England
Recycle at home
Yes. Put it in your recycling bin.
Rigid plastic packaging such as pots, tubs and trays goes in recycling once empty and rinsed.
England-wide guidance, checked 26 Sep 2026. View the source
Plastic cosmetics pot or tube
Also called: moisturiser pot, cream jar, hand cream tube, sun cream, lotion tube, vitamin tub
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
- Scrape out and wipe clean
- Recycle pot and lid
Where to take it
Place data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Get the app
Snap a photo instead of typing, and get a reminder the evening before bin day.
National rules
The answer isn't the same in every UK nation. Choose your council to see the one that applies to you.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Recycle at home
Yes. Put it in your recycling bin.
Rigid plastic pots, tubs and trays go in recycling once empty and rinsed.
- Scotland-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source
- Northern Ireland-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source
Wales
Recycle at home
Yes. Put it in your recycling bin.
Empty and rinse pots, tubs and trays and put them with your cans and plastics.
Wales-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source
Rules in the rest of the UK
England
Recycle at home
Yes. Put it in your recycling bin.
Rigid plastic packaging such as pots, tubs and trays goes in recycling once empty and rinsed.
England-wide guidance, checked 26 Sep 2026. View the source
Scotland
Recycle at home
Yes. Put it in your recycling bin.
Rigid plastic pots, tubs and trays go in recycling once empty and rinsed.
Scotland-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source
Wales
Recycle at home
Yes. Put it in your recycling bin.
Empty and rinse pots, tubs and trays and put them with your cans and plastics.
Wales-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source
Northern Ireland
Recycle at home
Yes. Put it in your recycling bin.
Rigid plastic pots, tubs and trays go in recycling once empty and rinsed.
Northern Ireland-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source
How to recycle it
National schemes anyone in the UK can use.
National scheme
Not confirmed yet
We haven't confirmed this scheme's details yet.
M&S beauty empties take-back (with Handle)
Free · Return in store
Some M&S stores have a box in the beauty section for empty plastic or aluminium beauty packaging of any brand, which Handle turns into new products. M&S listed 100 stores in November 2024, so not every store has one.
- Use up the product and empty the container as far as you can
- Look for the beauty take-back box in the beauty section of an M&S store; not every store has one, so check first
- Drop in bottles, tubes, caps, pumps and tubs made of plastic or aluminium, from any brand
Find your nearest drop-off point Find your nearest M&S
Source: corporate.marksandspencer.com, checked 17 Oct 2026.
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.