Bins and recycling in South Gloucestershire
What goes in each of South Gloucestershire's bins, and where to take the things they don't collect. This page uses South Gloucestershire Council's own published information, checked 10 Oct 2026.
Recycle This is independent: it isn't run by South Gloucestershire Council. If anything here differs from South Gloucestershire Council's website, the council is right.
Your bins in South Gloucestershire
Black bin
Recycling box 1 (paper and card)
Recycling box 2 (glass)
Separate plastic bag in recycling box 2
White recycling bag
Blue bag for soft plastics
Outdoor food bin and kitchen caddy
Green bin (garden waste subscription)
Flat with shared bins: Blocks of flats usually have shared bins for paper, cardboard and cartons, for plastic, foil, tins and cans, for glass, and for general waste. Some also have a shared food waste bin.
Bin days in South Gloucestershire
Check your collection day with South Gloucestershire Council's bin day lookup, or use Bin days on this site.
Get the app
Snap a photo instead of typing, and get a reminder the evening before bin day.
Garden waste and bulky items
Garden waste collection: £75 a year. £75 per green bin for a year, or £37.50 with certain benefits; renewals open up to 6 weeks before a subscription ends. (source)
£41.90 to collect up to 3 large household items (£20.95 with certain benefits). Book on 01454 868000 or at a One Stop Shop. Fridges and freezers can't currently be collected. Book or check prices with South Gloucestershire Council.
Recycling centres for South Gloucestershire
Household waste recycling centres take what your bins can't. Some need a booking: check before you go.
Little Stoke Sort It recycling centre
Station Road, Little Stoke, BS34 6HP
Opening hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm every day. 24 December open until 2pm; closed 25 December, 26 December and 1 January. May open and close earlier in high temperatures.
Booking: Booking a time slot is required before every visit. South Gloucestershire residents only; bring proof of address.
No trailers or large vehicles, and a 1.8m height barrier. Does not take large appliances like washing machines or cookers, asbestos, tyres, plasterboard, rubble, paper, cans, glass or household plastics, and no fridges or freezers for now. Map position is the postcode centre (the postcode BS34 6HP has since been retired, so this is its last recorded position).
Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk
Mangotsfield Sort It recycling centre
Carsons Road, Mangotsfield, Bristol, BS16 9LL
Opening hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm every day. 24 December open until 2pm; closed 25 December, 26 December and 1 January. May open and close earlier in high temperatures.
Booking: Booking a time slot is required before every visit. South Gloucestershire residents only; bring proof of address.
Takes limited DIY waste (100 litres per visit), plasterboard (6 sheets or bags per project), soil (6 bags a month), asbestos sheet (6 sheets per visit, call first) and up to 4 tyres per household a year. Trailers under 2m allowed. No fridges or freezers for now. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk
Thornbury Sort It recycling centre
Short Way, Thornbury, BS35 3UT
Opening hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm every day. 24 December open until 2pm; closed 25 December, 26 December and 1 January. May open and close earlier in high temperatures.
Booking: Booking a time slot is required before every visit. South Gloucestershire residents only; bring proof of address. No booking needed just to visit the Revive reuse shop.
Revive reuse shop is on this site. Takes limited DIY waste (100 litres per visit), plasterboard (6 sheets or bags per project), soil (6 bags a month), asbestos sheet (6 sheets per visit, call first) and up to 4 tyres per household a year. Trailers under 2m allowed. No fridges or freezers for now. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk
Yate Sort It recycling centre
Collett Way, Great Western Business Park, Yate, Bristol, BS37 5NL
Opening hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm every day. 24 December open until 2pm; closed 25 December, 26 December and 1 January. May open and close earlier in high temperatures.
Booking: Booking a time slot is required before every visit. South Gloucestershire residents only; bring proof of address.
