What waste goes where

Real Christmas trees

If you have a real Christmas tree, why not recycle it after Christmas through one of the organisation’s below. You will need to book to arrange collection.

• St Andrews Scouts: https://xmastreerecycling.azurewebsites.net/
• East Cheshire Hospice: https://www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/support-us/christmas-tree-collection/
• St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice: https://slhospice.co.uk/event/christmastree/

Aerosols (safe)
for example, hair products, deodorant and spray polish. Must be empty.

Silver grey recycling bin.

Aerosols (hazardous)
containing hazardous liquids or gases e.g. paint sprays

Can be taken to your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Animal waste 

Black household waste bin

Artificial Christmas trees

Working trees can be donated to a charity shop. Check before you donate. They can also be offered on a community recycling app such as Freegle, Freecycle, Olio or groups on Facebook.

Alternatively small Christmas trees can go in the Black household Waste bin. Larger Christmas trees should go to a local household waste and recycling centre. Trees with lights must not go in any household bin.

Asbestos (bonded)

Special skips for small quantities of bonded asbestos waste at the Pyms Lane (Crewe) and Danes Moss (Macclesfield) centres. You should telephone the site before you visit to check available capacity and report to the attendant when you arrive. More information about asbestos.

Ash

Black household waste bin. Ash must be bagged and cold before adding it to your black household bin.

Batteries

Car and household batteries can be taken to your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Biodegradable face wipes

Black household waste bin - wipes don't break down fast enough in the composting process.

Books

Local charity shop, book bank, or visit the webuybooks website.

Bric-a-brac

General reusable items can be taken to your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Brita water filters

You are able to return them to BRITA to be recycled. Visit the BRITA website, search your postcode and you will find the stores near you where you can take the filters to be returned to the supplier.

Bubble wrap

Black household waste bin.

Calor camping gas containers

We cannot accept the canisters in the Silver grey recycling bin due to explosive risk. Find your nearest camping gas outlet and more information on exchange and disposal.

Cans
food, drink, biscuit and sweet tins - rinsed with labels and lids left on

Silver grey recycling bin.

Cardboard 
including egg boxes, kitchen/toilet rolls, corrugated/thick cardboard and cereal/ready meal boxes

Silver grey recycling bin (flatten and remove tape).

Cards and wrapping paper 
that contain glitter

Black household waste bin.

Carpet

Your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Cartons 
including juice, milk, smoothie and fabric conditioner

Silver grey recycling bin.

CDs

Also includes DVDs and Blu-Ray

These cannot be recycled as they are made from a different plastic that is not recognised by the sorting facility. However, if they are commercially made, please take them to your nearest charity shop.

Ceramics 
such as mugs, vases and crockery

Black household waste bin.

Chocolate wrappers

Black household waste bin.

Cling film

Black household waste bin.

Clinical waste

Clinical waste is not accepted in any of our bins or at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. You should discuss how to dispose of this with your GP or the NHS trust.

Clothing, textiles and shoes

As your recyclables are mixed together, we cannot collect textiles or fabric as they would be damaged. Please take them to a local charity shop, textile bank or Household Waste Recycling Centre. Duvets, pillows and cushion pads should not be put in the textile banks.

Old duvets, pillows and cushion pads must go into your black bin or can be taken to your local Household waste recycling centre

Coffee grounds and coffee pods

Find out about recycling coffee pods via Podback or put used or empty coffee pods in your black household waste bin.

If you have a garden waste subscription, coffee grounds can be put in your garden bin or can be home composted.

Cooking oil 
vegetable/cooking oil

Small amounts should be put in a sealed container then it can be put in the black bin.

Crisp packets

Black household waste bin or take to a Terracycle drop off point.

Cutlery

Black household Waste bin.

Disposable nappies 
The benefits of using real nappies

Black household waste bin.

Drinking glasses

Black household waste bin - the glass has a different melting point to glass bottles and jars, so cannot be recycled through the Silver grey recycling bin scheme.

Electronic cigarettes / vapes

Your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Engine oil

This should be put in a sealed container and taken to the recycling centre.

Expired medicine

Expired medicine can't be accepted in our bins or in the Household Waste Recycling Centres. It should be returned to a local pharmacy.

