Recycling rules for Cheltenham
Based on Cheltenham published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Cheltenham.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Cheltenham
Polystyrene: Goes in your recycling bin
Green box one.
Food waste: Cheltenham has a separate food waste collection
Takes all food, cooked and raw, tea bags and coffee grounds, out of date or mouldy food and more.
Shredded paper: Goes in your recycling bin
Green box two; inside a paper bag.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Green box one; put lids inside the tin.
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Green box one.
Drink cartons: Goes in your recycling bin
Green box one; rinse and flatten (keep the lids on).
Your bins in Cheltenham, by colour
Container colours as published by Cheltenham. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Green bin
Non-recyclable household rubbish
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Tins, plastics and cartons (Tetra Pak) - green box one:
- Plastic pots and tubs · Green box one
- Plastic bottles · Green box one
- Plastic trays and punnets (we accept black plastic but not black polystyrene) · Green box one
- Plastic chocolate and biscuit tubs and trays · Green box one
- Other clear, rigid plastic packaging · Green box one
- Plastic dishwasher tablet and washing powder tubs · Green box one
- Metal drink cans · Green box one
- Food tins · Green box one; put lids inside the tin
- Biscuit and chocolate tins and lids · Green box one
- Aerosols (remove plastic caps and place these separately in the box) · Green box one
- Aluminium foil · Green box one; scrunch together to form a ball
- Aluminium foil trays · Green box one
- Aluminium tubes · Green box one; remove plastic caps
- Food and drink cartons (Tetra Pak) · Green box one; rinse and flatten (keep the lids on)
Paper, newspapers and magazines - green box two:
- Newspapers and supplements · Green box two
- Magazines, brochures and catalogues · Green box two
- Shredded paper · Green box two; inside a paper bag
- Telephone directories · Green box two
- Junk mail and flyers · Green box two
- Envelopes, including those with a window · Green box two
Glass bottles and jars - green box three:
- Bottles of any colour · Green box three
- Jars · Green box three
- Non-food bottles · Green box three
- Household batteries
- Small electrical items · In recycling box, inside a plastic bag
Recycling: green box and blue bag, which types of batteries can be recycled?:
- Battery packs from laptops, mobile phones, power tools and remote control units
Recycling: green box and blue bag, items we will collect::
- Kitchen appliances such as toasters, kettles
- Home appliances such as irons, radios, lamps
- Hand-held power tools
- Mobile/digital phones
- Cameras
- Small games consoles, tablets, e-readers
- Fairy lights, solar-powered lights
- Electrical cables and chargers
- Children's electronic toys
- Vapes
Not accepted
We cannot collect any of the following in your recycling box::
- Medication blister packs
- Soft plastic such as film lids or wrappers
- Paint potsInstead: Local recycling centre
- Plastic toys
- Polystyrene packaging
- Medical plastic such as syringes or epipens
- PPE gloves or masks
- Laminated foil pouches
- Metal containers for chemicals
- General kitchen ware
- Paper that is stained with foodstuffs, grease, paint or dirt
- Hygiene/sanitary products
- Used paper towels
- Tissues
- Cotton wool and makeup pads
- Wet wipes
- Sticky papers
- Foil wrapping paper or gift bags
- Crisp or sweet packets
- Wallpaper and decoration paper
- Glass cookware
- Drinking glasses
- Ceramics
- Vases
- Nail varnish bottles
- Mirrors or window panes
- Light bulbs and tubes
- Broken glass
We cannot collect any of the following in your recycling bag::
- Card that contains foodstuffs, dirt or paint
- Glitter covered greetings cards
Recycling: green box and blue bag, we will not collect::
- TVs and monitors
- Large appliances such as vacuums and microwaves
- Light bulbs/fluorescent tubes
Tips (4)
- • All cardboard must be inside the bag
- • Only recycling should be put in your boxes and bags
- • Tie your collection bags securely in a double knot
- • Please tie all bags
Food Waste
Accepted
Put the following in your food waste caddy::
- All food, cooked and raw
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Out of date or mouldy food
- Raw and cooked meat, including bones
- Dairy products such as cheese
- Eggs and egg shell
- Baked goods such as bread, cakes and pastries
- Fruit and vegetables including peelings
- Rice, pasta, beans
Not accepted
Do not put any of these items in your food waste bin::
- Non-food products including nappies
- Packaging of any kind
- Any household recycling
- Liquids such as milk · May leak causing spillages
- Dog waste, cat litter or dead animals
Garden Waste
Accepted
What you can put into your brown garden waste bin::
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge and shrub clippings
- Leaves, twigs and bark
- Plants, flowers and weeds
- Windfall fruit
- Small branches
Not accepted
What you should not put in the brown garden waste bin::
- Soil
- Animal waste · however pet bedding from herbivores is accepted
- Food waste (cooked or uncooked)
- Vegetable peelings
- Large branches
- Plant pots and growbags
- Ash
When are bins collected in Cheltenham?
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 Cheltenham’s own words: “When there is a bank holiday in the week, refuse is normally collected one day later. Separate arrangements are made for the Christmas/New Year period. Check our bank holiday collections page for details.” See the council’s page →
In Cheltenham’s own words: “We will collect your recycling boxes and bag together with your food caddy one week. Your green refuse bin and food caddy will be collected on the same day the following week.”
No streets in Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham?
In Cheltenham, plastic trays and punnets (we accept black plastic but not black polystyrene) goes in your recycling bin. Green box one.
What bin does food waste go in Cheltenham?
In Cheltenham, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes all food, cooked and raw, tea bags and coffee grounds, out of date or mouldy food and more.
What bin does shredded paper go in Cheltenham?
In Cheltenham, shredded paper goes in your recycling bin. Green box two; inside a paper bag.
What bin do tins and cans go in Cheltenham?
In Cheltenham, food tins go in your recycling bin. Green box one; put lids inside the tin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Cheltenham?
Cheltenham's recycling bin accepts plastic pots and tubs, plastic bottles, plastic trays and punnets (we accept black plastic but not black polystyrene), plastic chocolate and biscuit tubs and trays, other clear, rigid plastic packaging, plastic dishwasher tablet and washing powder tubs, and more. Green box one.
What goes in the food waste bin in Cheltenham?
Cheltenham's food waste bin accepts all food, cooked and raw, tea bags and coffee grounds, out of date or mouldy food, raw and cooked meat, including bones, dairy products such as cheese, eggs and egg shell, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Cheltenham?
Cheltenham's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, hedge and shrub clippings, leaves, twigs and bark, plants, flowers and weeds, windfall fruit, small branches, and more.
What can't be recycled in Cheltenham?
Items not accepted in Cheltenham: medication blister packs, soft plastic such as film lids or wrappers, paint pots, plastic toys. Liquids such as milk — may leak causing spillages.
Helpful guides
Source: Cheltenham council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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