Bin colours
What goes in the blue bin?
Usually: Mixed recycling, or paper and card only. Some councils use a blue bin or bag just for paper and cardboard.
A blue bin almost always means recycling. In many areas it takes mixed recycling: paper, card, plastic bottles and tubs, tins, cans and cartons, and sometimes glass. Where a council collects paper and card separately, the blue bin or bag is often the paper one.
Tips for your blue bin
- Rinse food out of tubs and tins, and squash bottles.
- Keep recycling loose, not in plastic bags, unless your council says otherwise.
- Flatten boxes so they do not jam the bin.
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.