What you can put in your bins
Silver bin
Use your silver (grey) bin for items that can be recycled. Leave items loose, not inside plastic bags or tubs, to make them easier to sort.
Ensure that your recycling is clean and dry before placing it in your recycling bin.
'Leave it Loose' recycling leaflet (PDF, 4MB)
Things that can go in:
- non-hazardous aerosols (empty and undamaged)
including hairspray / deodorant, shaving foam, polish, toiletries and cleaning spray aerosols
- cardboard, paper, newspapers and magazines
including window envelopes, directories and catalogues
- cartons
including empty juice cartons, food cartons and milk cartons
- glass bottles and jars
- plastic bags and polythene
- plastic bottles
including empty drinks, detergent, cleaning / bleach, and toiletry bottles
- plastic containers and trays
including empty yoghurt / cream / custard / soup / sauce pots, margarine and ice cream tubs, fruit and vegetable punnets
- tins, cans and foil
including empty food / drinks cans, biscuit tins, takeaway containers and clean foil
Things that can't go in:
- asbestos
- batteries and electrical items
- clothing, textiles, carpets and duvets
- food waste
- fluorescent tubes
- gas canisters
- knives and sharp objects
- lithium-ion batteries (from items including mobile phones, laptops, electric toothbrushes, vapes and wireless earbuds)
- nappies
- polystyrene and hard plastics
- paint sprays and hazardous aerosols
- paint
- rubble or bricks
- soil or large branches
- syringes or needles
- tied bin bags / carrier bags - leave your recycling loose
- vapes (e-cigarettes)
If you have something to throw away or recycle that's not on this list, use our A to Z of what waste goes where to find out how to recycle or dispose of it.
Download print version
If you want a handy reference, download a print-friendly version of what goes in your silver bin (PDF, 237KB).
Page last reviewed: 28 July 2025
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