Christmas crackers

Also called: christmas cracker, xmas cracker, pulled cracker, bon bon cracker, cracker snap, cracker tube

Recycle at home

National rules. Choose your council to see its answer.

Your council's answer

The answer can differ by council. Choose your council to see its rules for this item.

How to prepare it

  1. Take out the snap, the plastic toy and any plastic: they go in general waste (or keep the toy)
  2. The plain card tube and the paper hat can go in your paper and card recycling
  3. Foil, glitter or shiny cracker wrapping can't be recycled: use the scrunch test, and if it springs back it goes in general waste
  4. Next year choose plastic-free crackers or make your own

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National rules

The answer isn't the same in every UK nation. Choose your council to see the one that applies to you.

England and Scotland

Recycle at home

Yes. Put it in your recycling bin.

Flatten boxes and keep them dry; greasy or food-soaked card goes in general waste.

Also: Recycling centre

Wales

Recycle at home

Yes. Put it in your recycling bin.

Flatten boxes, keep them dry and put them with your paper; greasy or food-soaked card goes in general waste.

Also: Recycling centre

Wales-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source

Northern Ireland

Recycle at home

Yes. Put it in your recycling bin.

Flatten clean card for recycling; greasy card like pizza boxes can go in the brown bin, torn up with plastic removed.

Also: Recycling centre

Northern Ireland-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source

In our guides

Recycle This isn't run by or endorsed by any council or the government. Councils change their services, so check anything important with your council.