What can I recycle?
Below is a list of items you can put in your recycling bin, click on each heading for more details:
Food tins and drink cans
- food tins
- drink cans
- aerosol cans
- sweet / biscuit tins
- metal jar lids
Remember to
- Rinse tins and cans
- Push sharp lids inside tins
- Tip - Labels can be left on and no need to squash
Mixed glass bottles and jars
Remember to
- Rinse bottles and jars
- No lids, corks or caps
- Tip - Labels can be left on and all colours accepted
Plastic bottles and containers
- drinks bottles
- milk / juice bottles
- detergent / fabric conditioner bottles
- cleaning / bleach bottles
- toiletry bottles
- yogurt pots
- margarine / ice cream tubs
- fruit / vegetable punnets
- plastic meat / fish trays
- cream / custard pots
- cake / pastry trays
- soup / sauce pots
Remember to
- Rinse bottles and containers
- No black plastic
- No tops, lids, pumps, film, foil etc
- Tip - Labels can be left on and no need to squash
Paper
- newspapers / magazines
- phone directories
- catalogues / brochures
- junk mail / leaflets
- letters
- greetings cards
- envelopes
Remember to
- Keep paper flat
- Remove plastic wrappers
- Tip - You can compost your shredded paper at home
Cartons
- milk / juice / smoothie cartons
- fabric conditioner cartons
- soup / chopped tomatoes cartons
- custard cartons
Remember to
- Rinse cartons
- Tip - No need to squash and plastic spouts can be left on
Cardboard
- cardboard boxes e.g. cereal boxes, ready meal boxes
- corrugated / thick cardboard boxes
- egg boxes
- kitchen / toilet roll tubes
Remember to
- Flatten cardboard boxes and tubes
- Remove inner packaging
For further information on what you can recycle, see the recycling collection guide (PDF document).
Can I put clothes and textiles in my recycling bin?
You cannot recycle textiles through this service because they
are sent to a sorting facility where glass would contaminate them.
Please take textiles to your local charity shop or one of the
Household recycling centres.
Can I put shredded paper in my recycling bin?
It is difficult to recycle shredded paper. Please try to limit the amount you shred by tearing off and shredding only the sensitive parts. For example on a junk mail letter, tear off only your address details to shred, and recycle the remainder of the document by placing directly into your wheeled bin.
Shredded paper can be placed inside an old envelope before placing into your wheeled bin.
A much better way of recycling your shredded paper is to put it in your home composting bin along with your fruit and vegetable peelings. It makes great compost.
Can I put foil in my recycling bin?
No, you should not put foil in your recycling bin.
The reasons are:
- It acts like paper in the
sorting process making it difficult to separate
- It accounts for a negligible
amount of the combined recycling (approx 0.001%) and would take up
valuable storage space at the recycling sorting centre -
EnviroSort, which can be more beneficially used for other
materials
Foil recycling is available at supermarket recycling sites in
Hereford and at the county's
Household recycling centres.
I have recycling sacks instead of a recycling bin, what can I recycle?
If you have a recycling sack collection, you can recycle the
same items as in the recycling bins, except for glass bottles and
jars. We cannot collect your glass bottles and jars in your
recycling sacks.
How can I reduce my waste?
Whilst recycling is really important, reducing and reusing your waste is much better.
We encourage you to consider donating good quality textiles, furniture, electrical goods and garden tools to local organisations.
Or give away an item you don't want, or pick up something you need free of charge, at your local Freecycle group.
For more hints and tips on reducing food waste, smart shopping, jilting your junk mail, composting at home and real nappies visit Let's Waste Less.
What should I do with bark chippings?
You can compost bark chippings in your home compost bin. Alternatively, you can deposit them in the garden waste skip at your local household recycling centre where they will be composted.
Where can I recycle domestic batteries?
You can recycle domestic batteries at:
Where can I recycle CDs, DVDs and videos?
You can donate CDs, DVDs and videos to charity shops.
We do not accept them for recycling because they are comprised of more than one material. Please place them in your black sack if they are unsuitable for reuse.
Where can I recycle my old computer?
If your computer is unsuitable for resale or donation, you can take it to your nearest Household Recycling Centre where it will be put in either a waste electrical skip or mixed with metals. The facilities differ between sites.
Where can I recycle low energy light bulbs?
You can recycle low energy light bulbs at:
What should I do with plastic bags?
Where possible try and use a reusable bag. You can also reuse plastic bags again and again. Most major supermarkets have carrier bag recycling facilities.
Where can I recycle pottery or crockery?
You can donate good quality pottery or crockery to charity shops. Alternatively, you can place it in the rubble container at household recycling centre.
How do I recycle Christmas cards?
You can put Christmas cards in your recycling bin or sack.