Be the BIG Difference

Help us recycle more and cut down waste in Cheshire East

Small everyday changes can make a big impact. By recycling right and reducing the amount of waste we create, we can all help make Cheshire East cleaner and greener.

Our 'Be the BIG Difference' campaign will guide you through simple ways to recycle more, cut down contamination, and get ready for upcoming changes to waste and recycling collections.

This page brings together everything you need to recycle right and reduce waste.

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Jump to:

• Right stuff in the right bin: what waste goes where
• Recycle right: clean, dry and loose
• Batteries and electricals
• What can't go in your silver bin: common misconceptions
• Reducing your waste
• Home composting and reducing food waste

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Right stuff in the right bin: what waste goes where

It’s not always easy to know which bin to use. To help, we’ve created our what waste goes where guide. It lists everyday items and tells you exactly which bin they belong in.

Putting the right items in the right bin means:

• more of your waste can be recycled
• your black bin fills up more slowly
• collection crews can process your waste more safely and efficiently 

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Every tin, bottle and box counts: recycle right

Recycling the right items – and preparing them correctly – makes a big difference. Just one wrong item in your silver bin can spoil a whole load of recycling.

Put items into your silver bin clean, dry and loose.

Keep items clean

Remember to:

• remove food and grease before recycling
• put contaminated items which cannot be cleaned into your black household bin

Keep items dry

If items are wet it can cause:

• paper and cardboard fibres to break down so they cannot be recycled
• mould growth - which contaminates whole batches
• items to stick together, making them difficult to sort

Keep items loose

Items must go into your silver bin loose. If they are placed in bags, boxes or tubes, they are much harder to sort and recycle.

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Batteries and electricals

We’re seeing a worrying rise in fires caused by hazardous waste put in household bins. In 2025 there were more than 30 incidents, including fires in bin lorries and at the Middlewich waste transfer station.

Many of these fires were started by items containing lithium‑ion batteries such as mobile phones, vapes and laptops. 

Do not put batteries or electricals in your household waste bins.

Find out how to dispose of batteries, electricals and other hazardous waste safely.

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What can't go in your silver bin: common misconceptions

Pizza boxes

You can only recycle the parts of the box that are free from grease and food. Put contaminated pizza boxes in your black household waste bin.

Leftover pizza that cannot be eaten can go in your black bin, or in your garden bin if you have a subscription to our Garden Waste Recycling Scheme.

Later this year we’ll be introducing a weekly food waste collection, so your new food waste caddy will be the place for leftovers. Find out more on food waste. 

Crisp packets and sweet wrappers

These are usually made from mixed materials and cannot go in your silver bin. You can take them to some shops and supermarkets.

Glass cookware (Pyrex)

We accept many types of glass, but Pyrex melts at a different temperature to bottles and jars, so it cannot be recycled. If it’s in good condition you can donate it. If not, please put it in your black bin.

Bubble wrap

Bubble wrap cannot go in your silver bin because it tangles around sorting machinery. You can reuse it or donate it to a charity shop, but check first that they accept it. If you cannot reuse or donate it, place it in your black bin.

Nappies

Disposable nappies contain mixed materials so they cannot go in your silver bin. Put nappies in your black bin and, where possible, place them in a tied bag.

Textiles and clothes

Textiles such as clothes, sheets, towels, shoes and other fabric items cannot be recycled through your silver bin. You can donate them to charity shops, sell them online, offer them on reuse apps like Freegle, Olio or Freecycle, take them to textile banks, or use retailer take‑back schemes. If they are worn out and cannot be reused, you can put them in your black bin.

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Reducing your waste

Even the smallest and easiest changes can make a big difference. For example:

• using your own shopping bags
• selling or giving away items you no longer need
• choosing reusable or refillable products
• switching to rechargeable batteries - which are cost effective and eco-friendly

See more tips on reducing household waste.

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Home composting and reducing food waste

Reducing food waste is an easy way to save money at home - try planning meals before you shop or freezing leftovers so they stay fresh for longer. See more tips on saving money and reducing food waste.

You might also want to try turning your kitchen and garden waste into nutrient‑rich compost for your garden by home composting.

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Contact Waste and Recycling