How to start recycling at home: What goes in each bin?

Just the small step of recycling household waste at home is one of the simplest ways to make a big impact on the environment. Every bottle, can or piece of paper you recycle correctly helps reduce landfill waste, conserve natural resources and lower your household’s carbon footprint. In this blog, we explain why recycling matters, how to start recycling at home, what goes in each bin and highlighting common home recycling mistakes.

Why recycling at home matters

Recycling at home is a little thing you can do to make a big difference! By recycling, you’re helping to protect local ecosystems by keeping harmful waste out of landscapes and waterways. It also reduces litter around your neighbourhood, making communities cleaner and safer. Recycling at home encourages people to be more mindful about their daily consumption, prompting people to think more carefully about the products they buy and how they use them. And by introducing these habits at home can have a ripple effect, shaping behaviours in schools, workplaces, and in everyday life.

Woman putting empty plastic bottle in recycling bin in the kitchen. Person in the house kitchen separating waste. Differen...

Understanding recycling basics

Recycling isn’t just tossing items into a bin - it’s the process of turning waste into new products, giving things a second life instead of sending them to a landfill. It’s important to understand the difference between recycling, composting, and general waste: recyclables are reused, compostables break down into nutrient-rich soil, and general waste is sent for disposal or incineration. Make sure to pay attention to symbols, like the recycling triangle and plastic identification numbers (#1–#7), helps ensure items are sorted correctly.

What goes in each bin

The types and colour of your recycling bins will depend on your location and council. However here is a general breakdown of what goes in each

Paper & Cardboard: Such as newspapers, magazines, letters, envelopes (without plastic windows), flattened cardboard boxes. But things like greasy takeaway boxes, tissues or waxed cartons cannot be put in here!

Plastics & Cans: Such as plastic bottles and containers, drinks cans, food tins, foil trays and aluminium foil. However, you cannot recycle plastic carrier bags, cling film, polystyrene or heavily soiled packaging. So we recommend rinsing plastic that’s had food in to remove residue. Also, a handy tip is to squash your plastic bottles to save space in your bin!

Glass: This includes clear, brown and green glass bottles and jars. Do not include any ceramics, window glass or lightbulbs as these are not recyclable in standard glass bins.

Food & Garden Waste: In this bin you can put garden trimmings, leaves, grass clippings as well as fruit/vegetable scraps, tea bags and coffee grounds. Do not put any meat, fish, dairy, plastics or non-biodegradable items in this bin.

General Waste: Everything else that cannot be recycled or composted goes in this bin, like soiled packaging, nappies, broken ceramics and certain plastics.

Three plastic trash bins in kitchen cabinet with segregated household garbage - PET bottles, paper and metal cans shot fro...

Common recycling mistakes

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to make mistakes when recycling at home. Contamination is a common issue - dirty or incorrectly sorted items can spoil whole batches of recyclables, so rinsing food containers, cans, and bottles is essential. Also many people think that all plastics are recyclable, but only certain types are acceptable. Finally, hazardous items such as batteries, electronics, paint, and chemicals should never go in any standard household bins, they need to be taken to designated recycling or disposal points.

Local recycling rules

Recycling rules in the UK vary by local council, what’s accepted in one council area may not be in another. So it’s important to check your council’s guidance on curbside collections, bin colours, and accepted materials. You’ll find that some councils separate glass, plastics and paper, while others used mixed recycling bins. By following your council’s specific rules, you ensure that your recycling is actually processed and doesn’t end up being rejected at sorting facilities.

Color coded recycling bins for paper, plastic, glass and general waste on a city street, showing mandatory waste separatio...

Recycling at home doesn’t have to be complicated and you can really make your efforts count towards reducing waste, protecting the environment and contributing to a more sustainable future for yourself and across the UK.