Bins and recycling in Cornwall

Your bins in Cornwall

• Red recycling bag

  Collected every 2 weeks Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays (not black), cans, tins, aerosols, foil, cartons, and plastic bags and wrapping in a tied carrier or bread bag.

• Orange recycling bag

  Collected every 2 weeks Cardboard, coloured paper, non-shiny wrapping paper, greetings cards and brown envelopes.

• Blue recycling bag

  Collected every 2 weeks Newspapers, magazines, brochures, junk mail, white envelopes, utility bills and shredded paper in a tied carrier bag.

• Black recycling box

  Collected every 2 weeks Glass bottles and jars, and clean dry clothes, paired shoes, belts and bags in a tied bag on top.

• Green outdoor food waste caddy

  Collected weekly All food waste including meat, bones, dairy, bread, tea bags and coffee grounds; no packaging.

• Rubbish wheelie bin or protective sack

  Collected every 2 weeks Non-recyclable household rubbish that fits inside the 180 litre bin or sack with the lid closed, bagged first.

• Brown garden waste bin or reusable bag (subscription)

  Collected every 2 weeks Grass, leaves, prunings, small branches, cut flowers and weeds; paid annual subscription.

Source: Cornwall Council's website.

Bin days in Cornwall

Check your collection day with Cornwall Council's bin day lookup, or use Bin days on this site.

Garden waste and bulky items

Garden waste collection: £76 a year. Annual subscription price for 2026/27: £76 for a 240 litre bin, £58 for a 140 litre bin and £30 for a 70 litre bag, plus a one-off container price of £33 (240 litre), £26 (140 litre) or £14 (70 litre bag); the subscription year runs 1 April to 31 March and joining later pays only for the remaining months; new applications stop at the end of December and subscriptions open in mid-February. (source)

Paid collection: first 4 standard items £44, up to 4 more £16 each; small special items £35 and large special items £53. Book online, up to 8 items a week. Book or check prices with Cornwall Council.

Recycling centres for Cornwall

Household waste recycling centres take what your bins can't. Some need a booking: check before you go.

• Helston Household Waste and Recycling Centre

  Gays Hill, Helston TR13 0QA

  Opening hours: Every day 9am to 4pm. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

  Booking: Booking isn't mentioned on the site's page. No pedestrian access: arrive by vehicle.

  Address, hours and accepted items are from SUEZ Cornwall's site page (saved copy, 2026-10-10). Where there is a fee, card payments only. Household chemicals under 5 litres; hot ash and wetsuits are taken. Since 2 January 2024 no asbestos, plasterboard, soil, tyres, rubble or sanitary ware; since 1 December 2024 no upholstered seating. Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: suezcornwall.co.uk

• Launceston Household Waste and Recycling Centre

  Pennygillam Industrial Estate, Launceston PL15 7PH

  Opening hours: Every day 9am to 4pm. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

  Booking: Booking required (by appointment only): book a free slot for the same day if one is free, or up to a week ahead. Slots are 30 minutes: book at www.cornwall.gov.uk/tipbooking or phone 0300 1234 141. Arrive in the vehicle you booked for. Vans, pickups and similar vehicles also need a vehicle permit: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-waste/household-waste-and-recycling-centres/do-i-need-a-vehicle-permit/ No pedestrian access: arrive by vehicle.

  Where there is a fee, card payments only. DIY waste: a free weekly allowance of up to eight DIY rubble bags, four sheets of plasterboard or four sheets of asbestos, then charged (card only). Asbestos: phone 01726 828230 first. Household chemicals under 5 litres; hot ash and wetsuits are taken. Engine oil under 5 litres. Garden tools and crockery are also taken. Certain commercial waste is also taken here with a separate online trade-waste booking and card-only charges. Hours, booking, address and accepted items are from SUEZ Cornwall's site page (read 2026-10-10 in a browser). Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: suezcornwall.co.uk

• Newquay Household Waste and Recycling Centre

  Trevenson Road, Newquay TR7 3BW

  Opening hours: Every day 9am to 4pm. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

  Booking: Booking required (by appointment only): book a free slot for the same day if one is free, or up to a week ahead. Slots are 30 minutes: book at www.cornwall.gov.uk/tipbooking or phone 0300 1234 141. Arrive in the vehicle you booked for. Vans, pickups and similar vehicles also need a vehicle permit: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-waste/household-waste-and-recycling-centres/do-i-need-a-vehicle-permit/ No pedestrian access: arrive by vehicle.

