Recycling Tips for 2026

10 tips that actually cut contamination

1. 1

   Recycle loose, never bagged

   Put recyclables straight into the bin, not inside a carrier bag or bin bag. Many sorting facilities cannot open bags and treat the whole thing as rubbish, so bagged recycling is one of the most common reasons a load gets rejected. (The exception is soft plastics you are taking to a supermarket, see tip 7.)

2. 2

   When in doubt, leave it out

   It is tempting to put a questionable item in the recycling and hope for the best, but wishcycling backfires. A contaminated load is worse than a clean one with a few items binned, because contamination can downgrade or reject the whole batch. If you are unsure and cannot check, general waste is the safer choice.

3. 3

   Give containers a quick rinse

   Food residue contaminates other recycling, especially paper and card. A quick cold rinse is enough, you do not need them spotless or to use hot water. Leftover sauce in a jar or grease in a tray is what causes the problems.

4. 4

   Keep paper and cardboard dry and clean

   Moisture and grease ruin paper recycling. Flatten cardboard to save space, but tear off and bin any greasy or food-soaked parts. The clean lid of a pizza box can usually be recycled while the greasy base cannot.

5. 5

   Empty first, and crush only if your council allows it

   Squashing bottles and cans saves room and is fine for most collections. Just check your council's guidance, because a small number sort by shape and prefer items left uncrushed.

6. 6

   A recycling symbol is not a promise

   The recycling symbol on packaging means an item is technically recyclable, not that your council collects it. Follow the OPRL “Recycle” or “Don't Recycle” label, and check your local rules. See our recycling symbols guide.

7. 7

   Take soft plastics to supermarket drop-off2026 update

   Bread bags, crisp packets, bubble wrap and plastic film are not collected in most kerbside bins yet. For now, save them up and use the soft-plastic collection points at larger supermarkets. Kerbside collection of soft plastics is due across England by 2027, but is not in place for most areas yet. More on soft-plastic symbols.

8. 8

   Polystyrene and foam go in general waste

   Expanded polystyrene, the white protective foam and takeaway boxes, is not collected in almost all UK kerbside recycling. It belongs in your general waste bin. Why polystyrene is not recycled.

9. 9

   Use your food waste caddyNew for 2026

   Weekly separate food waste collections are rolling out across England in 2026 under the Simpler Recycling rules. If your area has started, use the caddy for all food scraps, including cooked food and bones, and line it to keep it clean. Some councils are still catching up, so check whether yours has begun. What goes in the food caddy.

10. 10

    Check your local rules, because they are not the same everywhere

    The UK does not have one recycling system, it has hundreds. The same item can be recyclable in one town and general waste in the next, and bin colours and collection days vary too. The only reliable answer for your home is your own council's, so check yours below.

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