What goes in my bins

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.

Check the service leaflet for what goes in each of your bins and tips to maximise space and recycle more

If you are unsure on a where to put any specific items not listed below please visit the Recycle Now website. 

A

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Aerosol cans	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Only empty aerosol cans can be recycled.
Asbestos	For advice on asbestos please contact WasteAware
Aluminium foil	Black-lidded mixed 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)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin

 

B

 

Item	Where Shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Baby/make-up wipes	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Why not consider switching to a reusable option?
Bags (plastic)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Reuse carrier bags on your next shopping trip, once they are no longer usable, put them in your black-lidded bin.
Balloons (latex)	Purple-lidded non-recycling 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	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Biros	Purple-lidded non-recycling 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	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	These also make handy storage containers.
Black sacks	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Any plastic bag should be empty and loose when including for recycling.
Blister packs (for pills)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Some stores offer a take back service, Boots for example. Please check with your local store before making a trip.
Bones (meat or fish)	Food waste caddy
Books (good quality)	Charity Shops	Many locations now have book areas where you can donate, or buy books for a charitable donation.
Books (beyond reuse)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin - pages only (remove cover and spine)
Bottles, glass - any colour (e.g. wine, beer, spirits)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Lids can be recycled. Labels can be left on, but any leftover 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	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Lids can be recycled including spray bottle lids (trigger and pump)
Branches from trees (smaller than 3cm in diameter)	Garden waste bin
Bread	Food caddy	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	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Some shops accept returned Brita filters to be recycled. We would encourage you to find a recycling outlet if you have this sort of water filter system.
Bricks and rubble (non-trade only)	Household Waste Recycling Centre
Brochures	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Brown paper and envelopes	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Bubble wrap	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	You might start to notice that bubble wrap is being replaced by other easy to recycle materials. Why not keep it and reuse it.
Buckets, old washing up bowls/tubs	Household Waste Recycling Centre	Your recycling centre may have an area for hard plastics.
Builders waste (non-trade only)	Household Waste Recycling Centre
Butter tubs	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin

 

C

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Candles	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Un-used candles can be donated to a charity shop.
Cans	Black-lidded mixed 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)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin	Please flatten before recycling. Remove plastic inserts, polystyrene and tape from boxes.
Cardboard egg boxes	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Cardboard packets lined with metal (e.g. gravy granules, cocoa powder, new Pringles tubes (no metal bottom)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Packaging is changing, Pringles tubes for example have been changed to make them more recyclable.
Cardboard sandwich boxes (including the plastic window, if clean from residue)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin	Left-over food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling.
Cardboard sleeves (e.g. ready meal sleeves)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Cardboard tubes (e.g. from inside toilet rolls and kitchen roll)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper 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	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Reuse carrier bags on your next shopping trip, once they are no longer usable, put them in your black-lidded bin.
Cartons (food and drink)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Card with food residue should be placed in the purple-lidded non-recycling bin.
Cat food pouches (with silver lining)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	We strongly recommend rinsing these pouches before placing them in your bin to avoid smells.
Cat litter	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Catalogues	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
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	Purple-lidded non-recycling 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	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Ceramics	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Cereal Boxes	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin	Please flatten where possible, to take up less space.
Cereal packets - inner liners (plastic)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Chewing gum	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Chocolate and biscuit tubs and trays	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Christmas cards	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Upcycle or reuse as gift tags.
Christmas trees (real)	Household Waste Recycling Centre	Real trees can be presented next to your brown-lidded garden waste bin if you are a subscriber. Please ensure large trees are cut up into smaller pieces.
Christmas trees (artificial)	Household Waste Recycling Centre	Why not consider donating them?
Cigarette ends	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Cleaner and detergent bottles (e.g. bathroom cleaners, washing up liquid, bleach)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Check they are empty first as left-over liquid can make other recyclables dirty. Lids and labels can be left on.
Cling film	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Why not consider using a reusable container?
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. Hangers can also be returned back to the store they came from.
Coffee grounds	Food caddy
Coffee pods	Purple-lidded non-recycling 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. Nespresso also offer a recycling option for their pods.
Coloured paper (except brown)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Compostable packaging/bags	Homes composting or purple-lidded non-recycling bin	We cannot accept packaging marked as compostable in our garden waste collections; these do not compost down in the process.
Cooking oil	Household Waste Recycling Centre	Small amounts of cooking oil can be disposed of via your purple-lidded non-recycling bin but we suggest using something to absorb the oil.
Corks (real or plastic)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Corrugated cardboard	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Cotton buds	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Cotton reels	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Cotton wool/make up pads	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Crisp and sweet packets or wrappers	Black-lidded mixed recycling 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)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Cutlery		Reuse it. If it's in good condition, take it to a reuse drop off point. Or you can sell, donate, pass it on. Recycle it. If it's metal, recycle at recycling centres in the metals containers.