Does not take disposable gas canisters. Takes limited DIY waste (100 litres per visit), plasterboard (6 sheets or bags per project), soil (6 bags a month), asbestos sheet (6 sheets per visit, call first) and up to 4 tyres per household a year. Trailers under 2m allowed. No fridges or freezers for now. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: beta.southglos.gov.uk
Where common items go in South Gloucestershire
- Pizza boxYes. Put it in your Recycling box 1 (paper and card). Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Plastic carrier bagYes. Put it in your Blue bag for soft plastics. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Crisp packetYes. Put it in your Blue bag for soft plastics. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Black plastic ready-meal trayThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black bin. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black bin. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Recycling box 2 (glass). Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Glass jarYes. Put it in your Recycling box 2 (glass). Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your White recycling bag. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Outdoor food bin and kitchen caddy. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Tea bagYes. Put it in your Outdoor food bin and kitchen caddy. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- ClothesYes. Put it in your Separate plastic bag in recycling box 2. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Battery (not sure which type)Yes. Put it in your Separate plastic bag in recycling box 2. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Disposable vapeYes. Put it in your Separate plastic bag in recycling box 2. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Small household applianceYes. Put it in your Separate plastic bag in recycling box 2. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Real Christmas treeYes. Put it in your Green bin (garden waste subscription). Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Recycling box 1 (paper and card). Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Food cartonYes. Put it in your White recycling bag. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your White recycling bag. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
- Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black bin. Source: South Gloucestershire Council
Something else? Search any item and choose South Gloucestershire as your council.
How South Gloucestershire compares
- Weekly shop basket Collects 21 of 22 everyday packaging items from home. Joint 4th of 279 councils in England. Not collected from home: Black plastic ready-meal tray
- Recycling rate 58.3% of household waste was reused, recycled or composted in 2024-25 (Defra). 5th of 97 councils that collect waste and run the tips in England.
- Food waste Collected from home every week.
As of 24 Oct 2026. See all the council rankings.
Common questions
What goes in the black bin in South Gloucestershire?
General waste that can't be recycled from home or at a recycling centre. One bin per household. No batteries, vapes, rubble, hardcore, soil, gas canisters or medicines.
What goes in the recycling box 1 (paper and card) in South Gloucestershire?
Card, paper, newspapers and magazines, envelopes including windowed ones. No metallic wrapping paper or glittery cards. Shredded paper goes in its own plastic bag.
What goes in the recycling box 2 (glass) in South Gloucestershire?
Glass bottles and jars, no broken glass and lids removed. Bags of batteries, vapes, textiles and small electricals also go in this box.
What goes in the separate plastic bag in recycling box 2 in South Gloucestershire?
Batteries, vapes, clothes and textiles (clean and dry), paired shoes, towels, sheets, blankets and small electrical items. Each type goes in its own plastic bag, placed in recycling box 2.
What goes in the white recycling bag in South Gloucestershire?
Plastic bottles, tubs and trays, tins and cans, cartons (Tetra Paks), empty aerosols, aluminium foil, and the lids from glass bottles and jars. No black plastic, bioplastic, plastic cutlery or polystyrene.
What goes in the blue bag for soft plastics in South Gloucestershire?
Plastic bags and wrappers (such as crisp packets), pouches, sachets, clingfilm and removable film lids. No pet food or baby food pouches. Tie the bag with a double knot and put it in one of your recycling boxes.
What goes in the outdoor food bin and kitchen caddy in South Gloucestershire?
Cooked and uncooked food waste, leftovers and peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells, pet food and food that has gone off. Wrap or bag it first.
What goes in the green bin (garden waste subscription) in South Gloucestershire?
Grass cuttings, leaves, weeds, hedge trimmings and prunings, twigs and small branches, old compost, rabbit and rodent bedding, real Christmas trees under 6ft. Subscription needed.
When is my bin day in South Gloucestershire?
It depends on your street. Enter your address in South Gloucestershire Council's bin day lookup (apps.southglos.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.