Recycling guide
If your recycling bags don't contain the correct materials, they may be considered contaminated. Contaminated recycling will not be accepted by our recycling processors. To avoid contamination, please use the recycling bags for the correct materials only. Incorrect items in the recycling sacks are called contamination. Contamination cannot be recycled at the local recycling facility and are expensive to remove. When contamination is identified in a recycling sack, the sack will not be collected but will be stickered with a yellow sticker. Residents may choose to:
- Remove the offending item from the sack: Residents can choose to remove non-recyclable materials from their green recycling sacks themselves. Once de-contaminated, the sack will be collected on the next scheduled collection date.
- Take the contaminated waste to the household waste recycling centre (HWRC): Residents can take the contaminated waste to the HWRC or tip in their local area.
If you're unsure how to dispose of an item, you can check using our what goes in your waste bags search tool, or by looking at the lists below.
What you can recycle
Paper and cardboard, including:
- newspaper and magazines
- paper (not shredded)
- writing paper / all envelopes
- cardboard packaging
- junk mail
- telephone books and yellow pages
- mail order catalogues
- cardboard and corrugated card
- cereal packets
- cardboard egg boxes
- greetings cards and wrapping paper (without glitter or foil).
Plastics, including:
- drink and milk bottles
- all plastic bottles / including tops
- yogurt pots
- margarine, butter and ice cream tubs
- microwave meal trays.
Metal food tins, drinks cans, including:
- all steel and aluminium drink cans
- biscuits and sweet tins
- other food tins / pet food tins
- clean tin foil / tin foil trays
- food trays
- waxed drink containers
- aerosol cans
- jar lids.
Mixed glass, including:
- glass bottles and jars
What you can't recycle
- toys
- CDs, DVDs, videos
- handbags/sports bags
- belts
- all food waste
- crisp packets
- pet food pouches
- nappies
- sanitary towels
- pet bedding
- pet waste
- green waste
- hose pipes
- electric cabling
- Christmas lights
- paddling pools
- inflatables
- wood
- electrical items
- Pyrex and other cooking dishes
- medical waste
- light bulbs
- polystyrene
- any batteries
- sheet glass (windows, mirrors)
- old wallpaper
- blister packets (tablet packets)
- kitchen towels
- wet wipes
- buckets
- plant pots
- washing up bowls
- furniture
- laundry baskets
- cigarette packets
- plastic film/thin plastic
- pizza boxes
- plastic carrier bags
- clothing
- wallpaper
- books.
You can also download a copy to keep: Your Recycling Guide (PDF) [566KB] (opens new window) .