 

D

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Dairy	Food caddy	Not including milk.
Disposable cutlery	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Disposable cardboard 'paper' or plastic plates (without heavy food residue)	Paper plates - blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin  Plastic plates - Black-lidded mixed 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)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Disposable drinking cups (cardboard)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Disposable nappies	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Why not give Real Nappies a try? Visit Hertfordshire WasteAware for more information.
Disposable razor blades	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Dog waste	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Drinks bottles (e.g. juice, squash, milk)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Lids and labels can be left on. Save space by squashing bottles.
Drinks cans	Black-lidded mixed 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)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper 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	Purple-lidded non-recycling 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	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin

 

E

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Egg boxes (cardboard)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Egg boxes (plastic)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Egg boxes (polystyrene)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Why not use your purchasing power to avoid this type of packaging?
Egg shells	Food caddy
Electrical items	Household Waste Recycling Centre
Engine oil	Household Waste Recycling Centre
Envelopes including windows (brown)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Envelopes including windows (white)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin

 

F

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Film lids from the pots or trays	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Fish	Food caddy
Flower pots - plastic (small only)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Large pots are more rigid plastic and should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or placed in purple-lidded non-recycling bin.
Flowers	Home composting or garden waste bin
Foam food trays and food packaging	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	This type of single use plastic packaging is being phased out, use your purchasing power and refuse to buy from anyone using this type of container.
Foil	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Please rinse to remove food residue
Foil trays (e.g. take-away trays)	Black-lidded mixed 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)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Food and drink cartons (e.g. TetraPak©)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper 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)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper 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	Food caddy
Food tins	Black-lidded mixed 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	Food caddy
Fruit peelings	Food caddy
Fruit punnets	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Cardboard punnets should go in your blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin.
Frying pans	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Can be taken to your local recycling centre.

 

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	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	If they are in good condition - why not reuse them?
Glass bottles and jars (lids can be recycled)	Black-lidded mixed 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)	Purple-lidded non-recycling 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	Household Waste Recycling Centre
Glasses - drinking	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Grass cuttings	Home composting or garden waste bin
Greaseproof paper	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Greetings cards	Purple-lidded non-recycling 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 purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Hard covers (from catalogues and books)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper 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 purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Hedge cuttings	Home composting or garden waste bin
Holiday brochures	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Hoover bags and dust	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin

 

I

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Ice-cream tubs	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Incontinence wear	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin

 

J

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
J Cloths	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Jars (e.g. sauces, jam, baby food) - lids can be recycled	Black-lidded mixed 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	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	This type of packaging is being phased out.
Junk mail including	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin

 

K

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Kitchen roll tubes	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Kitchen towels	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Knives	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	These can be wrapped and disposed of in your rubbish bin. If it's metal, at recycling centres in the metals containers.

 

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.	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Latex gloves	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Leaves	Home composting or garden waste bin
Leftover food	Food caddy	Visit https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for recipe ideas on how to use up leftovers.
Lids (metal or plastic)	Black-lidded mixed 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	Some shops that sell these bulbs offer a take back service e.g. B&Q, please do check locally before you make a trip.
Light bulbs (energy saving)	Household Waste Recycling Centre
Light bulbs (halogen)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Light bulbs (LED)	Household Waste Recycling Centre
Light bulbs (old style)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin

 

M

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Magazines	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin	Remove any plastic wrapping or free gifts from newspapers, magazines and flyers. These should go in your black-lidded mixed recycling bin.
MDF	Household Waste Recycling Centre
Margarine tubs	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Meat - raw or cooked	Food caddy
Medicines	Return to pharmacy
Medicine pill packets (e.g. blister packs)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Metal items such as kettles, irons, pipes, white goods	Household Waste Recycling Centre
Metal lids and tops	Black-lidded mixed 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)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Microwave meal trays (including black plastic)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Milk bottles (lids can be recycled)	Black-lidded mixed 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	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Some supermarkets sell compostable napkins however these are for home composting and cannot go in your garden waste bin.
Nappies	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Why not give Real Nappies a try? Visit Hertfordshire WasteAware for more information.
Netting - plastic (e.g. orange nets)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Newspapers	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin	Remove any plastic wrapping and free gifts from newspapers, magazines and flyers. These should go in your black-lidded mixed recycling bin.