  Where there is a fee, card payments only. DIY waste: a free weekly allowance of up to eight DIY rubble bags, four sheets of plasterboard or four sheets of asbestos, then charged (card only). Asbestos: phone 01726 828230 first. Household chemicals under 5 litres; hot ash and wetsuits are taken. Engine oil under 5 litres. Flat glass and UPVC and rigid plastics (clean buckets, garden furniture, water butts, plastic bins, crates, pale brown or beige plant pots) are taken. Certain commercial waste is also taken here with a separate online trade-waste booking and card-only charges. Hours, booking, address and accepted items are from SUEZ Cornwall's site page (read 2026-10-10 in a browser). Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: suezcornwall.co.uk

Where common items go in Cornwall

• Pizza boxYes. Put it in your Orange recycling bag. Source: Cornwall Council
• Plastic carrier bagYes. Put it in your Red recycling bag. Source: Cornwall Council
• Crisp packetYes. Put it in your Red recycling bag. Source: Cornwall Council
• Black plastic ready-meal trayThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Rubbish wheelie bin or protective sack. Source: Cornwall Council
• Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Rubbish wheelie bin or protective sack. Source: Cornwall Council
• Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Black recycling box. Source: Cornwall Council
• Glass jarYes. Put it in your Black recycling box. Source: Cornwall Council
• Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Red recycling bag. Source: Cornwall Council
• Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Green outdoor food waste caddy. Source: Cornwall Council
• Tea bagYes. Put it in your Green outdoor food waste caddy. Source: Cornwall Council
• ClothesYes. Put it in your Black recycling box. Source: Cornwall Council
• Battery (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Cornwall Council
• Disposable vapeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Cornwall Council
• Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Cornwall Council
• Small household applianceNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Cornwall Council
• Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Cornwall Council
• Real Christmas treeYes. Put it in your Brown garden waste bin or reusable bag (subscription). Source: Cornwall Council
• Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Orange recycling bag. Source: Cornwall Council
• Food cartonYes. Put it in your Red recycling bag. Source: Cornwall Council
• Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Red recycling bag. Source: Cornwall Council
• Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Rubbish wheelie bin or protective sack. Source: Cornwall Council

Something else? Search any item and choose Cornwall as your council.

Common questions

What goes in the red recycling bag in Cornwall?

Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays (not black), cans, tins, aerosols, foil, cartons, and plastic bags and wrapping in a tied carrier or bread bag.

What goes in the orange recycling bag in Cornwall?

Cardboard, coloured paper, non-shiny wrapping paper, greetings cards and brown envelopes.

What goes in the blue recycling bag in Cornwall?

Newspapers, magazines, brochures, junk mail, white envelopes, utility bills and shredded paper in a tied carrier bag.

What goes in the black recycling box in Cornwall?

Glass bottles and jars, and clean dry clothes, paired shoes, belts and bags in a tied bag on top.

What goes in the green outdoor food waste caddy in Cornwall?

All food waste including meat, bones, dairy, bread, tea bags and coffee grounds; no packaging.

What goes in the rubbish wheelie bin or protective sack in Cornwall?

Non-recyclable household rubbish that fits inside the 180 litre bin or sack with the lid closed, bagged first.

What goes in the brown garden waste bin or reusable bag (subscription) in Cornwall?

Grass, leaves, prunings, small branches, cut flowers and weeds; paid annual subscription.

When is my bin day in Cornwall?

It depends on your street. Enter your address in Cornwall Council's bin day lookup (cornwall.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.