Rubbish and recycling in the UK: bins, tips and recycling centres

There is no national bin colour code in the UK: each council chooses its own containers, so the same colour can mean different things in neighbouring areas. Your council's website or the Recycle Now Recycling Locator shows what applies at your address.

England – Simpler Recycling (in force since 31 March 2026). By default councils must collect four streams separately:

• Food and garden waste – food waste must be collected weekly and free of charge, according to GOV.UK with a kitchen caddy and a larger outdoor bin. Food and garden waste may share one container. Councils may charge for garden waste collection.
• Paper and card – may be mixed with other dry recyclables if the council justifies this in a written assessment.
• Other dry recyclables – glass, metal, plastic and cartons; these may be collected together. Plastic film and bags must be collected by 31 March 2027.
• Residual waste – everything that cannot be recycled.

Scotland – each of the 32 councils has its own system. Zero Waste Scotland's Recycling Sorter shows which colour bin to use in your area.

Wales – every council collects glass, paper, card, metal cans and plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, and 99% of households have a food waste collection. Many councils follow the Welsh Government's Collections Blueprint, where recyclables are sorted into separate containers at the kerbside.

Northern Ireland – district councils set their own collections; DAERA funds council recycling services, including kerbside food waste.

HWRCs are run by councils for household waste from residents. Which materials are accepted, opening hours and rules are set by each council, so check before you go.

What varies by council:

• Booking – some councils require an online booking slot.
• Proof of address – some councils ask for ID or proof of address to stop out-of-area or trade use.
• Vans, trailers and charges – rules and fees for vans, trailers and certain materials are set by each council.

DIY waste in England is free within limits. Since 31 December 2023 councils must accept householders' own DIY waste (rubble, plasterboard, bathroom suites etc.) like other household waste if:

• it comes from work you did yourself at your own home (not paid work),
• it fits in two 50-litre rubble bags, or is one item no larger than 2,000 × 750 × 700 mm (about the size of a bath or shower screen),
• and you make no more than 4 visits in 4 weeks.

Above these limits, check with your council whether charges apply. The free-DIY rule applies to England; in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland check your council.

• Bulky waste (sofas, fridges, washing machines): most councils collect large items for a fee, or take them to the HWRC.
• Electricals (WEEE): anything with a plug, battery or the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol must not go in the general bin. When you buy a new appliance, the retailer must take back your old one of the same type free of charge (like-for-like), whether you bought in store, online or by mail order, and give you at least 28 days to bring it back. Shops with an electrical sales area over 400 m² must take small electricals under 25 cm free of charge even if you buy nothing. Retailers can instead join the Distributor Take Back Scheme.
• Batteries: never put batteries in household bins – damaged lithium-ion batteries can start fires. Shops that sell 32 kg or more of portable batteries a year (roughly one 4-pack of AA a day) must take used batteries back free of charge, so according to Recycle Now most supermarkets have battery bins. Some councils also collect batteries at the kerbside in a clear bag.
• Paint and chemicals: Recycle Now advises that councils cannot accept liquid paint: harden it (paint hardener, sawdust or sand) or donate usable paint to Community RePaint. Solvent-based paint, thinners and white spirit are hazardous waste – use GOV.UK's postcode search for your council's hazardous waste service (England and Wales).
• Engine oil: keep it sealed and unmixed, and take it to a recycling centre that accepts it.
• Medicines: return unused or out-of-date medicines to a community pharmacy. Never flush them down the toilet.
• Rubble: small DIY amounts go to the HWRC (limits above); for larger amounts, check with your council or use a registered waste carrier.
• Solar panels and home battery storage: photovoltaic panels are electrical waste (their own WEEE category). Not every HWRC accepts them – for example Lincolnshire County Council does not – so ask your installer or council first.
• Clothes: charity shops, textile banks, in-store take-back at some retailers, or kerbside textile collections where offered.

A deposit return scheme (DRS) starts on 1 October 2027:

• England and Northern Ireland: according to GOV.UK, the scheme covers single-use drinks containers of 150 ml to 3 litres made of PET plastic, steel or aluminium; you get the deposit back when you return the empty container.
• Scotland: the Scottish Government confirms its scheme launches in October 2027, run by Exchange for Change. Check gov.scot for which containers are included.
• Deposit amount: according to the scheme administrator Exchange for Change, the deposit will be a flat 20p per container in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Wales: own scheme from the same date that also includes glass bottles (zero-pence deposit and no labelling for glass in the first four years).

Until then, bottles and cans go in your normal recycling.

According to GOV.UK, weekly food waste collections in England are mandated under the Environment Act 2021, the basis of Simpler Recycling. Electricals fall under the WEEE Regulations 2013, batteries under the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009. Householders have a legal duty of care: if someone takes your waste away, check they are a registered waste carrier (in England on the Environment Agency public register).