Recycling rules for Belfast
Based on Belfast published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Here's what currently goes in each bin in Belfast.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Belfast
Polystyrene: Usually general waste (UK-wide position)UK-wide, not council-specific
Across the UK, polystyrene is rarely collected at the kerbside and usually belongs in general waste. Belfast's published guidance we hold doesn't list it.
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Recycling bin.
Food waste: Belfast has a separate food waste collection
Takes bread, cake and pastries, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and cheese and more.
Shredded paper: Goes in your garden waste bin
Compost bin.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Recycling bin; empty and clean.
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Recycling bin.
Your bins in Belfast, by colour
Container colours as published by Belfast. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Black bin
General waste
Purple box
Glass recycling
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Recycling bin:
- Aerosol cans · Recycling bin
- Aluminium foil (clean) · Recycling bin
- Biscuit tins · Recycling bin
- Cardboard food boxes · Recycling bin
- Cartons (including TetraPak) · Recycling bin
- Dry, clean cardboard · Recycling bin
- Empty plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays · Recycling bin
- Food tins, drinks tins and cans · Recycling bin; empty and clean
- Magazine and catalogues · Recycling bin
- Paper (no tissues) · Recycling bin
- Soft back books · Recycling bin
- Toilet roll tubes · Recycling bin
Not accepted
What you can't put in your recycling boxes:
- Batteries
- Hand tools
- Loose lids
Food Waste
Accepted
Green food waste bin:
- Bread, cake and pastries
- Fruit and vegetables
- Meat, fish and cheese
- Potato and vegetable peelings
- Rice, beans and pasta
- Teabags and coffee grounds
- Any other leftover food
Garden Waste
Accepted
Compost bin:
- Grass cuttings · Compost bin
- Hedge trimmings · Compost bin
- Leaves, twigs and small branches · Compost bin
- Plants and flowers · Compost bin
- Weeds · Compost bin
- Shredded paper · Compost bin
- Takeaway pizza boxes (torn up) · Compost bin
- Wet paper and wet cardboard · Compost bin
- Food waste · Compost bin
- Cold ashes · Compost bin
- Bones · Compost bin
- Eggshells · Compost bin
- Bottle corks · Compost bin
- Paper napkins · Compost bin
- Fruit and vegetable peelings · Compost bin
We don't have checked glass guidance for Belfast yet.
See Belfast's own guidanceWhen are bins collected in Belfast?
This page covers what goes in each bin. Collection days are set by the council and vary by street. See how to find your bin collection day, or browse streets by postcode to see schedules your neighbours have added.
Bank holidays, in Belfast’s own words: “Some collections may be affected by public and bank holidays. Check your holiday bin or box collection dates.” See the council’s page →
No streets in Belfast on BinBosh yet — be the first to add yours, and your neighbours can adopt it instead of setting up their own.
Frequently asked questions
What bin does cardboard go in Belfast?
In Belfast, cardboard food boxes go in your recycling bin. Recycling bin.
What bin does food waste go in Belfast?
In Belfast, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes bread, cake and pastries, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and cheese and more.
What bin does shredded paper go in Belfast?
In Belfast, shredded paper goes in your garden waste bin. Compost bin.
What bin do tins and cans go in Belfast?
In Belfast, food tins, drinks tins and cans go in your recycling bin. Recycling bin; empty and clean.
What goes in the recycling bin in Belfast?
Belfast's recycling bin accepts aerosol cans, aluminium foil (clean), biscuit tins, cardboard food boxes, cartons (including tetrapak), dry, clean cardboard, and more. Recycling bin.
What goes in the food waste bin in Belfast?
Belfast's food waste bin accepts bread, cake and pastries, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and cheese, potato and vegetable peelings, rice, beans and pasta, teabags and coffee grounds, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Belfast?
Belfast's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, leaves, twigs and small branches, plants and flowers, weeds, shredded paper, and more. Compost bin.
What can't be recycled in Belfast?
Items not accepted in Belfast: batteries, hand tools, loose lids.
Helpful guides
Source: Belfast council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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