What Goes in My Bins?

If your bin has the wrong items in it, or it is too heavy to move, it may be refused collection. Find out what can be put in each bin:

• Recycling (usually blue bin)

• Garden waste (usually green bin)

• Domestic waste (usually grey bin)

• Useful information

• Plastic resin codes

• Frozen waste

Recycling

Here are the most common items. For a more comprehensive list, please check out our A-Z of waste page.

We take:

• plastic packaging bottles, bottle tops, pots, tubs, trays, clean flexible plant pots, carrier bags, bread bags, cling film and bubble wrap

• glass bottles and jars (including broken glass bottles and jars)

• paper and card (except shredded paper, which can go in the garden bin)

• newspapers and magazines

• cans and tins

• aerosols

• clean foil

• drinks and food cartons.

Please make sure containers are empty and clean so they do not contaminate other material. Please put lids, tops, sprays and pumps back on.

We don't take:

• food 

• clothes, textiles or shoes (take to charity shops, clothing banks)

• black sacks/bin bags (any bags used need to be clear)

• batteries (recycle at household recycling centres and some shops, visit Take Charge for more information)

• polystyrene/foam/sponge

• cellulose/crinkly plastic and crisp packets (such as salad leaf bags, recycle at some supermarkets)

• hard plastic such as toys or housewares (recycle at household recycling centres)

• heavy metals such as housewares or poles (recycle at household recycling centres)

• Pyrex-type glass or mirrors (recycle at household recycling centres)

• paint tins (recycle at household recycling centres)

• tissues (clean or used)

• wood.

If you have extra recycling that won't fit in your wheeled bin, we will take it if it is placed in a clear/transparent sack next to your bin. Any other type of sacks will not be collected.

To find out how the materials we collect are recycled, please take a look at this video.

Garden waste

Here are the most common items. For a more comprehensive list, please check out our A-Z of waste page.

We take:

• garden waste, such as grass cuttings, hedge trimmings and leaves

• real Christmas trees can be put next to your bin for composting in January. If the tree is taller than your bin, please chop it to the size of your bin

• untreated wood

• shredded paper (if mixed in with other garden waste)

• straw and sawdust

• cold ashes (if mixed with other garden waste).

We don't take:

• food waste

• plastic

• plastic type bags, including corn starch, compostable, degradable and biodegradable

• other domestic waste

• turf, soil or compost

• treated wood (this can be recycled at the household recycling centres)

• rubble

• cat or dog waste.

All garden waste is processed by Thalia at their site in Waterbeach where it is made into good quality soil improver and used on agricultural land.

Further information on garden waste and composting

Domestic waste

Here are the most common items. For a more comprehensive list, please check out our A-Z of waste page.

We take:

• household rubbish that cannot be recycled, composted or reused

• polystyrene

• cigarette ends

• cat or dog waste

• nappies/sanitary waste/wet wipes/tissues/face masks.

We don't take:

• hot ashes

• heavy materials

• electrical and electronic equipment (recycle at dedicated recycling points household recycling centres and some retails stores, visit Recycle Your Electricals for more information)

• batteries (recycle at household recycling centres and some supermarkets, visit Take Charge for more information)

• fluorescent tubes/light bulbs (recycle at household recycling centres)

• liquids

• oil and paint (recycle at household recycling centres)

• building/DIY waste.

Any excess waste outside of the bin will not be collected.

If you have a sack collection, only waste in the blue sacks provided will be collected.

Useful information

• do not overfill your wheeled bin and ensure the lid is closed

• if your bin is too heavy to move, it will not be emptied

• if the bin has the wrong items in it, we may refuse to take it.

Plastic resin codes

View more information on plastic resin codes.

Frozen waste

The contents of your bins may freeze during very cold weather. We may not be able to empty your bin if the contents become frozen and are stuck inside the bin.

We will leave the lid of the bin open where possible to show that the crew have tried to empty the bin. We will not return to empty frozen bins before the next scheduled collection.

To avoid this situation you can:

• wrap food waste in paper

• store your bin where it is less likely to freeze, for example in a shed or garage

• loosen the waste inside the bin before your collection is due

• put your bin out for collection every time so you are not stuck with a full bin.