A-Z of household waste items

You can use our A-Z of household waste to find out what you can put in your bins or take to a household waste recycling centre. The A-Z tells you which bin you can put each item in, and the container to use at the recycling centre.

If the item is too big to put in your bin and you can't take it to a recycling centre, you could request a bulky waste collection to dispose of it instead.

If you're a business, see our A-Z of business waste items to find out what you can put in your commercial waste bins.

Item	Which bin it goes in	Container to use at recycling centre	Details
Aerosol cans	Brown bin	Scrap metal	Empty domestic aerosols such as deodorants, hairspray and air freshener style can be put in the brown bin.
Asbestos	None	Asbestos	Small amounts can be disposed of at Worsbrough recycling centre only. You need to make an asbestos booking before visiting. See our page about how to dispose of hazardous waste for more details.
Ash	Grey bin	Hardcore and rubble	Small amounts of clean, cooled fireplace ash can be put in the grey bin. For bonfire ash you need to remove any metal and large items first. Coal ash can also be composted at home.
Bathroom suites	None	Hardcore and rubble	The toilet and sink are classed as rubble and is limited to one boot load. For larger amounts you need to hire a skip.
Batteries (household)	None	Batteries	Recycling centres accept used batteries from most items including toys, household appliances, mobile phones and cordless tools. Please make sure you remove batteries from items before disposing of them. If the battery isn't removable, there are many local retailers that also accept used batteries and electrical products. Please make sure you remove batteries from toys, games controllers, TV remotes etc before disposing of them. To find out where please use the Recycling Locator website.
Batteries (car)	None	Car batteries	-
Bedding and blankets	Grey bin	Mixed textiles and clothes	Bedding and blankets in good condition can be donated to charity.
Bicycles	None	Metals	Bikes can be donated for reuse at the recycling centre or at Barnsley Bike Works for upcycling.
Books	None	Books (media)	Books in good condition can be donated to charity.
Bricks and building waste	None	Hardcore and rubble	Bricks and building waste is classed as rubble and is restricted to one boot load. For larger amounts you need to hire a skip.
Cans (food and drink)	Brown bin	Food tins and drink cans	Food and drink cans should be clean and empty before recycling.
Car parts	None	None	Car parts are industrial waste so we can't accept them at our recycling centres. Contact a car garage, dealer or scrap yard to find out about recycling these.
Cardboard - including corrugated	Blue bin	Cardboard	Clean cardboard can be recycled. Cardboard contaminated by food, etc must be disposed of in your grey bin.
Cards (greeting)	Blue bin	Paper	Plain cards can be recycled. Any metal, foil or glitter on the card should be torn off and placed in your grey bin.
Carpets and rugs	None	Non-recyclable waste	-
Carrier bags	None	Plastic bags and wrapping (soft plastics)	Carrier bags that are no longer reusable can be recycled at most supermarkets.
Cartons (food and drink)	Brown bin	Beverage cartons (Tetra Pak)	Food and drink cartons must be washed out before disposal.
Catalogues and brochures	Blue bin	Paper	Plain paper only can be put in your blue bin. Paper with metal, foil or glitter on should be torn off and placed in your grey bin.
CDs	None	Tapes and discs (media)	CDs can be donated to charity.
Central heating boilers	None	None	Boilers are not household waste. If a new boiler is installed by a tradesperson it's their legal responsibility to dispose of your old boiler through a private disposal company.
Chemicals	Grey bin	Household and garden chemicals	Household chemicals and pesticides can be disposed of at Worsbrough recycling centre only. You need to make a hazardous waste booking before visiting. See our page about how to dispose of hazardous waste for more details.
Chipboard	None	Wood and timber	Remove as much contaminant from the chipboard as is safely possible (ie metal) before disposal. We can't accept wood treated with creosote or other hazardous chemicals.
Clinical waste	Grey bin	Non-recyclable 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 your grey bin.
Clothing	Grey bin	Mixed textiles and clothes	Clothing in good condition can be donated to charity or put in a local recycling bank.
Coat hangers	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	Charity shops may accept coat hangers as donations.
Coffee pods	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	Most coffee pod manufacturers have a recycling scheme; visit their website for details.
Computer equipment	None	Small appliances TVs and monitors	Computers in good condition can be reused - ask an attendant at the recycling centre. All personal information must be removed from your device.
Crisp packets	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	Some crisp packets can be recycled at supermarkets. Check for the 'recycle at store' logo on the packet.
