A-Z of waste and recyclable items

Our A-Z of waste and recyclable items can be used to find out which items you can put in your bins and which can be taken to your local recycling centre (tip).

It also tells you which container at the recycling centre you need to use for items and if there are any restrictions on the amount of waste you can take.

A

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Aerosol cans Grey Scrap metal Only empty domestic aerosols can be put in the grey bin.
Asbestos None Asbestos (Worsbrough only) Asbestos is accepted in small amounts by appointment only, please contact customer service to discuss.
Ash Grey Hardcore and rubble  Small amounts of clean ash from your fireplace can be put in the bin. If the ash is from a bonfire please remove any metal and large items first. You can also add coal ash to your compost.

If you have a large amount contact us on (01226) 773555.

B

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Bathroom suites None Hardcore and rubble You can take a bathroom suite to the recycling centre. The toilet and sink are classed as rubble which is a restricted material. Rubble is limited to one visit of five 25kg bags within a six month period. A sink basin, toilet and sink plinth count as three bags.

If you're carrying out large scale home renovations you should use a skip to dispose of rubbish.
Batteries (household) None Household batteries We accept used batteries from toys, household appliances, mobile phones and cordless tools. Many local retailers also accept used batteries and electrical products.  Please make sure that you remove batteries from toys, games controllers, tv remotes etc before disposing of them.  
Batteries (car) None Auto batteries (Worsbrough only) We accept old car batteries but no other car parts. 
Bedding and blankets Grey Mixed textiles and clothes Blankets, bed sheets, pillow cases and quilt covers in good condition can be donated to charity shops for re-use.
Bicycles None Re-use or metal Your nearest cycle hub will accept bikes for up-cycling. Find out more at Barnsley Active Travel Hub.
Books None Media Charity shops will accept books that are in good condition. 
Bricks and building waste None Soil and rubble You can take up to five 25kg bags of domestic waste every six months to the recycling centre. If you have more than five bags you'll need a skip to dispose of this.

C

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Cans (food and drink) Brown Metal Cans should be clean and empty before being put in the bin.
Car parts None None This is industrial waste so we can't accept it at our recycling centres. Find out which car parts can be recycled by contacting your local car dealers, garages or scrap yards.
Cardboard - including corrugated Blue Cardboard Tear up large cardboard boxes into small pieces before putting in the bin.
Cards Blue Paper No metal, foil or glitter on cards.
Carpets and rugs None General household waste  
Carrier bags None General household waste Re-use carrier bags where possible or replace bags for life at supermarkets.
Cartons (food and drink) Grey Tetrapak bank  
Catalogues and brochures Blue Paper bank No metal, foil or glitter. 
CDs None Media Charity shops may accept these donations. 
Central heating boilers None None Boilers are not household waste. If a new boiler is installed by a trades person it's their legal responsibility to dispose of your old boiler through a private disposal company.
Chemicals Grey None Empty bleach bottles can be recycled. Industrial chemicals are hazardous waste so we can't accept those at the our recycling centres. Contact a specialist company to dispose of these or alternatively follow the disposal instructions on the bottle.
Chipboard None Wood and chipboard  
Clinical waste Grey General household waste Incontinence pads, catheter bags, stoma bags, syringes with needles removed, tubing and peg stomach feeding equipment that is bagged up can be placed in general rubbish.
Clothing Grey Textiles and shoes Items in good condition can be taken to a local charity shop or put in local clothing banks.
Coat hangers Grey General and household waste Charity shops may accept these as donations.
Coffee pods Grey General and household waste Tassimo coffee company offer packaging recycling. Find out more about the Tassimo recycling programme.
Computer equipment None Small electrical appliance and TV container Computers in good condition can be reused - ask a site attendant. Make sure all personal information is removed from your device.
Crisp packets Grey General and household waste Find out about the Walkers recycling scheme. 
Crockery None Hardcore and rubble Charity shops may accept items in good condition as donations.

D

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at recycling centre Details
Dead animals None None Consult your vet, local pet burial or cremation service for more information.
Doors uPVC None Non-recyclable Restriction of one item of uPVC only.
DVDs Grey Media Charity shops accept these as donations. 

E

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Electrical -small items None Small electrical items or appliances Items in good condition can be placed in the re-use scheme by asking an attendant. Otherwise, place these in the small appliance container.
Envelopes - brown Blue Paper Please remove and place the plastic panels from envelopes in the grey bin.
Envelopes - padded with plastic Grey General household waste  
Envelopes - white Paper Paper Please remove and place the plastic panels from envelopes in the grey bin.