 

O

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Office paper	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Other glass bottles (e.g. perfume, aftershave, face/body cream)	Black-lidded mixed 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.
Other metals	Household Waste Recycling Centre

P

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Padded envelopes (e.g. Jiffy bags)	Purple-lidded non-recycling 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)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Paper (office, mail, newspaper, magazines, white envelopes)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Paper towels and tissues	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Parchment/baking paper	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Peelings (fruit and vegetables)	Food caddy
Pencils	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Pet bedding for vegetarian pets (hay and straw)	Home composting or purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Pet litter (carnivorous)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Pet faeces (bagged)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Pet food pouches	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	We strongly recommend rinsing these pouches to avoid smells.
Phone directories	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Photo negatives	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Photographic paper	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Pill (blister) packs	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Pillows and duvets	Household Waste Recycling Centre
Plant pots - plastic (small only)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Large pots are more rigid and should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or placed in your purple-lidded non-recycling 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	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Reuse carrier bags on your next shopping trip, once they are no longer usable, put them in your black-lidded mixed recycling bin.
Plastic bottles (all drink, detergent, shampoo bottles)	Black-lidded mixed 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)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Plastic furniture	Donate to charity shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre
Plastic food tubs, pots and trays - including black plastic	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Firm lids can be recycled. Plastic film goes in the refuse bin.
Plastic sweet containers	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Plastic sweet wrappers	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Plastic wrapping (includes food wrappers)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Plastic toys	Donate to charity shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre
Plastic sweet tubs	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Plate glass	Household Waste Recycling Centre
Polystyrene (e.g. cups and packaging material)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Refuse these items when possible.
Post-it notes	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Potato sacks (think brown paper)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin (please cut off the string top and place in the purple-lidded non-recycling bin)
Pots (e.g. yogurt, soup)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Lids can be recycled.
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 purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Prunings	Home composting or garden waste bin
Pyrex	Purple-lidded non-recycling 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	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Reading glasses	Donate to charity shop
Resealable plastic packets (e.g. containing cheese, sandwich bags)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Rigid plastics (e.g. toys and hangers)	Donate to charity shop if in good condition or put in your purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Ring binders	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Rubber gloves	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin

 

S

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Sanitary products (wrapped)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Why not consider reusable items? Check out Herts Sustainable Periods.
Sanitary towels	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Saucepans	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Seed trays - no larger than 30cm	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin (larger seed trays are rigid plastic and should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre)
Sellotape	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Shellfish	Food caddy
Shiny cardboard (that will tear and has no plastic coating)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Shiny cardboard (that has plastic coating)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Shoes	Donate to charity shop
Shower curtain	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Shredded paper	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin	Put shredded paper into a paper bag or envelope to stop it blowing away.
Shrink wrap	Black-lidded mixed recycling 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	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Sticky labels and backing paper	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Straw	Home composting or purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Styrofoam	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Syringes (sharps)	Clinical waste

 

T

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Tablet packets (plastic and foil)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Tape	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Tea bags	Food caddy
Telephone directories	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
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	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper 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)	Black-lidded mixed 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	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Scrunch any foil into a ball roughly the size of a tennis ball.
Tissues	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Toiletries and other bathroom bottles (e.g. shampoo, shower gel)	Black-lidded mixed 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	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Toner cartridges	Supermarket and school recycling points, Household Waste Recycling Centre or purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Toothpaste tubes	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Toys (plastic or soft)	If in a good condition - a charity shop, if not then Household Waste Recycling Centre or purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Toys (cardboard packaging)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin (remove any plastic film or polystyrene)
Trays/punnets (e.g. meat trays, takeaway trays, fruit/veg trays, including black plastic)	Black-lidded mixed 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)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Lids can be recycled.
Tupperware	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Turf/soil/rubble	Household Waste Recycling Centre

 

U

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Uncooked food	Food caddy

 

V

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Vapes/electronic cigarettes	These contain built-in batteries and cannot be disposed of in household waste or household recycling, or public bins. Vape retailers should offer a recycling service on a like-for-like basis when you buy a replacement vape. Alternatively, please take the vapes to the electrical section of your local Recycling Centre.	Please be aware: vapes present a very real fire hazard in the household waste or public bins.  When they are crushed as part of waste processing, they can catch fire or explode.
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	Food caddy
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	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Wallpaper	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Water filter cartridges (e.g. Brita)	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin	Some shops accept returned Brita filters to be recycled.
Wax crayons	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Weed control fabric	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Weeds	Home composting or garden waste bin
Wet wipes	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
White paper (e.g. printer paper and letters)	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
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 purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Woodchip wallpaper	Purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Wrappers (e.g. from sweets, biscuits)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Wrapping - plastic (e.g. from around magazines)	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin
Wrapping paper - with foil, glitter or plastic coating	Reuse or purple-lidded non-recycling bin
Wrapping paper   - plain brown or printed paper, no foil or metallic effected	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin

 

Y

 

Item	Where shall I dispose of?	Useful tips
Yellow Pages	Blue-lidded cardboard and paper bin
Yogurt pots	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin	Lids can be recycled.
Yogurt pot lids	Black-lidded mixed recycling bin