Crockery	None	Hardcore and rubble	Crockery in good condition can be donated to charity.
Dead animals	None	None	Consult a vet, pet cremation or pet burial service for how to dispose of a dead animal.
Doors (uPVC)	None	Non-recyclable waste	Restriction of one item of uPVC only. For multiple uPVC items you need to hire a skip.
DVDs	Grey bin	Tapes and discs (media)	DVDs can be donated to charity.
Electrical - small items	None	Small appliances	Small electrical items in good condition can be reused - ask an attendant at the recycling centre.
Envelopes	Blue bin	Paper	The plastic window should be removed from envelopes before recycling.
Envelopes - padded with plastic	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	For padded envelopes, split the paper from the plastic before recycling. Paper can be put in your blue bin and the plastic in your grey bin.
Fence posts and panels	None	Wood and timber	For fencing treated with creosote you need to use a licensed waste disposal company to deal with this kind of waste. If you're carrying out major garden landscaping you need to hire a skip.
Fire extinguishers	None	Gas bottles	Some fire extinguishers can be returned to the manufacturer. Used cylinders up to 1kg can be taken to the recycling centre.
Fireworks	Grey bin	None	Fireworks should be left under water overnight and bagged up before being placed in your grey bin.
Flowers	Green bin	Garden waste	Flowers can be composted at home.
Foil sheets - kitchen foil	Brown bin	Non-recyclable waste	Clean aluminium foil can go in your brown bin. If it's soiled and can’t be removed by washing, put it in your grey bin.
Foil trays	Brown and grey bins	Scrap metal	Clean aluminium trays can go in your brown bin. If it's soiled and can’t be removed by washing, put it in your grey bin.
Food tins	Brown bin	Scrap metal	Food tins should be washed out before disposal.
Food waste	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	Food waste can be composted at home or placed inside compostable liner bags for smell-free and eco-friendly disposal.
Freezer or fridges	None	Fridges and freezers	Food must be removed from the fridge and freezer before disposal. You can also request a bulky waste collection to dispose of these. Commercial fridges or freezers and ammonia fridges (typically from caravans) are not accepted at the recycling centres.
Furniture	None	Wood and timber Hard plastics Scrap metal Upholstered domestic seating	Wooden furniture with no upholstery can be placed in the wood and timber container. Sofas, chairs and other upholstered seating should go in the upholstered domestic seating container. Plastic furniture can go into the hard plastics container, and metal furniture in the scrap metal container. You can also request a bulky waste collection to dispose of these.
Garden waste	Green bin	Garden waste	Garden waste such as leaves, hedge cuttings and grass can be composted at home.
Gas canisters, bottles and cylinders	None	Gas bottles	Used gas cylinders, bottles or canisters should be returned to the supplier or manufacturer for recycling where possible. We can accept empty domestic LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinders at the recycling centre. These are typically Calor and BOC cylinders (butane and propane) used domestically for heaters and barbecues. We can't accept cylinders for industrial or commercial use.
Glass window	None	Hardcore and rubble	Restriction of one glass window. Window glass shouldn't be put in your brown bin as it can't be recycled with bottles and jars.
Glass bottles and jars - any colour	Brown bin	Glass	Glass can also be taken to a local recycling bank.
Grass cuttings	Green bin	Garden waste	Grass cuttings can be composted at home.
Greenhouse	None	Hardcore and rubble Scrap metal Wood and timber	Panes of glass from a greenhouse go into the hardcore and rubble container. Metal frames go in the scrap metal container. Wooden shelves or posts go in the wood and timber container.
Hedge cuttings	Green bin	Garden waste	Large branches or tree trunks can't be put in your green bin or taken to the recycling centre. Hedge cuttings can also be composted at home.
Ice cream tubs	Brown bin	Hard plastic	Ice cream tubs should be washed out before disposal.
Ink cartridges	None	Printer cartridges	Ink cartridge recycling schemes are available in stores or by post.
Insulation	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	Small amounts of insulation is accepted at the recycling centre. If you're having major loft insulation replacement you need a skip. If you're having loft insulation replaced by a tradesperson it's their legal responsibility to dispose of the waste.
Ironing boards	None	Scrap metal	For ironing boards with a resting plate that looks like it may contain asbestos, this can be disposed of at Worsbrough recycling centre only. You need to make an asbestos booking before visiting. See our page about how to dispose of hazardous waste for more details.
