Recycling guides

Plain answers to the recycling questions people ask most, with links to every item and to the official sources.

Seasonal guides

Bonfire Night: fireworks, sparklers and bonfire wasteHow to dispose of used and unused fireworks and sparklers safely in the UK, what to do with bonfire ashes, and what never to burn on Bonfire Night.
Christmas recycling guideWhat to do with your Christmas tree, wrapping paper, cards, lights, tinsel and leftovers in the UK, and which bits can't go in the recycling.
Delivery packaging: boxes, envelopes and bubble wrapWhat to do with boxes, padded envelopes, bubble wrap, plastic mailers and polystyrene from online orders, in time for Black Friday and Christmas.
Halloween recycling guideWhat to do with pumpkins, costumes, sweet wrappers, candles and light-up toys after Halloween in the UK, and how to keep them out of the general waste bin.

Batteries and vapes: how to get rid of them safelyWhere to take used batteries, vapes, power banks and things with built-in batteries in the UK, and why they must never go in any bin.
Black plastic: can it be recycled?Why many councils can't recycle black plastic trays and tubs, which ones can, and what to do with yours.
Food waste: what goes in the caddy, and who collects itWhat you can put in your food waste caddy, which councils collect it and how often, and when the councils that haven't started yet say they will.
Why can't I recycle yoghurt pots in Hampshire?Why pots, tubs, trays and cartons can't go in the recycling bin in Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton yet, and where the mixed plastics banks are.
Medicine packaging and beauty empties: where they goWhere to take blister packs, unwanted medicines, inhalers and beauty empties in the UK, and which shop schemes accept them.
Simpler Recycling in England: what is changingWhat Simpler Recycling means for households in England: weekly food waste, which materials councils collect, plastic film and the dates.
Soft plastics: bags, film and wrappersCarrier bags, crisp packets, cling film and bread bags: where soft plastics go in each UK nation, and when councils will collect them from home.
Which councils let you recycle the most at home?How our weekly shop basket ranks UK councils on what they collect from home, which score highest and lowest in each nation, and how to check yours.

Bins and recycling by council: each council's bins, what goes in them and its recycling centres.