What can I put in my red lidded bins and boxes?

You should use your red lidded bins and boxes to recycle paper and cardboard items.

A list of items which can and can't be recycled in your red lidded bins and boxes are listed below.

For a useful reminder of what you can and can't put in our recycling bins why not print out our recycling bins information leaflet (PDF) [487KB] .

To find out how to recycle a specific item see our A-Z of recycling.

What can I put in my red lidded bins and boxes?

• Paper
• Catalogues and directories
• Wrapping paper (non foil and non glitter)
• Newspaper
• Magazines
• Junk mail / envelopes
• Cardboard food packaging
• Ready meal sleeves
• Cardboard boxes (must be flattened or cut down to fit inside container)
• Clean pizza boxes (no food residue)
• Toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes
• Greetings cards
• Cereal boxes 
• Cigarette cartons (remove foil inner)
• Cardboard medicine boxes (remove the plastic/foil pill packets)

What can't I put in my red lidded bins and boxes?

• Plastic bags / carrier bags (loose items only)
• Drink / soup cartons (Tetra Paks)
• Disposable coffee or takeaway drink cups
• Plastic film or cellophane
• Wallpaper
• Polystyrene
• Textiles / shoes
• Paper towels or tissues
• Padded envelopes
• Train tickets (paper with magnetic strips)
• Books
• Wipes
• Receipts
• Batteries (this can cause fires when compacted in the wagons)

How to leave your items for collection

Please do not leave items in carrier bags when you put them in your recycling bin as this is classed as contamination.

Paper and card must be dry, clean, and placed loose into the bins.

Please note: recycling boxes may only be used for households with no storage facilities for bins and need prior approval from the Waste Management Department.

Other ways of recycling items we don't accept

 There are also lots of other ways to recycle items we do not currently accept at kerbside. For more information see our alternative recycling options.