Jiffy bags and padded envelopes	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	For padded envelopes, split the paper from the plastic before recycling. Paper can be put in your blue bin and the plastic in your grey bin.
Junk mail	Blue bin	Paper	Plastic wrapping and envelope windows need to be removed and put in the grey bin before recycling. To reduce junk mail you can sign up to the Mail Preference Service.
Kitchen foil	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	Clean aluminium foil can go in your brown bin. If it's soiled and can’t be removed by washing, put it in your grey bin.
Kitchen units	None	Wood and timber	If you're carrying out major kitchen replacement work you need to hire a skip.
Knives	None	Scrap metal	Large or combat knives are treated as weapons and need to be handed in at a police station.
Lawn mowers	None	Small appliances Scrap metal	Lawn mowers in good condition can be reused - ask an attendant at the recycling centre. Manual lawn mowers should be put in the scrap metal container. Electric lawn mowers should be placed in the small appliances container. Any fuel tanks must be empty.
Leaves	Green bin	Garden waste	Leaves can be composted at home.
Lids (metal)	Brown bin	Scrap metal	-
Light bulbs	None	Florescent tubes	Domestic light bulbs and strip lighting should be taken to the recycling centre. Don't put light bulbs in your bin.
Magazines	Blue bin	Paper	-
Margarine tubs	Brown bin	Hard plastic	Margarine tubs should be rinsed before disposal.
Mattresses	None	Non-recyclable waste	You can request a bulky waste collection to dispose of a mattress.
Medication	None	None	Return unwanted, unused or out of date medicines such as creams, tablets, patches, sprays, liquids and inhalers, to a pharmacy. Don't put them in the bin, down the drain or give them to other people.
Medication - blister packs	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	Empty blister packs can be put in your grey bin. Blister packs containing medicines should be returned to a pharmacy. Some pharmacies also accept empty blister packs for recycling.
Medicine bottles	Brown bin	Glass Plastic bottles	Empty glass or plastic medicine bottles can be recycled. Bottles still containing any medicine should be returned to a pharmacy.
Metal items (not food or drink packaging)	None	Scrap metal	-
Milk bottles (plastic)	Brown bin	Non-recyclable waste	Rinse bottles out before recycling these.
Mobile phones	None	Small appliances	Mobile phones in good condition can be reused - ask an attendant at the recycling centre. All personal information must be removed before disposal. Broken mobile phones can be put in the small appliances container. Batteries should be removed before disposal and placed in the battery bank.
Nappies	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	Our real nappy incentive scheme offers a grant to help you change from disposable nappies to 'real' nappies.
Needles and syringes	None	None	Contact your GP for advice about disposing of needles and syringes.
Newspapers	Blue bin	Paper	Newspapers that have considerably aged or are damp should be put in your grey bin or non-recyclable container at the recycling centre.
Oil - cooking	None	Cooking oil	Limits apply to the disposal of cooking oil at the recycling centre. We're unable to accept commercial amounts of oil.
Oil - engine	None	Used engine oil	Limits apply to the disposal of engine oil at the recycling centre. We're unable to accept commercial amounts of oil.
Paint	Grey bin	Paint	Usable quantities of paint may be accepted by local community organisations or charities. For water-based emulsion, empty paint tubs can be put in your brown bin for recycling. Paint tubs with less than 1/8 volume of paint should be left to air dry and put in your grey bin as these can't be recycled. Solvent-based paints such as gloss can be taken to the recycling centre. You need to make a hazardous waste booking before visiting. See our page about how to dispose of hazardous waste for more details.
Paper	Blue bin	Paper	Plain greeting cards, junk mail, envelopes, catalogues, brochures, phone directories, newspapers and magazines can be recycled.
Pet litter tray waste	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	Wood granules, pellets and paper pellets can be composted at home.
Petrol	None	None	Contact a garage for details of petrol disposal.
Plant pots	None	Hard plastics Hardcore and rubble	Plant pots in good condition may be accepted by local gardening groups or allotments. Terracotta pots can be placed into the hardcore and rubble container.
Plants	Green bin	Garden waste	Remove excess soil before disposal of plants.
Plasterboard (clean)	None	Plasterboard	Small amounts of plasterboard (typically a car boot load) from DIY activities are accepted at Worsbrough recycling centre only. It must be clean and free from any bonded material. For larger amounts you need to hire a skip.
Plastic bottles	Brown bin	Plastic bottles	Rinse out plastic bottles before disposal.
