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What goes in each bin

This page is for the house collection service. If you live in a flat or share communal bins, check the communal waste collection service.

Service change - August 2025

This A to Z reflects the council's current waste collection arrangements, which run until 3 August 2025. It will be updated for the new bin collection service when it starts on 4 August 2025.

Your bins

Bin What goes in
Grey bin Mixed recycling - glass, cans, bottles, cardboard, brown paper, cartons
No carrier bags, plastic film or hard plastic (like toys or garden furniture)
Purple bin Non-recyclable rubbish (like nappies) – this goes to landfill
Blue box Paper - magazines, newspapers, white printing paper (not brown paper)
Brown caddy Food waste (weekly collection)
Brown bin Garden waste (paid collection service - subscribe here)

Bins which contain incorrect items will not be collected.

A-Z of recycling

This is an A-Z guide of what you can place in each of your bins and your blue box. To recycle anything else, search for recycling facilities near you.

A

Item Where does it go? Tips
Aerosol cans Grey mixed recycling bin Only empty aerosol cans can be recycled
Asbestos For advice on asbestos please contact WasteAware
Aluminium foil Grey 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 Rubbish Bin

B

Item Where does it go? Tips
Baby / make-up wipes Purple Rubbish Bin
Bags (plastic) Purple Rubbish Bin Reuse carrier bags on your next shopping trip. Alternatively, some supermarkets have a collection scheme for plastic bags
Bark Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)
Batteries Recycling centres or supermarkets

Most supermarkets offer a battery bin at the store entrance for used, loose batteries, e.g. AA, D and AAA batteries, button batteries, 9v batteries for smoke alarms, etc. They can also be recycled at your local recycling centre.

Products with built-in (often rechargeable) batteries can be recycled in their product housing at your local recycling centre e.g. electric toothbrushes, broken laptops, power tools, vapes/electrical cigarettes etc.

We do not include batteries in our kerbside waste and recycling service.
Never place batteries in your household waste or household recycling. Our waste disposal cannot process them, and the crushing process in our waste trucks and at our depots risks toxic contamination and fire (see our recycling batteries page for more details).

Most high street electrical retailers offer a like-for-like recycling service to recycle your old product when you buy a similar electrical product from them.

Some vape retailers offer a one-for-one recycling service when you buy a replacement vape from them.

Garages offer to recycle your old car and motorbike batteries when they replace them. If you are replacing your own, you can deposit these at the electrical section of your local Recycling Centre. Please take great care, due to the lead and battery acid contained in these. Ideally ask a professional mechanic to handle them.
Biodegradable packaging Purple Rubbish Bin
Biros Purple Rubbish Bin Terracycle offer a recycling service for your used pens. Visit the website for more information and to find your closest drop-off point
Biscuit/chocolate tins (including lids) Grey mixed recycling bin  
Black sacks Purple Rubbish Bin
Blister packs (for pills) Purple Rubbish Bin Some larger high street chemists provide bins to collect empty blister packs for recycling
Bones (meat or fish) Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy
Books (good quality) Charity Shops
Books (beyond reuse) Blue Paper Box - pages only (remove cover and spine)
Bottles, glass – any colour (e.g. wine, beer, spirits) Grey mixed 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 Grey mixed recycling bin Lids can be recycled. Buy re-usable water bottles and use tap water to save on waste and money.
Branches from trees (smaller than 3cm in diameter) Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)
Bread Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor 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 Rubbish Bin Some shops accept returned Brita filters to be recycled.
Bricks and rubble – non-trade only Household Waste Recycling Centre
Brochures Blue Paper Box
Brown paper and envelopes Grey mixed recycling bin
Bubble wrap Purple Rubbish Bin Reuse bubble wrap when food shopping to protect delicate items. It will also help to keep items cooler for longer!
Buckets, old washing up bowls / tubs Household Waste Recycling Centre or Purple Rubbish Bin
Builders waste – non-trade only Household Waste Recycling Centre
Butter tubs Grey mixed recycling bin