F

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Fence posts and panels None Wood and chipboard If the fencing panels have been treated with creosote then you need to find a licensed waste disposal company who can deal with this kind of waste. Try looking in your local trade directory or online.

If you're carrying out major garden landscaping you'll need a skip. 
Fire extinguishers None None Contact the supplier whose name is listed on the side of the extinguisher to arrange the disposal. 
Fireworks Grey None  Fireworks should be left under water overnight and bagged up before being placed in your grey bin.
Flowers Green Green garden waste  
Foil sheets - kitchen foil Grey General household  Clean aluminium foil can go in your brown bin. If it's soiled then place it in the grey bin.
Foil trays Brown and grey Metal Clean aluminium trays can go in your brown bin. If it's soiled then place them in the grey bin.
Food tins Brown  Metal  
Food waste Grey General household waste  
Freezer or fridges None Fridges and freezers Make sure food items have been removed from inside the fridge and freezer. Commercial fridges or freezers and ammonia fridges are not accepted at our recycling centres. Fridges or freezers without a motor will require proof of your address to complete a waste disclaimer.

You can also ask us to collect large unwanted items.
Furniture None Wood and chipboard, hard plastic, scrap metal and upholstered seating

Wooden furniture with no upholstery can go into the wood container. Plastic furniture can go into the hard plastic container and metal furniture can be put into the scrap metal container.

Sofas, chairs and other upholstered seating can go in the upholstered seating container.

You can also ask us to collect large unwanted items.

G

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Garden waste Green Green garden waste  
Gas canisters, bottles and cylinders None Gas canisters (Worsbrough only) Domestic gas canisters that can't be returned to the manufacturer can be disposed of. Gas bottles belong to the individual gas supplier marked on the side of the bottle and should be returned to the local retailer or stockist who supplied them.
Glass window None Rubble and hardcore Restriction of one window.
Glass bottles and jars - any colour Brown Glass  Bottles can be collected in your brown bin. You can also use local recycling banks.
Grass cuttings Green Green garden waste  
 Greenhouse None  Hardcore and rubble, scrap metal, wood and timber Panes of glass can go into the rubble container.

H

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Hedge cuttings Green Green garden waste  

I

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Ice cream tubs Brown Hard plastic  
Ink cartridges None Ink cartridge There are several ink cartridge recycling schemes available in local stores or by posting them off.
Insulation Grey General household waste If you're undergoing major loft insulation replacement you'll need a skip to dispose of waste. If you're having loft insulation replaced by a trades person it's their legal responsibility to dispose of the waste.
Ironing boards None Scrap metal If your ironing board has a resting plate which may contain asbestos you'll need to contact us for advice on (01226) 773555.

J

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Jiffy bags and padded envelopes Grey General household waste  
Junk mail Blue Paper To reduce junk mail you can sign up to the Mail Preference Service.

K

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Kitchen foil Grey General household Clean aluminium foil can go in your brown bin. If it's soiled then place it in the grey bin.
Kitchen units None Wood and timber If you're carrying out your own major kitchen replacement work you'll need a skip to dispose of the waste.
Knives None Scrap metal Larger or combat knives should be treated as weapons and handed in at a police station.

L

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Lawn mowers None Metal skip and small appliances Lawn mowers should be placed in the scrap metal skip, electric lawn mowers should be placed in the small appliances skip. Fuel tanks need to be empty. Lawn mowers in good condition can be placed in the re-use scheme by asking onsite staff. 
Leaves Green Green garden waste  
Lids Grey Scrap metal Metal lids can be put in the scrap metal container.
Light bulbs None Florescent tubes and bulbs Domestic lights only.

M

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Magazines Blue Paper  
Margarine tubs Brown Hard plastic skip  
Mattresses None General household waste You can ask us to collect large unwanted items.
Medicine bottles Brown Glass banks, plastic bottles You can put empty medicine bottles into your brown bin. Medicine is not accepted and needs to be returned to your chemist or pharmacy. 
Metal items (not food or drink packaging) None Metal  
Milk bottles (plastic) Brown General household  
Mobile phones None Small electrical items Phones in good condition can be placed in the re-use scheme by asking a site attendant. Please remove all personal information from your mobile phone.