Plastic film/bags (and other soft plastics)	Grey bin	Plastic bags and wrapping (soft plastics)	Plastic film and bags can be recycled at most supermarkets. Check for 'recycle with bags at large supermarkets' on the packaging.
Plastic food pots (eg yoghurt pots)	Brown bin	Non-recyclable waste	Plastic food pots should be put in your brown bin. We don't have the facility at the recycling centre to recycle this type of plastic.
Plastic food trays (eg meat trays, fruit punnets)	Brown bin	Non-recyclable waste	Plastic food trays should be put in your brown bin. We don't have the facility at the recycling centre to recycle this type of plastic.
Plastic food tubs (eg margarine tubs)	Brown bin	Non-recyclable waste	Plastic food tubs should be put in your brown bin. We don't have the facility at the recycling centre to recycle this type of plastic.
Plastic items (other than bottles and food pots, trays and tubs)	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	For plastic items other than bottles and food pots, trays and tubs, ask an attendant at the recycling centre
Plastic toys	None	Hard plastic	Toys in good condition can be donated for reuse - ask an attendant at the recycling centre. Toys should have any batteries removed before disposal.
Polystyrene packaging	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	Polystyrene should be removed from cardboard boxes before these are recycled.
Pyrex	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	Pyrex in good condition can be donated to charity. If it can't be reused it should be put in your grey bin, as the glass can't be recycled in the blue bin.
Radiators	None	Scrap metal	If you're replacing multiple radiators you 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	Hardcore and rubble	Small amounts of rubble (typically a car boot load) from DIY activities can be taken to the recycling centre. For larger renovations and construction projects you need to hire a skip.
Sheds	None	Wood and timber	Small sheds can be put in the wood container, unless the wood has been treated with creosote when a licensed waste disposal company will need to dispose of this. You can also request a bulky waste collection to dispose of a shed. If you're having a shed replaced by a tradesperson it's their legal responsibility to dispose of the old shed.
Shoes	None	Mixed textiles and clothes	Shoes in good condition can be donated to charity. You can also donate these at a recycling bank.
Soil	None	Hardcore and rubble	Small amounts of soil (typically a car boot load) from DIY activities can be taken to the recycling centre. For larger renovations and construction projects you need to hire a skip.
Telephone directory	Blue bin	Paper	-
Tablets/iPads	None	Small appliances	Tablets and iPads in good condition can be donated for reuse - ask an attendant at the recycling centre. All personal information should be removed from your device prior to disposal.
Televisions	None	TVs and monitors	TVs in good condition can be donated for reuse - ask an attendant at the recycling centre.
Tetra Pak (food and drink)	Brown bin	Beverage cartons	Tetra Pak containers should be washed out before disposal.
Textiles	None	Mixed textiles and clothes	Textiles in good condition can be donated to charity or put in a local recycling bank.
Tiles	None	Hardcore and rubble	Small amounts of tiles (typically a car boot load) from DIY activities can be taken to the recycling centre. For larger renovations and construction projects you need to hire a skip.
Tree cuttings - bark, small branches and twigs	Green bin	Garden waste	Large branches or tree trunks can't be accepted at the recycling centre.
Tyres	None	None	Contact a tyre dealer to ask about tyre disposal.
Vapes	None	Small appliances	Empty vapes can be put in the small appliances container. If the battery is removable, put this in the battery container before disposing of the vape. Read more about recycling of batteries and vapes.
Videos (VHS and video games)	None	Tapes and discs (media)	Video tapes and video games can be donated to charity.
Washing machines	None	Large appliances	You can request a bulky waste collection to dispose of a washing machine.
Weeds	Green bin	Garden waste	Specialist commercial services may help you dispose of plants with pesticides. Cannabis plants are not accepted for disposal and anyone trying to deposit these will be reported to the police.
Window frames (uPVC)	None	Non-recyclable waste	Restriction of one item of uPVC only. For multiple uPVC items you need to hire a skip.
Window glass	None	Hardcore and rubble	Restriction of one glass window. Window glass shouldn't be put in your brown bin as it can't be recycled with bottles and jars.
Wood shavings (clean)	Grey bin	Wood and timber	-
Wooden items	Grey bin	Wood and timber	-
Wrapping paper - without metal, foil or glitter	Blue bin	Paper	-
Wrapping paper - with metal, foil or glitter	Grey bin	Non-recyclable waste	-
Yogurt pots	Brown bin	Non-recyclable waste	Yoghurt pots should be put in your brown bin. We don't have the facility at the recycling centre to recycle this type of plastic.