C

Item Where does it go? Tips
Candles Purple Rubbish Bin
Cans Grey 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.
Car and motorbike batteries Do not recycle in your household waste. Garages that remove them usually offer to recycle them. Be careful handling these due to lead and battery acid that they contain. These can be deposited in the electricals section of your Recycling Centre.
Cardboard boxes (e.g cereal boxes, delivery boxes) Grey mixed recycling bin Please flatten before recycling. Remove plastic inserts, polystyrene and tape from boxes.
Cardboard egg boxes Grey mixed recycling bin
Cardboard packets lined with metal e.g. gravy granules, cocoa powder, Pringles tubes Purple Rubbish 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 food residue Grey mixed recycling bin Left-over food can make other recyclables dirty. Please empty your containers before recycling.
Cardboard sleeves e.g. ready meal sleeves Grey mixed recycling bin
Cardboard tubes (e.g. from inside toilet rolls and kitchen roll) Grey mixed 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 Purple Rubbish Bin Reuse carrier bags on your next shopping trip. Alternatively, some supermarkets have a collection scheme for plastic bags
Cartons (food and drink) Grey mixed recycling bin Card with food residue should be placed in the general rubbish bin
Cat food pouches (with silver lining) Purple Rubbish 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.
Cat litter Purple Rubbish Bin
Catalogues Blue Paper Box
Cassette tapes (plus cases) Remove all tape first and place in Purple Bin - the plastic cassette case can then be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre
CDs Purple Rubbish 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 Purple Rubbish Bin
Ceramics Purple Rubbish Bin
Cereal boxes Grey mixed recycling bin Please flatten where possible, to take up less space.
Cereal packets - inner liners (plastic) Purple Rubbish Bin
Chewing gum Purple Rubbish Bin
Chocolate and biscuit tubs and trays Grey mixed recycling bin
Christmas cards Purple Rubbish Bin Upcycle or reuse as gift tags.
Christmas trees - real Brown wheelie bin (chargeable service - seasonal collection after Christmas only) or a local garden centre for recycling
Christmas trees - artificial Household Waste Recycling Centre
Cigarette ends Purple Rubbish Bin
Cleaner and detergent bottles (e.g. bathroom cleaners, washing up liquid, bleach) Grey mixed recycling bin Check they are empty first as leftover liquid can make other recyclables dirty. Lids and labels can be left on.
Cling film Purple Rubbish Bin
Clothes, textiles and shoes Please take textiles to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or take them to a local charity shop if they are in a good condition. 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
Disposable coffee cups Many coffee shop takeaway cups cannot be recycled, and need to go into household waste. Please check the label on the coffee cup, or ask the coffee shop staff. Consider buying a re-usable coffee cup. Many coffee shops offer incentives to use these, including discounts and extra loyalty points.
Coffee grounds Kitchen Caddy or directly into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy
Coffee pods Purple Rubbish 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) Blue Paper Box
Compostable packaging / bags Home Composting or Purple Rubbish Bin Please only use liners with the seedling logo in your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy.
Cooking oil Household Waste Recycling Centre
Corks (real or plastic) Purple Rubbish Bin
Corrugated Cardboard Grey mixed recycling bin
Costa cups Purple Rubbish Bin Return your cup to Costa to have it recycled.
Costa lids Purple Rubbish Bin
Cotton buds Purple Rubbish Bin
Cotton reels Purple Rubbish Bin
Cotton wool/make up pads Purple Rubbish Bin
Crisp and sweet packets or wrappers Purple Rubbish 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
Crockery (broken) Purple Rubbish Bin
Cutlery Household Waste Recycling Centre  Reuse it: if it's in good condition, take it to a reuse drop off point. Or you can sell, donate or pass it on.
Recycle it at recycling centres if it's metal, in the metals containers.

