Recycling rules for Brighton and Hove
Based on Brighton and Hove published guidance · Last verified May 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Brighton and Hove.
Search what goes in your bins →Recycling
Accepted
Metals
- Tins and cans — Empty and rinsed
- Aerosol cans — All kinds, empty
Paper & Card
- Cardboard — Clean, flattened or torn to fit bin
- Paper and magazines — Includes envelopes with windows
Plastics
- Plastic bottles — All kinds — rinsed, squashed, lids on
- Plastic pots, tubs and trays — Rinsed and squashed — no plant pots
Glass
- Glass bottles and jars — Black glass box — rinsed, metal lids on
Not accepted
- General waste and black bags — Goes in general waste bin
- Food waste — Goes in food waste caddy
- Plastic bags and soft plastic — Jams sorting machineryInstead: Reuse or recycle at supermarkets
- Plastic plant pots — Not recyclable kerbsideInstead: General waste or local take-back schemes
- Cartons and Tetra Pak — Not accepted kerbsideInstead: Take to carton recycling point
- Nappies and dog waste — General waste — double wrap
- Textiles and clothing — Not recyclable kerbsideInstead: Swap, donate, or textile recycling point
- Batteries and vapes — Fire risk in binsInstead: Return to shops where purchased
- Electrical items — Specialist disposalInstead: Repair, donate, or WEEE recycling point
- Drinking glasses and Pyrex — Different glass type to bottlesInstead: Pass on or wrap and put in general waste
- Shredded paper — Not accepted in recycling bin
Common mistakes
- Pyrex and cookware→ goes in General Waste — Wrap broken items, general waste
- Wet or dirty cardboard→ goes in General Waste — Clogs machinery at sorting facility
Tips (12)
- • Recycling must be clean
- • Recycling must be dry
- • Recycling must be loose
- • No bags in recycling bin
- • Squash bottles and tubs
- • Lids on plastic bottles
- • Metal lids on glass jars
- • Flatten cardboard to fit bin
- • No food in recycling
- • No batteries or vapes
- • Plastic lids in general waste
- • Glass in black glass box
When are bins collected in Brighton and Hove?
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.
Helpful Guides
Source: Brighton and Hove council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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