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Recycling rules for Bolton

Based on Bolton published guidance · Last verified September 2026

Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Bolton.

Search what goes in your bins →

Quick answers for Bolton

Your bins in Bolton, by colour

Container colours as published by Bolton. Some homes get a different container — see the notes.

Green bin

Food and garden waste

Food may go in a green food waste container instead (collected weekly)

What goes in the food waste bin→What goes in the garden waste bin→

Grey bin

General waste

Extra capacity: request a waste audit; £36 charge if approved

What goes in each bin

Recycling

Accepted

Plastics

  • Plastic pots — E.g. yoghurt, soup, cosmetics
  • Plastic tubs — E.g. margarine, laundry powder, chocolates
  • Plastic trays, including black plastic trays — E.g. raw and cooked meat, fruit and veg punnets
  • Plastic bottles — E.g. milk, pop, bleach, shampoo, trigger sprays

Glass

  • Glass bottles and jars — No lids

Metals

  • Food tins and drinks cans
  • Metal tubes — E.g. tomato puree, personal care tubes
  • Aerosols
  • Foil

Not accepted

  • Crisp packets — We will not empty burgundy bins that contain these
  • Plastic film — We will not empty burgundy bins that contain these
  • Plastic bags — We will not empty burgundy bins that contain these
  • Pet food pouches — We will not empty burgundy bins that contain these
  • Rubbish and recycling meant for other bins — We will not empty burgundy bins that contain these

Common mistakes

  • Food and drink cartons (Tetra Pak)→ goes in Paper & Card — Listed for the beige bin (paper and card)
Tips (14)
  • • Collected every two weeks
  • • Out by 7am on collection day
  • • Rinse items before binning
  • • No lids on glass jars/bottles
  • • Black plastic trays accepted
  • • Trigger spray bottles accepted
  • • Foil and aerosols accepted
  • • No crisp packets
  • • No plastic film or bags
  • • No pet food pouches
  • • Lid must be closed
  • • No side bags: not collected
  • • Extra? Add after bin emptied
  • • Cartons go in the beige bin

Food Waste

Accepted

  • Raw and cooked meat and fish — Including bones
  • Raw and cooked fruit and vegetables
  • Leftovers from your plate
  • Rice, pasta and beans
  • Bread, cake and pastries
  • Cheese and eggs — Including egg shells
  • Tea bags and coffee grounds

Not accepted

  • Liquids such as milk and cooking oils — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Plastic bags — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Plastic food packaging — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Glass — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Rubble — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Turf and ash — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Soil and stone — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Dog and cat faeces — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Cat litter — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Rubbish and recycling meant for other bins — We will not empty green bins that contain these
Tips (13)
  • • Container collected weekly
  • • Green bin or food container
  • • Out by 7am on collection day
  • • Lid must be closed
  • • Raw and cooked meat accepted
  • • Bones are accepted
  • • Egg shells are accepted
  • • Plate leftovers accepted
  • • Tea bags and coffee grounds ok
  • • No liquids, milk or oil
  • • No plastic bags
  • • No plastic food packaging
  • • Made into compost in 6 weeks

Garden Waste

Accepted

  • Flowers and plants
  • Leaves from the garden
  • Grass cuttings and hedge clippings
  • Twigs and small branches
  • Hay and straw pet bedding — E.g. rabbits and guinea pigs

Not accepted

  • Liquids such as milk and cooking oils — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Plastic bags — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Plastic food packaging — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Glass — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Rubble — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Turf and ash — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Soil and stone — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Dog and cat faeces — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Cat litter — Bin or food container with these won't be emptied
  • Rubbish and recycling meant for other bins — We will not empty green bins that contain these
Tips (14)
  • • Collected every two weeks
  • • Out by 7am on collection day
  • • Lid must be closed
  • • No side bags: not collected
  • • Food waste goes in it too
  • • Grass and hedge clippings ok
  • • Twigs and small branches ok
  • • Hay/straw pet bedding ok
  • • No turf, soil or stones
  • • No rubble, glass or ash
  • • No dog or cat faeces
  • • No cat litter
  • • No plastic bags
  • • Extra green bin: annual fee

Paper & Card

Accepted

Paper & Card

  • Paper and newspapers
  • Magazines and catalogues
  • Books
  • Cardboard — Extra: neatly folded, next to your full bin
  • Card packaging
  • Greetings cards
  • Wrapping paper — Not foil based
  • Envelopes and mail
  • Junk mail

Other

  • Food and drink cartons (Tetra Pak)

Not accepted

  • Plastic bags — We will not empty beige bins that contain these
  • Polystyrene — We will not empty beige bins that contain these
  • Wrapping film — We will not empty beige bins that contain these
  • Paper tissues and paper towels — We will not empty beige bins that contain these
  • Rubbish and recycling meant for other bins — We will not empty beige bins that contain these

Common mistakes

  • Glass bottles and jars→ goes in Recycling — Burgundy bin (no lids), not the beige bin
  • Food and drink cans→ goes in Recycling — Burgundy bin (food tins and drinks cans)
  • Garden waste→ goes in Garden Waste — Green bin, not the beige bin
  • Food waste→ goes in Food Waste — Green bin or green food waste container
Tips (15)
  • • Collected every four weeks
  • • Out by 7am on collection day
  • • Lid must be closed
  • • Fold extra card by full bin
  • • Side card: not bagged/wrapped
  • • Side card must fit in the bin
  • • Keep side card dry and secure
  • • Cartons (Tetra Pak) accepted
  • • Books are accepted
  • • No foil wrapping paper
  • • No tissues or paper towels
  • • No plastic bags or film
  • • No polystyrene
  • • No glass or cans: burgundy
  • • Full? Ask for a waste audit

When are bins collected in Bolton?

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.

Bolton doesn't move bin collections for bank holidays, so your usual day stands. Christmas and New Year weeks can still differ, so check the council's site for those. Your neighbours can vote on the actual day on BinBosh if it changes.

No streets in Bolton 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 polystyrene go in Bolton?

In Bolton, polystyrene can't go in your paper & card bin. We will not empty beige bins that contain these.

What bin does cardboard go in Bolton?

In Bolton, cardboard goes in your paper & card bin. Extra: neatly folded, next to your full bin.

What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Bolton?

In Bolton, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. No lids.

What bin does food waste go in Bolton?

In Bolton, food waste goes in your food waste bin. Green bin or green food waste container.

What goes in the recycling bin in Bolton?

Bolton's recycling bin accepts plastic pots, plastic tubs, plastic trays, including black plastic trays, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, food tins and drinks cans, and more. E.g. yoghurt, soup, cosmetics.

What goes in the food waste bin in Bolton?

Bolton's food waste bin accepts raw and cooked meat and fish, raw and cooked fruit and vegetables, leftovers from your plate, rice, pasta and beans, bread, cake and pastries, cheese and eggs, and more. Including bones.

What goes in the garden waste bin in Bolton?

Bolton's garden waste bin accepts flowers and plants, leaves from the garden, grass cuttings and hedge clippings, twigs and small branches, hay and straw pet bedding, and more. E.g. rabbits and guinea pigs.

What goes in the paper & card bin in Bolton?

Bolton's paper & card bin accepts paper and newspapers, magazines and catalogues, books, cardboard, card packaging, food and drink cartons (tetra pak), and more. Extra: neatly folded, next to your full bin.

Helpful Guides

Recycling Symbols →Food Waste Guide →Common Recycling Questions →Find Your Bin Day →

Source: Bolton council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.

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