Recycling collections
We collect non-food recycling every fortnight. Find your next collection day.
We will collect your recycling on bank holidays, except over the Christmas period. We will share details of Christmas collection days closer to the time.
To ensure collection, recycling containers should be out by 6am on your collection day. Please be considerate of neighbours by returning your containers to your property as soon as possible after collection.
You can find out more about food waste collections here.
What goes in your recycling containers
Each household is allocated two green recycling boxes and one reusable recycling bag. Please see the section below about ordering further containers if you require additional capacity or need to replace a damaged container.
We've listed what can and cannot go in each container below. You can also 
download and print our recycling leaflet here [5MB] .
Most communal properties, such as flats, have a communal bin store. You can find out how we collect your recycling on our bin store page. If we collect your recycling in sacks, see our sack collections page.
In one box you can recycle paper and card, including:
- egg boxes
- junk mail
- newspaper and magazines
- catalogues
- cardboard tubes
- envelopes (no padded envelopes)
- cardboard boxes/packaging (cardboard must be flattened and no bigger than 85cm x 45cm)
- greeting cards and wrapping paper (no glitter or foil)
DO NOT put the following in your paper/card box:
- padded envelopes (unless removing bubble wrap)
- cards or wrapping paper with glitter or foil
- tissues
- shredded paper
- coffee/takeaway cups
- tetra paks/juice cartons (these can be recycled at our mini recycling centres and Household Waste Recycling Centres)
- wallpaper
In one box you can recycle glass, including:
- glass bottles
- glass jars
Lids can be left on glass bottles and jars. Please make sure jars are rinsed through to remove food residue.
Do not put the following in your glass recycling box:
- window or greenhouse glass
- broken glass
- pyrex and drinking glasses
- light bulbs
In your recycling bag you can recycle plastic bottles, food pots, tubs, trays, aerosols, drink cans and food tins, including:
- milk bottles
- drink bottles
- shampoo/conditioner/shower gel bottles
- cleaning bottles
- food tins/tubes
- metal sweet tubs
- metal food tubes (including pesto, garlic and tomato puree)*
- drink cans
- aerosol cans, unless they have a hazard symbol ('skull and cross bones' logo or a black cross on an orange background, such as oven cleaner)
- plastic food pots
- spread/margarine tubs
- plastic biscuit tray packaging
- takeaway tubs and ready meal trays (no burnt-on food)
- fruit punnets/trays
- meat trays*
To ensure items are collected, they must be clean, with topping film/foil lids removed. Loose plastic bottle lids can be reattached after expelling any air or placed loose in the recycling bag.
*We currently do not recycle black plastic trays due to a lack of market demand for these materials (please do not put these items in your recycling).
*Please squeeze contents out.
Do not put the following in your recycling bag:
- black plastic trays
- expanded polystyrene
- plastic film - such as bread bags and tray coverings
- crisp packets (soft plastics)
- plastic wrapping
- bubble wrap
- tin foil, foil lids and aluminium trays
- flowerpots
- hot beverage pods (please take these to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre)
- tetra paks/cartons (these can be recycled at our mini recycling centres and Household Waste Recycling Centres)
- blister packs/pill packets (recycling points available at some pharmacies)
Textiles
- donate clean, reusable items to a local charity shop or pass items on to friends and family
- repair or mend clothes to extend their life
- upcycle into something new like turning old jeans into shorts or a tote bag
- repurpose for crafts or household uses
Kerbside textile recycling
If your textiles can't be reused, donated or upcycled, you can recycle them through our kerbside collection service:
- place items in a clear or white sack labelled 'textiles'
- put the sack next to your green boxes on your collection day
- we do not provide sacks, and to avoid confusion, we do not collect items left out in charity bags
We DO collect:
- clothing
- bed sheets
- duvet & pillow covers
We DO NOT collect:
- duvets
- mattress toppers
- towels
- pillows
- shoes
- items left out in charity bags
What about towels, pillows and duvets?
These can't currently be recycled at the kerbside, but you can:
- donate to a local animal shelter or homeless charity.
- take to a textile recycling program.
- repurpose into pet beds, draft stoppers, or stuffing for crafts.
- cotton towels, pillowcases, and duvet covers can be repurposed as excellent rags for polishing and cleaning.
For tips and advice on how you can reduce and reuse click here.
Batteries
We now offer kerbside collection of household batteries. Put your unwanted household batteries in a clear bag and place them on top of your black wheelie bin lid ready to be collected on your general waste collection day.
We collect the following batteries from the kerbside:
- D
- C
- AA
- AAA
- AAAA (1.5-volt)
- A23 (12-volt)
- PP3 (9-volt)
- CR2032 (3-volt)
- LR44 (1.5-volt)
- hearing aid batteries, as long as they are removed from the device
Missed recycling collections
If your recycling has not been collected, you will have been left a bin hanger explaining the problem. If you have not been left a bin hanger, there may be other issues affecting the service. You can check for service updates and find more about missed collections on our missed collection page.
Replacement recycling boxes or bags
If you need a replacement recycling box or bag you can request a new container online.
Where your recycling goes
You can find out what happens to your recycling after it has been collected on our 'where does your rubbish and recycling go?' page.
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