D

Item Where does it go? Tips
Dairy Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  
Disposable cutlery Purple Rubbish Bin  
Disposable cardboard 'paper' or plastic plates (without heavy food residue) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin If you are hosting a party, why not look into local reusable party kits available to hire? These kits are cheaper and more environmentally friendly than buying disposable equipment!
Disposable drinking cups (plastic) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Disposable drinking cups (cardboard or polystyrene) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Disposable nappies Purple Rubbish Bin Why not give Real Nappies a try? Visit Hertfordshire WasteAware for more information
Disposable razor blades Purple Rubbish Bin  
Dog waste Purple Rubbish Bin  
Drinks bottles (e.g. juice, squash, milk) Grey Mixed 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 Grey 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) Grey Mixed 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 Purple Rubbish 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
Duvets & pillows Household Waste Recycling Centre  
DVD cases Purple Rubbish Bin  

E

Item Where does it go? Tips
Egg boxes (cardboard) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Egg boxes (plastic) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Egg boxes (polystyrene) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Egg shells Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  
Electrical items Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Engine Oil Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Envelopes including windows (brown) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Register with the mailing preference service to reduce your junk mail.
Envelopes including windows (white) Blue Paper Box Register with the mailing preference service to reduce your junk mail.

F

Item Where does it go? Tips
Film lids from the pots or trays Purple Rubbish Bin  
Financial Times Blue Paper Box  
Fish Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  
Flower pots - plastic (small only) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Large pots are more rigid plastic and should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or placed in Purple Bin.
Flowers Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Foam food trays and food packaging Purple Rubbish Bin  
Foil Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Please rinse to remove food residue.
Foil Trays (e.g. take-away trays) Grey 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 Purple Rubbish 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© Grey Mixed 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) Grey Mixed 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 Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  
Food tins Grey 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 Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  
Fruit peelings Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  
Fruit punnets Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Frying pans Purple Rubbish Bin  

G

Item Where does it go? 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 Rubbish Bin  
Glass bottles and jars (lids can be recycled) Grey 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.
Glass cookware e.g. Pyrex dishes; drinking glasses; vases; ceramics Purple Rubbish 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 - window panes / sheet Household Waste Recycling Centre or Purple Rubbish Bin  
Glasses - drinking Purple Rubbish Bin  
Grass cuttings Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Greaseproof paper Purple Rubbish Bin  
Greetings cards Purple Rubbish Bin  

H

Item Where does it go? Tips
Hair Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Hard covers (from catalogues and books) Grey Mixed 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 Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Hedge cuttings Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Holiday brochures Blue Paper Box  
Hoover bags and dust Purple Rubbish Bin  

I

Item Where does it go? Tips
Ice cream tubs Grey Mixed Recycling Bin
Incontinence wear Purple Rubbish Bin  

J

Item Where does it go? Tips
J Cloths Purple Rubbish Bin  
Jars (e.g. sauces, jam, baby food) – lids can be recycled Grey 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 Rubbish Bin  
Junk mail including leaflets and flyers Blue Paper Box  

K

Item Where does it go? Tips
Kitchen roll tubes Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Kitchen towels Purple Rubbish Bin  
Knives Purple Rubbish Bin or HWRC. These can we wrapped and disposed of in your rubbish bin. if it's metal, at recycling centres in the metals containers

L

Item Where does it go? Tips
Laminated plastic food/drink pouches e.g. baby food pouches, cat food pouches or coffee pouches Purple Rubbish Bin  
Latex gloves Purple Rubbish Bin  
Latex Balloons Purple Rubbish Bin  
Leaves Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Leftover food Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy Visit Love Food Hate Waste for recipe ideas on how to use up leftovers.
Lids (metal or plastic) Grey 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  
Light bulbs (energy saving) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Light bulbs (halogen) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Light bulbs (LED) Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Light bulbs (old style) Purple Rubbish Bin  

