What goes in your bins

Blue bin - paper and card

What you can put in your blue bin

You can put the following items in your blue bin:

• paper - plain and coloured
• dry cardboard
• wrapping paper if it doesn't have glitter or foil
• junk mail
• catalogues and brochures
• phone directories
• newspapers
• magazines
• envelopes with any film windows removed

You should tear large pieces of cardboard into smaller bits to stop this getting stuck in the bin when it's emptied.

What you can't put in your blue bin

You can't put the following items in your blue bin:

• wet cardboard
• cardboard with food residue, such as pizza or takeaway boxes
• cartons for liquids, such as juice or milk
• tissue paper
• greeting cards with glitter, foil or embellishments
• gift bags
• greaseproof paper
• books (donate these to a charity, school or book club)
• disposable coffee cups (these contain a layer of plastic film)

Brown bin - mixed recycling

What you can put in your brown bin

You can put the following items in your brown bin:

• glass bottles and jars
• food tins
• drink cans
• plastic bottles
• plastic pots, such as yoghurt pots
• plastic tubs and trays, such as margarine tubs and sandwich meat trays
• cartons for liquids, such as juice or milk cartons (Tetra Paks)
• biscuit and sweet tins or tubs
• empty aerosols
• aluminium tubes, such as for tomato puree
• foil trays and lids (only if clean)
• kitchen foil (only if clean)

You need to rinse out food containers before putting them in your brown bin and remove any film lids.

What you can't put in your brown bin

You can't put the following items in your brown bin:

• plastic food bags or film (these can be recycled at some supermarkets)
• carrier bags
• plastic toys
• broken glass
• light bulbs
• Pyrex
• window glass
• metal items other than cans and tins
• plastic items other than bottles, pots, tubs and trays

Green bin - garden waste

What you can put in your green bin

You can put the following items in your green bin:

• grass cuttings
• leaves
• weeds
• flowers
• plants
• bark and wood shavings
• hedge clippings
• twigs

What you can't put in your green bin

You can't put the following items in your green bin:

• food waste
• tea bags and coffee grinds
• large pieces of wood
• turf
• stones, rocks, gravel or concrete
• sand
• soil
• black sacks

When green bin collections are made

Garden waste collections take place from March to November only. There are no collections in December, January and February.

Grey bin - general waste

What you can put in your grey bin

You can put the following items in your grey bin:

• food waste
• plastic wrap and film (this can be recycled at some supermarkets)
• polystyrene packaging
• paper which has glitter or foil
• sanitary wear, personal hygiene items and nappies
• empty paint containers (containers with paint in can be taken to a household waste recycling centre)
• animal waste and pet bedding, including cat litter (bagged to avoid smells)
• other household waste that can't be recycled

You need to remove any batteries or flammable liquids from items before putting them in your bin. Find out how to dispose of batteries properly.

What you can't put in your grey bin

You can't put the following items in your grey bin:

• batteries and vapes
• electrical items
• soil, rubble or DIY waste
• textiles that could be recycled
• toys
• carpets
• furniture
• asbestos
• chemicals

You can take all of these items to a household waste recycling centre for reuse or recycling. Asbestos is hazardous and requires an appointment for specialist disposal. How to dispose of hazardous waste.