If you share bins with your neighbours, you may have recycling bins, rather than bags or boxes, but the colour coding system will be the same.
Our recycling A-Z is a useful tool that allows you to search for items and see whether they can be recycled and which container they go in.
Visit our recycling A-Z
Orange bag for cardboard
Yes please
- brown and white cardboard and card
- coloured paper
- non-shiny wrapping paper
- greetings cards
- brown envelopes
No thank you
- cartons
- coffee cups
- crisp tubes*
- polystyrene
- plastic film lids
- bubble wrap
Remove any plastic envelope padding or excess sticky tape.
Flatten any boxes you can’t fit in your orange bag, tie in a bundle and leave next to the recycling bag for collection.
*Some Pringles tubes no longer have metal ends. Please check the recycling instructions on the tube. If the tube is 100% cardboard, you can recycle it in your orange bag.
Red bag for plastic and metal packaging
Yes please
- drinks cans
- food tins
- aerosols
- aluminium foil
- plastic bottles
- plastic pots and tubs
- plastic trays
- trigger spray bottles
- toothpaste and other squeezable tubes
No thank you
- cartons
- plastic bread bags
- plastic film lids
- plastic bags
- plastic sweet and biscuit wrappers
- polystyrene
- crisp packets
- black plastic
- plastic toys
Rinse and squash dirty cans, tins, plastic pots, tubs and trays before placing in your recycling bag. Wash and squash plastic bottles and replace the lid to save space in your bag.
Blue bag for paper
Yes please
- newspapers
- magazines
- brochures
- junk mail
- white envelopes
- utility bills
- shredded paper*
No thank you
- cartons
- paper towels
- wallpaper
- brown paper
- laminated paper
- wrapping paper
*Put any shredded paper in a tied carrier bag and place in your blue recycling bag.
Remove any plastic envelope padding or excess sticky tape.
Black box for glass and textiles
Yes please
- wine and beer bottles
- jam jars
- make up pots
- perfume bottles
- clean and dry clothes and shoes
- towels, sheets and pillowcases
- belts and bags
No thank you
- broken glass
- Pyrex or cookware
- drinking glasses
- sheet glass
- duvets
- pillows
- dirty or damp clothes and shoes
Put clean and dry clothing, shoes, towels and sheets in a tied bag and place at the top of your recycling box.
We don’t take broken glass as part of your recycling collection service. Carefully wrap any broken glass or sharp objects, or put them in a sturdy plastic container like an ice cream tub. Clearly label the package so the crew know there’s broken glass inside and leave it out on top of your wheelie bin or sack.
Food waste caddies
Yes please
- uneaten food and plate scrapings
- dairy products, eggs and egg shells
- bread cakes and pastries
- raw and cooked meat and bones
- rice, pasta and beans
- tea bags
- uneaten pet food
No thank you
- compostable takeaway cups
- large amounts of liquid
- pet waste
- garden waste
Find out more about food waste collections
Order more recycling bags and boxes
You can order replacement or additional recycling containers using the link below.
Order recycling bags, boxes and food waste caddies
What to do if you have more recycling than you can fit in your bags or box
- Extra cardboard: please flatten, tie it into a bundle and leave out with the rest of your recycling
- Extra plastics, cans and tins: please put them in a carrier bag and leave with the rest of your recycling
- Extra paper: please put it in a carrier bag and leave out with the rest of your recycling
- You can also take extra recycling to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre