Bin colours
What goes in the black bin?
Usually: General waste (rubbish that cannot be recycled or composted). In a few areas a black box is used for glass or mixed recycling.
The black wheelie bin is the most common container for general household rubbish in the UK. It takes things that cannot go in any recycling or food bin: crisp packets in many areas, nappies, polystyrene, broken crockery, cat litter and vacuum dust. Many councils now empty it every two or three weeks because so much more goes into recycling and food caddies.
Tips for your black bin
- Bag loose rubbish so it does not blow out when tipped.
- Close the lid fully. Many crews will not take extra bags or bins with the lid raised.
- Food scraps belong in the food caddy, not the black bin, wherever food waste is collected.
Check what your council uses
Because colours vary, the only sure answer comes from your council. Enter your postcode to go straight to its bin pages.