Face masks and face coverings

Black household waste bin. If someone in your household has COVID-19, their tissues and face coverings and gloves should be double bagged before it's put in the black bin. Remember to wash your hands after handling used PPE.

Flowers (cut)

Green or brown garden bin.

Foil 
and cleaned foil/aluminium trays

Silver grey recycling bin.

Food waste

From January 2024, if you would like your garden bin to be collected, you will need to be signed up to our Garden Waste Recycling Scheme.

If you have a subscription, you may choose to continue recycling your food waste by putting it in your garden bin. 

If you do not have a subscription or do not have a garden bin, you can put food waste in your black bin. If you have space, you could also try composting at home.

Fridges and freezers

Your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Fruit or vegetable punnets

Silver grey recycling bin.

Gas cylinders

Gas cylinders cannot be accepted as they are the property of the gas company and should be returned to the supplier.

Glass broken or shattered

Black bin (wrapped up).

Glass or plastic bottles and jars 
rinsed, lids can be left on or off

Silver grey recycling bin.

Grass cuttings 
Lawn mowings/edgings

Green or brown garden bin. If you don't subscribe to the garden waste scheme, you can take to your nearest household waste recycling centre.

Hard plastics

Black household waste bin.

Hazardous waste

Examples could include; fuel, acids or nitrates.

We can accept a limited quantity of hazardous waste at our Household Waste Recycling Centres. You will need to call the site ahead of time to discuss which items you have and whether they are able to accept them. 

Hedge clippings

Green or brown garden bin.

Inhalers

These need to be returned to participating pharmacies.

Ink Cartridges

There are many charities which welcome unwanted ink cartridges. You can also find local stores who will refill ink cartridges so you can re-use them. Alternatively, you can take them to a household waste recycling centre.

Japanese knotweed

Do not place this in any of your bins. Please contact the Environment Agency for disposal.

Junk mail

Silver recycling bin. To reduce your waste and your carbon footprint: you can contact the Mail Preference Service to stop unsolicited mail. You can register with the Royal Mail to stop unaddressed, junk mail.

Kitchenware and utensils

Good quality kitchenware and utensils can be taken to charity shops.  Items that are no longer usable must go into your black bin or can be taken to your local Household waste recycling centre.

Knives

Knives, blades or scissors must be placed into a metal container and taken to a Household waste and recycling centre. 

Leaves

Green or brown garden bin. If you don't subscribe, you can take to your nearest household waste recycling centre.

Light bulbs

Light bulbs - Household waste and recycling centre.

Mattresses

Beds, mattresses and soft furnishings can be taken to your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Microwave film

Silver grey recycling bin.

Needles and syringes

Should never be put in your recycling bin, household waste bin or any other refuse bin. Arrangements for disposing of needles and syringes in sharps bin containers vary from area to area. You may be able to return it to your GP surgery or local pharmacy. For more information contact your NHS trust.

Paint

Your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Paper and envelopes 
including newspaper, magazines, telephone directories, catalogues, brochures, leaflets, junk mail and greeting cards

Silver grey recycling bin or nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Pet litter/Animal bedding

Black household waste bin.

Photographs

As photos have a plastic film covering, they cannot be recycled and would 'contaminate' the paper recycling. These should be disposed of in the black refuse bin.

Pill / tablet blister packs

These cannot be recycled in your home recycling.

Superdrug pharmacies offer a route for recycling, such as the blister pack take-back scheme. Or if you don’t have a Superdrug nearby, it’s worth checking with your local pharmacy, or your nearest hospital to see if they provide a take-back recycling service.

Plants from hanging baskets and planters 
(without soil)

Green or brown garden bin.

Plants, twigs and small branches
(without soil) These must be small enough to fit inside the bin.

Green or brown garden bin.

Plasterboard 
from small DIY projects

Only accepted at Danes Moss, Macclesfield and Pyms Lane Crewe. You must remove anything attached to the plasterboard for example tiles and insulation. We recommend that you hire a skip for larger scale projects.

Plastic bags and polythene 
plastic bags must be empty, clean and not tied.

Silver grey recycling bin.

If your plastic bag is damaged, you may be able to return it to some retailers for a free replacement. Check when you purchase your bag.

Plastic cleaning bottles 
including fabric conditioner, detergent and bleach

Silver grey recycling bin.