M

Item Where does it go? Tips
Magazines Blue Paper Box Remove any plastic wrapping and free gifts from newspapers, magazines and flyers. These should go in your purple bin.
MDF Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Margarine tubs Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Meat – raw or cooked Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  
Medicines Return to Pharmacy  
Medicine pill packets e.g. blister packs Purple Rubbish Bin Some branches of Superdrug can accept these. Check with your local store for more information.
Metal items such as kettles, irons, pipes, white goods. Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Metal lids and tops Grey 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) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Microwave meal trays (including black plastic) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Please remove plastic film and place in the general rubbish bin.
Milk bottles (lids can be recycled) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Mirrors Donate to Charity Shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Motor oil containers Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Moss Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  

N

Item Where does it go? Tips
Napkins / serviettes Purple Rubbish Bin Some napkins can be home composted.
Nappies Purple Rubbish Bin Why not give Real Nappies a try? Visit Hertfordshire WasteAware for more information
Netting (plastic) e.g. orange nets Purple Rubbish Bin  
Newspapers Blue Paper Box Remove any plastic wrapping and free gifts from newspapers, magazines and flyers. These should go in your purple bin.

O

Item Where does it go? Tips
Office paper Blue Paper Box  
Other glass bottles (e.g perfume, aftershave, face/body cream) Grey 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  
Other non-paper wrappings Purple Rubbish Bin  

P

Item Where does it go? Tips
Padded enveloped e.g. Jiffy bags Purple Rubbish 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 Paper Box  
Paper (office, mail, newspaper, magazines, white envelopes) Blue Paper Box  
Paper towels and tissues Purple Rubbish Bin  
Parchment / baking paper Purple Rubbish Bin  
Peelings (fruit and vegetable) Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  
Pencils Purple Rubbish Bin  
Pet bedding for vegetarian pets (hay and straw) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Pet litter (carnivorous) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Pet faeces (bagged) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Pet food pouches Purple Rubbish 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 Blue Paper Box  
Photo negatives Purple Rubbish Bin  
Photographic paper Purple Rubbish Bin  
Pill (blister) packets Purple Rubbish Bin  
Pillows and duvets Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Plant pots - plastic (small only) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Large pots are more rigid plastic and should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or placed in Purple Bin.
Plants (no soil) Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Plastic bags e.g. carrier bags, compostable bags, bread, salad, fruit/veg bags, frozen food bags Purple Rubbish 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) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Check they are empty first as leftover 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 or look into reusing them.
Plastic films (from ready meals) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Plastic furniture Donate to Charity Shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Plastic food tubs, pots and trays – including black plastic Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Firm lids can be recycled. Plastic film goes in the general rubbish bin.
Plastic sweet containers Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Plastic sweet wrappers Purple Rubbish Bin  
Plastic wrapping (including food wrappers) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Plastic toys Donate to Charity Shop or Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Plastic sweet tubs Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Plate glass Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Polystyrene e.g. cups and packaging material Purple Rubbish Bin  
Post-it notes Blue Paper Box  
Potato sacks (thick brown paper) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin (please cut off the string top and place in the Purple Bin)  
Pots (e.g. yoghurt, soup) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Firm lids can be recycled. Plastic film goes in the general rubbish bin.
Printer cartridges Some supermarkets and schools and charities offer recycling collections (check with your local store) or they can be recycled at a Household Waste Recycling Centre or placed in your Purple Rubbish Bin.  
Prunings Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Pyrex Purple Rubbish 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.

Q

R

Item Where does it go? Tips
Razor blades Purple Rubbish Bin  
Reading glasses Donate to Charity Shop  
Resealable plastic packets (e.g. containing cheese, sandwich bags) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Rigid plastics e.g. toys and hangers Purple Rubbish Bin Donate to charity shop if in good condition
Ring binders Purple Rubbish Bin
Rubber gloves Purple Rubbish Bin  

