10 common recycling mistakes and how to avoid them
Contamination happens when the wrong material is placed in a collection or when a recyclable item is too dirty to process. These are ten frequent problems.
- Greasy pizza boxes. Tear off and recycle clean card; put heavily soiled sections in the route your council specifies. Full answer →
- Batteries or vapes in household bins. Use retailer take-back or a dedicated collection. Batteries → Vapes →
- Nappies in dry recycling. They normally belong in general waste or a dedicated local service.
- Food left in packaging. Empty containers and give them a quick rinse; a dishwasher-level clean is unnecessary.
- Recycling tied inside plastic bags. Present it loose unless your council specifically supplies or requests a recycling bag.
- Drinking glasses, Pyrex, mirrors or window glass with bottles and jars. These materials have different properties and normally need another route. Pyrex answer →
- Disposable cups in paper recycling. Many have a plastic lining and need a dedicated cup scheme. Cup answer →
- Soft plastics mixed with rigid containers. Use your council's film collection or a participating retailer where the pack is accepted.
- Tissues and kitchen roll in paper recycling. Their short fibres and contamination make them unsuitable for normal paper collections.
- Loose tiny components. Follow the label; small lids are often best replaced on the empty container so they stay with it during sorting.
When the local list and the packaging label differ, follow your council's current instructions for your address.
Source: Recycle Now — recycling contamination.
✓ Last checked: 17 Jul 2026. Spot an error or an out-of-date rule?