Recycling rules for Buckinghamshire

Accepted

Not accepted

• ✗Paper and cardboard — Use the paper box, except in Aylesbury ValeInstead: Paper and cardboard box
• ✗Plastic bags or liners — Recycle these at most supermarkets
• ✗Cling film — Not accepted in mixed recycling
• ✗Sweet or biscuit wrappers — Not accepted in mixed recycling
• ✗Plant pots — Not accepted in mixed recycling
• ✗Toys — Not accepted in mixed recycling
• ✗China and household glassware — Not accepted in mixed recycling
• ✗Polystyrene — Not accepted in mixed recyclingInstead: General waste bin
• ✗Pet food pouches — Not accepted in mixed recycling
• ✗Electrical items — Take these to a Household Recycling CentreInstead: Carrier bag on top of your recycling bin
• ✗Takeaway cups — Not accepted in mixed recycling
• ✗Coat hangers — Not accepted in mixed recycling
• ✗Vapes — Do not put vapes in your binsInstead: Clear bag on top of your recycling bin lid
• ✗Broken glass in recycling sacks — Wrap it safely and put it in general waste

Common mistakes

• ⚠Paper and cardboard→ goes in Paper & Card — Except Aylesbury Vale, where all recycling shares one bin
• ⚠Batteries — Loose in a small clear bag on top of any bin
• ⚠Small electricals — In a carrier bag on top of your recycling bin
• ⚠Textiles — Recycling centres, textile banks or kerbside sacks

Accepted

• ✓Uneaten food and plate scrapings
• ✓Mouldy or out of date food
• ✓Raw and cooked meat or fish — Including bones
• ✓Dairy products — Such as cheese
• ✓Fruit and vegetables — Raw, cooked or peelings
• ✓Eggs and eggshells
• ✓Tea bags and coffee grounds
• ✓Rice, pasta and beans
• ✓Baked goods — Cakes, bread and pastries
• ✓Pet food

Not accepted

• ✗Non-food products — Including nappies
• ✗Packaging of any kind — Not accepted in the food waste caddy
• ✗Liquids such as milk — May leak when the food is transported
• ✗Black bin liners — Not accepted as caddy linersInstead: Compostable bags, clear bags, carrier bags or newspaper
• ✗Rubble sacks or hard plastic packaging — Not accepted as caddy liners

Accepted

• ✓Grass clippings
• ✓Cuttings from trees or hedges — Including leaves
• ✓Small branches — Maximum diameter 10 centimetres
• ✓Non-noxious weeds, dead plants and flowers
• ✓Fallen fruit

Not accepted

• ✗Plastic carrier bags or bin liners — Not accepted in the garden waste bin
• ✗Compostable liners — Not accepted in the garden waste bin
• ✗Food waste — Not accepted in the garden waste binInstead: Food waste caddy
• ✗Paper or cardboard — Not accepted in the garden waste bin
• ✗Animal litter or bedding — Not accepted in the garden waste bin
• ✗Large branches or timber — Not accepted in the garden waste bin
• ✗Soil, turf, stones or rubble — Not accepted in the garden waste bin
• ✗Plant pots — Not accepted in the garden waste bin
• ✗Harmful weeds — Such as Japanese knotweed
• ✗Plants treated with agricultural chemicals — Not accepted in the garden waste bin

Accepted

• ✓Paper — Magazines, newspapers, envelopes and junk mail
• ✓Shredded paper — Must be put in an envelope
• ✓Cardboard — Packaging, corrugated card, toilet and kitchen rolls
• ✓Greeting cards
• ✓Books, directories and catalogues

Not accepted

• ✗Plastic packaging, film or carrier bags — Not accepted in paper and card recycling
• ✗Cartons — Put in mixed recyclingInstead: Mixed recycling
• ✗Waxed or laminated paper and cardboard — Such as crisp tubes and ice cream cartons
• ✗Takeaway cups — Usually lined with a thin plastic film