Bins and recycling in Manchester

What goes in each of Manchester's bins, and where to take the things they don't collect. This page uses Manchester City Council's own published information, checked 10 Oct 2026.

Recycle This is independent: it isn't run by Manchester City Council. If anything here differs from Manchester City Council's website, the council is right.

Your bins in Manchester

  • Grey general waste bin

    Collected every 2 weeks Rubbish that can't be recycled, such as nappies, coffee cups, plastic bags and film, bubble wrap, bottle tops and polystyrene. Close the lid, as overloaded bins may not be emptied. Some older bins are black.

  • Blue paper and card bin

    Collected every 2 weeks Paper and card: cardboard boxes, paper and shredded paper, newspapers, magazines, unwanted books, envelopes, junk mail, greetings cards and wrapping paper without glitter, drinks cartons, and toilet roll tubes. Squash boxes down.

  • Brown bin for glass, cans and plastic

    Collected every 2 weeks Empty glass bottles and jars, tins and cans, aerosols, foil and foil trays, and plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays. No plastic film, carrier bags, crisp packets or pet food pouches.

  • Green food and garden waste bin

    Collected every 2 weeks All raw and cooked food, including meat and fish bones, tea bags, coffee grounds and egg shells, plus grass, hedge clippings, twigs and small branches. Wrap food in the free compostable caddy liners, not plastic bags or newspaper.

Flat with shared bins: Flats share large bins in the building's bin store. The council's standard is a blue 1,100 litre bin for paper, card and cartons, a brown 1,100 litre bin for glass, cans and plastic bottles, a black 1,100 litre bin for everything else and a green 240 litre food bin, each emptied at least every two weeks. Your caretaker or building manager looks after the bins.

Source: Manchester City Council's website.

Bin days in Manchester

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

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Garden waste and bulky items

One free collection of up to three items a year (365 days from your first free collection), with up to three more items for £32. After that it is £32 for up to three items or £64 for up to six. Put items on the pavement at the front of your home, not in gardens, driveways or bin stores. The same service can empty a recycling bin that has the wrong things in it. Book or check prices with Manchester City Council.

Recycling centres for Manchester

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

  • Cobden Street Recycling Centre

    Cobden Street, Salford M6 6NA

    Opening hours: Every day 8am to 8pm. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

    Booking: No booking for cars. Vans, pick-ups and twin-axle trailers need a van permit, applied for 2 working days before your first visit. Cars are limited to 52 visits a year.

    In Salford, listed as a local centre for Manchester residents. Coordinates are the postcode centre.

    Source: recycleforgreatermanchester.com

  • Longley Lane Recycling Centre

    Longley Lane, Sharston, Manchester M22 4RQ

    Opening hours: Every day 8am to 8pm. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

    Booking: No booking for cars. Vans, pick-ups and twin-axle trailers need a van permit, applied for 2 working days before your first visit. Cars are limited to 52 visits a year.

    Free for Greater Manchester residents (not Wigan). Rubble limited to five sacks per visit. Takes donations for Renew shops. Accepts list not checked item by item.

    Source: recycleforgreatermanchester.com

  • Sandfold Lane Recycling Centre

    Sandfold Lane, Manchester M19 3BJ

    Opening hours: Every day 8am to 8pm. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

    Booking: No booking for cars. Vans, pick-ups and twin-axle trailers need a van permit, applied for 2 working days before your first visit. Cars are limited to 52 visits a year.

    Free for Greater Manchester residents. Rubble limited to five sacks per visit. Coordinates are the postcode centre. Accepts list not checked item by item. Checked 2026-10-12: Recycle for Greater Manchester says cement-bonded asbestos (double wrapped, PPE worn) is taken only at its weighbridge sites: Arkwright Street (Oldham), Bredbury Parkway (Stockport), Cobden Street (Salford) and Longley Lane (Manchester), so it is not taken here.

    Source: recycleforgreatermanchester.com

Where common items go in Manchester

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

How Manchester compares

As of 24 Oct 2026. See all the council rankings.

Common questions

What goes in the grey general waste bin in Manchester?

Rubbish that can't be recycled, such as nappies, coffee cups, plastic bags and film, bubble wrap, bottle tops and polystyrene. Close the lid, as overloaded bins may not be emptied. Some older bins are black.

What goes in the blue paper and card bin in Manchester?

Paper and card: cardboard boxes, paper and shredded paper, newspapers, magazines, unwanted books, envelopes, junk mail, greetings cards and wrapping paper without glitter, drinks cartons, and toilet roll tubes. Squash boxes down.

What goes in the brown bin for glass, cans and plastic in Manchester?

Empty glass bottles and jars, tins and cans, aerosols, foil and foil trays, and plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays. No plastic film, carrier bags, crisp packets or pet food pouches.

What goes in the green food and garden waste bin in Manchester?

All raw and cooked food, including meat and fish bones, tea bags, coffee grounds and egg shells, plus grass, hedge clippings, twigs and small branches. Wrap food in the free compostable caddy liners, not plastic bags or newspaper.

When is my bin day in Manchester?

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

Official sources