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
Toothpaste tube
Also called: toothpaste, Colgate tube, Aquafresh, squeeze tube, cosmetic 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
- Squeeze out as much as you can
- Put the cap back on
- Tubes with a foil layer may not be accepted, so check the label
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
Recycle at Boots
Free (Advantage Card points if you also spend the minimum in store) · Return in store
Boots takes empty medicine and vitamin blister packs, toothpaste tubes and other hard-to-recycle beauty empties of any brand at participating stores through the Recycle at Boots app.
- Download the Recycle at Boots app and register
- Photograph your empties in the app and wait for them to be approved (approval takes up to 24 hours on weekdays)
- Take at least 5 approved items to a participating Boots store and deposit them in one go
- You get an Advantage Card points voucher, which you collect by spending the minimum in store
Source: recycleatboots.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.