N

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Nappies Grey General household waste  
Needles and syringes None None Contact your local doctor for advice on the best disposal methods. 
Newspapers Blue Paper  

O

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Oil - cooking  None Cooking oil  
Oil - engine None Engine oil  

P

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Paint tins Grey General household waste Usable tins of paint may be accepted by local community organisations or charities. Paint tins should be dried. Wet tins should be left to dry as they can't be recycled.
Paper - no metal cards or wrapping paper Blue Paper Plain greeting cards, junk mail, envelopes, shredded paper, office paper, catalogues, brochures, phone directories, newspapers and magazines can be recycled.
Pet litter tray waste Grey General household waste Wood granule, pellets and paper pellets can be composted at your own home.
Petrol None None Please contact your local garage for details on disposal. 
Plant pots None Hard plastic, hardcore and rubble

Plant pots in good condition may be accepted by local gardening groups or you could advertise them online.
Plants Green  Green garden waste  
Plasterboard (clean) None Plasterboard skip (Worsbrough only) Up to five 25kg bags of clean plasterboard every six months is accepted at the recycling centre. If you have more than five bags you'll need a skip. Plasterboard must be clean and free from any bonded material.
Plastic bottles Brown  Soft plastics bank We're not currently accepting these at our recycling centres; please put these in your brown bin.
Plastic film  Grey General household waste   
Plastic food pots (eg yoghurt pots) Brown Soft plastics bank We're not currently accepting these at our recycling centres; please put these in your brown bin.
Plastic food trays (eg meat trays, fruit punnets) Brown Soft plastics bank We're not currently accepting these at our recycling centres; please put these in your brown bin.
Plastic food tubs (eg margarine tubs) Brown Soft plastics bank We're not currently accepting these at our recycling centres; please put these in your brown bin.
Plastic items (other than bottles and food pots, trays and tubs) Grey General household waste Check with onsite staff to see if the item can be recycled.
Plastic toys None Hard plastic  
Polystyrene packaging Grey General household waste  
Pyrex Grey General household waste Pyrex in good condition can be taken to a charity shop.

R

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Radiators  None Scrap metal  If you're replacing multiple radiators you'll need to hire a skip. If you're having your radiators replaced by a trades person it's their legal responsibility to dispose of the radiators. 
Rubble None  Soil and rubble Up to five 25kg bags of rubble every six months is accepted. If you have more than five bags you'll need to hire a skip.

S

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Sheds None Wood and chipboard Small sheds can be placed into the wood skip, unless the wood has been treated with creosote and then a licensed waste disposal company will need to dispose of this. You can also ask us to collect large unwanted items.

If you're having a shed replaced by a trades person it's their legal responsibility to dispose of the old shed.
Shoes None Textiles and shoes Shoes in good condition can be donated to charity. You can also use local recycling banks.
Soil None Hardcore and rubble Up to five 25kg bags of soil every six months is accepted at our recycling centres. For more than five bags you'll need to hire a skip.

T

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Telephone directory Blue Paper  
Tablets/iPads None Small electrical items Devices in good condition can be placed in the re-use scheme by asking a site attendant. All personal information should be removed from your device. 
Televisions None Televisions Devices in good condition can be placed in the re-use scheme by asking a site attendant.
Textiles None Textiles and shoes Items in condition can be donated to charity. You can also use local recycling banks.
Tiles None Hardcore and rubble Up to five 25kg bags every six months are accepted. For more than five bags you'll need to hire a skip.
Tree cuttings - bark, small branches and twigs Green Green garden waste  
Tyres None None Contact local tyre dealers to ask about disposal.

V

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Videos None Media Charity shops may accept these as donations.

W

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Washing machines None White goods section  If your washing machine is in working condition it could be sold online or in the newspaper. You can also ask us to collect large unwanted items.
Weeds Green Green garden waste  Specialist commercial services may help you dispose of plants with pesticides. Cannabis plants will not be accepted and anyone trying to deposit these will be reported to the police.
Window frames uPVC None Non-recyclable Restriction of one item of uPVC only.
Window glass None Hardcore and rubble Restriction of one window only. If you're having major construction work you'll need to hire a skip to dispose of waste.
Wood shavings (clean) Grey Wood and chipboard  
Wooden items Grey Wood and chipboard  
Wrapping paper - without metal, foil or glitter Blue Paper  
Wrapping paper - with metal, foil or glitter Grey General household waste  

Y

Item Which bin it goes in Container to use at the recycling centre Details
Yogurt pots Brown Soft plastics bank We're not currently accepting these at our recycling centres; please put these in your brown bin.