S

Item Where does it go? Tips
Sanitary products (wrapped) Purple Rubbish Bin Have you considered reusable period products? See Herts Sustainable Periods
Sanitary towels Purple Rubbish Bin Have you considered reusable period products? See Herts Sustainable Periods
Saucepans Purple Rubbish Bin  
Seed trays - no larger than 30cm Grey Mixed Recycling Bin (larger seed trays are rigid plastic and should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre)  
Sellotape Purple Rubbish Bin  
Shellfish Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  
Shiny cardboard (that will tear and has no plastic coating) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Shiny cardboard (that has plastic coating) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Shoes, in pairs, any condition
Household Waste Recycling Centre
Charity shops and charity banks will also accept shoes
Shower curtain Purple Rubbish Bin  
Shredded paper Blue Paper Box Put shredded paper into a paper bag or envelope to stop it blowing away
Shrink wrap Purple Rubbish Bin  
Shrubs and flowers Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Soil / turf / rubble Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Spectacles Donate to Charity Shop  
Sponges and loofahs Purple Rubbish Bin  
Sticky labels and backing paper Purple Rubbish Bin  
Straw Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Styrofoam Purple Rubbish Bin  
Syringes (sharps) Clinical Waste  

T

Item Where does it go? Tips
Tablet packets (plastic and foil) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Tape Purple Rubbish Bin  
Tea bags Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  
Telephone directories Blue Paper Box  
Textiles, clothes and shoes Please take textiles to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or take them to a local charity shop if they are in a good condition 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.
TetraPak© /Cartons Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Tins (food, biscuit, chocolate) Grey 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 Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Scrunch any foil into a ball roughly the size of a tennis ball
Tissues Purple Rubbish Bin  
Toiletries and other bathroom bottles (e.g. shampoo, shower gel) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Check they are empty first as leftover 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 Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Toner cartridges Supermarket and school recycling points, Household Waste Recycling Centre or Purple Rubbish Bin  
Toothpaste tubes Purple Rubbish 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 Purple Rubbish Bin  
Toys (cardboard packaging) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin (remove any plastic / film or polystyrene)  
Trays / punnets (e.g. meat trays, take-away trays, fruit /veg trays, including black plastic) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Tree cuttings (branches no larger than 3cm in diameter) Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Treated wood e.g. fence panels, painted doors, furniture, wicker baskets Household Waste Recycling Centre   
Tubs (e.g. margarine, ice cream) Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Firm lids can be recycled. Plastic film goes in the general rubbish bin.
Tupperware Purple Rubbish Bin  
Turf / soil / rubble Household Waste Recycling Centre  

U

Item Where does it go? Tips
Uncooked food Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  

V

Item Where does it go? 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, you can take the vapes to the electrical section of your local recycling centre.
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 and explode - see our recycling batteries page.
Video cassettes Remove all tape first and place in Purple Bin - the plastic cassette case can then be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre  
Vegware Home composting or Purple Bin Although Vegware is a plastic free alternative we are not able to accept it for recycling in the grey bin. Consider using reusable items to reduce waste.
Vegetable peelings Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy  

W

Item Where does it go? Tips
Washing powder boxes Purple Rubbish Bin  
Wallpaper Purple Rubbish Bin  
Water filter cartridges (e.g. Brita) Purple Rubbish Bin Some shops accept returned Brita filters to be recycled.
Wax crayons Purple Rubbish Bin  
Weed control fabric Purple Rubbish Bin  
Weeds Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Wet wipes Purple Rubbish Bin  
White paper (e.g. printer paper and letters)  Blue 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 Recycling Centre  
Wood shavings (untreated) Home Composting or Brown Wheelie Bin (chargeable service)  
Woodchip wallpaper Purple Rubbish Bin  
Wrappers (e.g. from sweets, biscuits) Purple Rubbish Bin  
Wrapping (plastic) e.g. from around magazines Purple Rubbish Bin  
Wrapping paper - plain brown or printed paper, no foil or metallic effect Grey Mixed Recycling Bin  
Wrapping paper - with foil, glitter or plastic coating Reuse or Purple Rubbish Bin

X

Y

Item Where does it go? Tips
Yellow Pages Blue Paper Box  
Yoghurt pots Grey Mixed Recycling Bin Firm lids can be recycled. Plastic film goes in the general rubbish bin.
Yoghurt pot lids Purple Rubbish Bin  

Z

Further information