Plastic cleaning bottles (trigger spray)

Black household waste bin - trigger mechanism.

Silver grey recycling bin - plastic bottle.

Plastic drink bottles 
rinsed, lids can be left on or off

Silver grey recycling bin.

Plastic pens / biro recycling

Can be taken to Sandbach Boys School, Crewe Road,Sandbach,CW11 3NS. They can be dropped off at the main reception during term time between 8:30 am and 3:30pm. Or black household waste bin.

Plastic plant pots

These are made from a rigid plastic and are not accepted by the sorting facility, they should be put in the black household waste bin or taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Plastic toiletry bottles 
including shampoo

Silver grey recycling bin.

Plastic toys

Children's plastic toys and CD's can be reused through charity shops. If the toy is beyond use and can't be taken to a charity shop it can go into the black bin as long as the batteries are removed.

Plastic trays 
including meat, fish and cake trays

Silver grey recycling bin.

Plastic yoghurt pots 
ice cream and margarine tubs

Silver grey recycling bin.

Polystyrene

Black household waste bin.

Printer cartridges

Printer cartridges are specialist recycling and we can't accept them in any of our bins or at the Household Waste and Recycling Centres. In many cases they can be returned to their manufacturer or retailer. You may also be able to find a dedicated recycler on the Recycle Now website. 

Real Christmas trees

If you have a real Christmas tree, why not recycle it after Christmas through one of the organisation’s below. You will need to book to arrange collection.

• St Andrews Scouts: https://xmastreerecycling.azurewebsites.net/
• East Cheshire Hospice: https://www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/support-us/christmas-tree-collection/
• St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice: https://slhospice.co.uk/event/christmastree/

Rubble

Your nearest household waste and recycling centre. For larger scale projects it is recommended that you hire a skip.

Sanitary products

Black household waste bin.

Scrap metal

Take scrap metal (aluminium, brass, copper, iron, lead, stainless steel etc.) to your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Shredded paper

Either the Silver grey recycling bin (it must be loose and only a small quantity) or bagged in the black household waste bin.

Small domestic appliances 
for example hair straighteners, kettles, shavers, mobile phones, drills, power tools, phones

Your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Large retailers who have a turnover for sales of electronic equipment in excess of £100,000 take back waste electrical and electronic equipment. For example, you will be able to buy a new kettle and return your old one. 

Soil

Your nearest household waste and recycling centre. We recommend that you hire a skip for larger scale projects.

Soup or sauce pots

Silver grey recycling bin.

Sturdy bags for life

If your sturdy bag for life is damaged and unusable, it can be returned to the retailer that you purchased it from, to be replaced with a new bag. Please double-check when purchasing your bag for life that the retailer offers this facility. If you are not able to return your damaged bag for life to the retailer, please place it in your black household waste bin.

Tea bags/Coffee grounds

If you have a garden waste subscription, tea bags / coffee grounds can be put in your garden bin or can be home composted.

Televisions and computer monitors

Your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Thin plastic tray lids

Silver grey (recycling) bin.

Toothpaste tubes or dispensers

Toothpaste tubes and dispensers may still contain small amounts of toothpaste, so are not recyclable due to contamination. Please put the tubes or dispensers in the black household waste bin.

Tree bark

Green or brown garden bin.

Tree cuttings and branches

We cannot accept tree cuttings and branches in any bins, as our composting method is not able to handle them effectively. Branches should be taken to your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Tyres

Tyres cannot be accepted at Household waste and recycling centres. To find out how to dispose of tyres in your local area, type ‘how to dispose of tyres’ into any search engine or search a phonebook/yellow pages.

Video tapes

Video tapes are also not recyclable through the Silver grey recycling bin scheme as the tape can wrap around the equipment, which occasionally causes the sorting facility to close down while the tape is cut and disposed of.

Wax or waxed packaging

Black household waste bin.

Waxed paper coffee/tea cups

Silver grey recycling bin.

Weed Killer

The HWRC centres have a chemicals container, bring your waste to the attention of a member of staff at the centre

Weeds

Green or brown garden bin.

Windfall from fruit trees

Green or brown garden bin.

Window panes/sheets of glass

Take to your nearest household waste recycling centre.

Wood

Your nearest household waste and recycling centre.

Wrapping paper 
(without glitter)

Silver grey recycling bin.