The UK's independent recycling guide

Can you recycle it?

Search an item for a direct answer, then check the local route for your postcode.

Pizza boxesCrisp packetsHousehold batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V)Disposable coffee cupsBubble wrapVapes and e-cigarettes
249+items answered
1,116recycling locations
361UK councils
128,519+news stories, 35y archive
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Choose the job you need to do

Check an itemClear UK verdicts and preparation tips. Find a recycling centreSearch nearby sites by postcode. Check local rulesCouncil links, rates and collection guidance. Build a disposal listSave items while clearing out a room or home.
Common questions

Awkward items, answered

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Pizza boxesRecycling bin if clean or lightly stained; tear off greasy sections for general waste ♻️ Yes — kerbside recycling Crisp packetsSupermarket soft-plastic points; kerbside in England by March 2027 📍 Check locally Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V)Battery collection points — supermarkets, shops, recycling centres. NEVER any bin 🔄 Specialist take-back Disposable coffee cupsIn-store cup collection points — not your kerbside recycling 🔄 Specialist take-back Bubble wrapReuse first; supermarket soft-plastic points; never kerbside today 📍 Check locally Vapes and e-cigarettesVape shop or supermarket take-back bins, or recycling centre — NEVER any household bin 🔄 Specialist take-back PolystyreneGeneral waste — break it up; a few recycling centres take expanded polystyrene 🚫 Not recyclable LED light bulbsLamp-recycling points at recycling centres and larger shops — not kerbside, not general waste ideally 🏭 Recycling centre
249+ items answered

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Paper & cardPlasticsGlassMetalsElectricalsBatteriesTextiles & shoesFood & gardenHazardousFurniture & bulkyBathroomKitchenGarage & DIYGardenKids & babyEverything else
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Today in recycling

council A date for your diary: Winchester Green Fair 2026 31 Jul 2026 industry EU new car registrations rise 5.7% in first half - European Rubber Journal 24 Jul 2026 council Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Community Involvement Support Officer - careers.liverpool.gov.uk 24 Jul 2026 council DigiKnow Databank session, Stopford House - Stockport Council 24 Jul 2026 industry Hawaii becomes fifth US state to adopt Clean Fuel Standard - Bioenergy Insight Magazine 24 Jul 2026

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Practical guides

Make fewer sorting mistakes

What goes in each bin? A practical UK household guideA room-by-room guide to dry recycling, food waste, garden waste, general waste, retailer take-back and recycling-centre items.Reduce, reuse and repair before recyclingA practical decision order for avoiding waste, extending product life and choosing donation, resale, repair, recycling or disposal.10 common recycling mistakes and how to avoid themThe most common forms of household recycling contamination, including food residue, bagged recycling, batteries, glassware and soft plastic.
Official data, ranked

The council league table

Compare the latest published household recycling rates for UK local authorities and download the data.

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Central repair evidence

Try repair before recycling

Compare community repair outcomes by product type and find a mapped repair shop near your postcode.

Explore repair data
IndependentNo product sales or paid listings.
UK-specificCouncil systems, not generic overseas rules.
Traceable dataGovernment statistics, council links and OpenStreetMap.
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