Can you recycle black plastic trays?
Black plastic was historically unrecyclable because optical sorters couldn't detect carbon-black pigment, and some councils still exclude it. Many manufacturers have switched to detectable black plastic and most ready-meal trays are now non-black, but rules genuinely vary — check your council. If in doubt and your council doesn't mention black plastic, include it rinsed with other trays.
Tips
- Check your council's A-Z for 'black plastic'
- Supermarkets have largely phased it out — the problem is shrinking
Which bin does it go in?
Recycling bin in many areas now; general waste where rejected Exact rules depend on your council — check its website or look up your postcode below.
Councils can use different containers and accepted-item lists.
Background: Plastic numbers 1–7 explained.
Also searched as: black ready meal trays, black microwave trays.
✓ Checked against current UK guidance: 14 Jul 2026. Spot an error or an out-of-date rule?