing bottles.
Plastic films (from ready meals) Refuse Bin  
Plastic furniture Donate to Charity Shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Plastic food tubs, pots and trays - including black plastic Recycling Bin Firm lids can be recycled. Plastic film goes in the refuse bin.
plastic sweet containers Recycling Bin  
plastic sweet wrappers Refuse Bin  
Plastic wrapping (includes food wrappers) Refuse Bin  
Plastic toys Donate to Charity Shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Plastic sweet tubs Recycling Bin  
Plate glass Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Polystyrene (e.g. cups and packaging material) Refuse Bin  
Post-it notes Kerbside Paper Box  
Potato sacks (think brown paper) Recycling Bin (please cut off the string top and place in the Refuse Bin)  
Pots (e.g. yogurt, soup) Recycling Bin Firm lids can be recycled. Plastic film goes in the refuse bin.
Printer Cartridges Some supermarkets, schools and charities offer recycling collections (check with your local store) or they can be recycled at a Household Waste Recycling Centre or places in your Refuse bin.  
Prunings Home Composting or Garden Waste Bin  
Pyrex Refuse Bin Many glass items such as cookware, glasses and vases can be taken to charity for reuse if in good condition. Otherwise, please dispose of in the appropriate container at your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.

R

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Razor blades Refuse Bin  
Reading glasses Donate to Charity Shop  
Resealable plastic packets (e.g. containing cheese, sandwich bags) Refuse Bin  
Rigid plastics (e.g. toys and hangers) Donate to Charity Shop if in good condition or put in your Refuse Bin  
Ring binders Refuse Bin  
Rubber gloves Refuse Bin  

S

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Sanitary products (wrapped) Refuse Bin  
Sanitary towels Refuse Bin  
Saucepans Refuse Bin  
Seed trays - no larger than 30cm Recycling Bin (larger seed trays are rigid plastic and should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Sellotape Refuse Bin  
Shellfish Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Shiny cardboard (that will tear and has no plastic coating) Recycling Bin  
Shiny cardboard (that has plastic coating) Refuse Bin  
Shoes Donate to Charity Shop  
Shower curtain Refuse Bin  
Shredded paper Kerbside Paper Box Put shredded paper into a paper bag or envelope to stop it blowing away.
Shrink wrap Refuse Bin  
Shrubs and flowers Home Composting or Garden Waste Bin  
Soil/turf/rubble Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Solar panels For more information please contact a solar panel recycling service such as www.recyclesolar.co.uk  
Spectacles Donate to Charity Shop  
Sponges and loofahs Refuse Bin  
Sticky labels and backing paper Refuse Bin  
Straw Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Styrofoam Refuse Bin  
Syringes (sharps) Clinical Waste

 

T

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Tablet packets (plastic and foil) Refuse Bin  
Tape Refuse Bin  
Tea bags Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Telephone directories Kerbside Paper Box  
Textiles, clothes and shoes Donate to Charity Shop or Textiles Recycling Bank Have you considered holding a clothes swap with your friends or community group? WasteAware has advice and equipment available if you are looking for a cheap, easy and fun way to de-clutter and update your wardrobe.
TetraPaks©/Cartons Recycling Bin Lids and labels can be left on, but any left-over liquid or food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. It does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Tins (food, biscuit, chocolate) Recycling Bin Lids and labels can be left on, but any left-over liquid or food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling. It does not need to be spotless, a quick rinse will do.
Tins (paint and solvent - full or empty) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Tin foil Recycling Bin Scrunch any foil into a ball roughly the size of a tennis ball.
Tissues Refuse Bin  
Toiletries and other bathroom bottles (e.g. shampoo, shower gel) Recycling Bin Check they are empty first as left-over liquid can make other recyclables dirty. Lids and labels can be left on. Try putting a bag or bin in the bathroom to remind you to recycle your bathroom bottles and toilet roll tubes.
Toilet roll tubes Recycling Bin  
Toner cartridges Supermarket and school recycling points, Household Waste Recycling Centre or Refuse Bin  
Toothpaste tubes Refuse Bin Terracycle offer a recycling service for some of these products. Visit the website for more information and to find your closest drop-off point.
Toys (plastic or soft) If in a good condition - a charity shop, if not then Household Waste Recycling Centre or Refuse Bin

Some supermarkets offer a plastic film recycling point, check your local store. 

Toys (cardboard packaging) Recycling Bin (remove any plastic film or polystyrene)  
Trays/punnets (e.g. meat trays, takeaway trays, fruit/veg trays, including black plastic) Recycling Bin  
Tree cuttings (branches no larger than 3cm in diameter) Home Composting or local waste and recycling centre  
Treated wood (e.g. fence panels, painted doors, furniture, wicker baskets Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Tree cuttings (only small twigs and branches accepted) Home Composting or Garden Waste Bin  
Tubs (e.g. margarine, ice cream) Recycling Bin Firm lids can be recycled. Plastic film goes in the refuse bin.
Tupperware Refuse Bin  
Turf/soil/rubble Household Waste Recycling Centre  

U

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Uncooked food Home Composting or Refuse Bin  

V

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Video cassettes Remove all tape first and place in Refuse Bin - the plastic cassette case can then be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Vegetable peelings Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Vegware Home Composting  Although Vegware is a plastic free alternative we are not able to accept it in the recycling bin. Consider using reusable items to reduce waste.

W

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Washing powder boxes Refuse Bin  
Wallpaper Refuse Bin  
Water filter cartridges (e.g. Brita) Refuse Bin Some shops accept returned Brita filters to be recycled.
Wax crayons Refuse Bin  
Weed control fabric Refuse Bin  
Weeds Home Composting or Garden Waste Bin  
Wet wipes Refuse Bin  
White paper (e.g. printer paper and letters) Kerbside Paper Box  
Window frames (wooden or plastic) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Window glass Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Window panes Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Wire and cables Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Wood Household Waste Recycline Centre  
Wood shavings (untreated) Home Composting or Refuse Bin  
Woodchip wallpaper Refuse Bin  
Wrappers (e.g. from sweets, biscuits) Refuse Bin  
Wrapping - plastic (e.g. from around magazines) Refuse Bin  

Wrapping paper - with foil, glitter or plastic coating

Reuse or Refuse Bin

 

Wrapping paper   - plain brown or printed paper, no foil or metallic effected

Refuse Bin  

Y

Item Where shall I dispose of? Useful tips
Yellow Pages Kerbside Paper Box  
Yogurt pots Recycling Bin Firm lids can be recycled. Plastic film goes in the refuse bin.
Yogurt pot lids Refuse Bin