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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Item | Where does it go? | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Ice cream tubs | Grey Mixed Recycling Bin | |
| Incontinence wear | Purple Rubbish Bin |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Item | Where does it go? | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Uncooked food | Kitchen Caddy or straight into your Brown Outdoor Food Caddy |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |