Most household recycling collections accept common packaging made from paper, card, glass, metal and selected plastics. The exact container and collection method still depend on where you live, so use this guide as a starting point and check your council’s current list before putting out your recycling.
Quick answer: clean paper and card, glass bottles and jars, metal food and drink containers, and common plastic packaging are widely collected. Batteries, electrical items, nappies, ceramics and drinking glasses need another route.
Commonly collected household recycling
Paper and card usually include newspapers, magazines, envelopes, cardboard boxes and clean food packaging. Keep them reasonably clean and dry, flatten large boxes, and remove obvious non-paper packing materials.
Glass collections normally focus on bottles and jars. Drinking glasses, mirrors, window glass, cookware, light bulbs and ceramics have different melting properties and should not be added unless your council specifically says otherwise.
Metal recycling commonly includes food tins, drinks cans, clean foil and empty aerosols. Never put batteries, electrical equipment, gas cylinders or containers holding hazardous residues into ordinary recycling.
Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays are increasingly standard. In England, the core dry-recycling materials have been standardised under Simpler Recycling from 31 March 2026, while plastic films and bags are due to join household plastic collections from 31 March 2027. Transitional and local arrangements can still affect what residents see.
Items that commonly cause problems
Food-soiled card, absorbent tissues, nappies and wet wipes are not ordinary paper recycling. Compostable or biodegradable packaging should not be assumed acceptable: follow the council’s named route.
Do not place batteries or electrical items in a household recycling bin. They can be damaged during collection and sorting, creating a serious fire risk. Use retailer take-back, a designated collection point or a household recycling centre.
Empty containers and remove significant food or liquid. They do not need to be spotless, but heavily contaminated packaging can spoil other material. Follow local instructions about lids, labels and whether glass is collected at the kerbside.
Check the rule for your address
Recycling systems use different bins, boxes and bags across the UK. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own policy frameworks, and councils decide practical collection arrangements. Use the BinDayz postcode checker to reach your official council information rather than relying on bin colour alone.
Check the rule for your address
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Official sources
Sources checked: July 2026. Local services and national requirements can change.