Black plastic: can it be recycled?
Updated 14 Oct 2026
Black plastic ready-meal trays, meat trays and takeaway tubs cause a lot of confusion, because the answer depends on your council.
Most councils still ask you to put black plastic in your general waste. Some now take it in the recycling. Check yours on the black plastic tray page, where you can choose your council.
Why black plastic is a problem
Many recycling plants sort plastics with infrared scanners. The carbon black pigment used in a lot of dark plastic absorbs that light, so the scanner can't tell what the plastic is, and the tray ends up rejected even if it went in your recycling bin.
Some plants can now sort it, and some packaging now uses a black pigment that scanners can detect, so a few councils accept it while their neighbours still can't.
Councils that take it
Where councils do take black plastic, it goes in with your other plastic pots, tubs and trays. West Sussex councils, for example, accept black pots, tubs and trays in the blue-lid bin, and Suffolk councils take black food trays and tubs in the blue bin.
If yours takes it, scrape out the food, give it a rinse and peel off the film lid. The lid is soft plastic, which has its own rules (see soft plastics).
- Black plastic ready-meal trayUsually: General waste
Other dark or awkward plastics
Clear and coloured trays and tubs are usually recyclable at home. If they're black, follow your council's black plastic rule instead. Some councils that take black food trays still refuse black plant pots, and some garden centres take pots back.
Polystyrene and black bin bags usually aren't recyclable at home. Plastic coffee pods need the brand's own return scheme.
- Meat or fish trayUsually: Recycle at home
- Plastic takeaway containerUsually: Recycle at home
- Plastic food tubUsually: Recycle at home
- Plastic plant potUsually: Recycle at home
- Polystyrene cupUsually: General waste
- Bin bag or sackUsually: General waste
- Coffee pod (not sure which type)Usually: Drop-off point
Avoiding it
Black plastic that can't be recycled ends up in landfill or an incinerator. Where you have a choice, pick clear or coloured packaging, or food that comes in card or foil.
Common questions
Is black plastic recyclable?
It depends on your council. Most still ask for black plastic in general waste, because many sorting machines can't detect it, but some councils now take it with other plastic trays. See black plastic trays and choose your council.
Why can't black plastic be recycled?
Many recycling plants sort plastic with infrared scanners, and the carbon black pigment in a lot of dark plastic absorbs the light, so the scanner can't identify it.
Can black plastic meat trays go in the recycling?
Only if your council accepts black plastic. Clear or coloured meat trays are usually recyclable at home. See meat trays.
How councils compare
Sources
Each item's answer above comes from the national guidance in our data. Your council's own rules can differ: choose your council on any item page, or check its website.