Recycling rules for Coventry

Accepted

Not accepted

• ✗Plastic film and bags — Shred and tangle around the sorting machineryInstead: Many larger supermarkets recycle plastic bags
• ✗Black bags — Treated as contamination; the bin won't be collected
• ✗Shredded paper — Too small to capture during sortingInstead: Green-lidded bin, animal bedding or home composting
• ✗Broken glass — Wrap it to avoid injuryInstead: Green-lidded bin
• ✗Polystyrene — Cannot currently be recycledInstead: Small amounts, bagged, in the green-lidded bin; large amounts to the tip
• ✗Nappies — Contain human wasteInstead: Bag them and put them in the green-lidded bin
• ✗Food waste — Not accepted in the blue-lidded binInstead: Weekly food waste bin
• ✗Plastic plant pots — Not currently recyclableInstead: Green-lidded bin, or reuse them in the garden
• ✗Black plastic — Not accepted in the blue-lidded bin
• ✗Wallpaper — Not accepted in the blue-lidded bin
• ✗Light bulbs — Should not go in household binsInstead: Household Recycling and Reuse Centre (the tip)
• ✗Textiles, clothes and bedding — Not accepted in the blue-lidded binInstead: Charity shop or the tip
• ✗Cookware such as pots, pans or Pyrex — Pyrex can explode in the glass recycling furnaceInstead: Charity shop if usable, otherwise the tip
• ✗Coffee cups — Drinks cups can't be recycled at presentInstead: Use a reusable coffee cup or mug
• ✗Greasy pizza boxes — Boxes contaminated with pizza can't be recycled
• ✗Bubble wrap — Cannot currently be recycledInstead: Reuse it to wrap valuables

Common mistakes

• ⚠Cling film→ goes in General Waste — Tangles sorting machinery; green-lidded bin
• ⚠Crisp packets and chocolate wrappers→ goes in General Waste — Soft mixed plastic; 2 Terracycle drop-off points in the city
• ⚠Glitter or foil wrapping paper→ goes in General Waste — Can't be recycled; green-lidded bin
• ⚠Plastic and glass baubles→ goes in General Waste — Charity shop if good; otherwise green-lidded bin or tip
• ⚠Bin tags→ goes in General Waste — Plastic-coated card; green-lidded bin
• ⚠China plates and ornaments→ goes in General Waste — Charity shop if good; otherwise wrap sharp edges
• ⚠Kitchen roll→ goes in General Waste — Green-lidded bin, or use it in home composting
• ⚠Batteries — In-store battery collection points or the tip
• ⚠Electrical items — Never in any household bin; the tip or bulky collection
• ⚠Vapes — Take to the Household Recycling and Reuse Centre
• ⚠Nitrous oxide (NOS) canisters — Can explode; take to the tip, never in any bin
• ⚠Hard plastics such as garden furniture and toys — Recycle at the Household Recycling and Reuse Centre
• ⚠Paint — Community RePaint scheme or the tip

Accepted

• ✓All uneaten food and plate scrapings
• ✓Eggs and eggshells
• ✓Mouldy and out-of-date food
• ✓Rice, pasta and beans
• ✓Raw and cooked fish and meat — Including bones
• ✓Pet food
• ✓Bread, cakes and pastries
• ✓Dairy products — Including cheese and yoghurt
• ✓Teabags and coffee grounds
• ✓Raw and cooked vegetables and fruit — Whole and peelings

Not accepted

• ✗Packaging — Including 'biodegradable' packaging
• ✗Liquids — Not accepted in the food waste bin
• ✗Oil or liquid fat — Not accepted in the food waste binInstead: Seal in a container and take to the tip
• ✗Non-food items — Not accepted in the food waste bin
• ✗Garden waste or flowers — Not accepted in the food waste binInstead: Brown-lidded garden waste bin, home compost or the tip
• ✗Pet waste — Not accepted in the food waste binInstead: Bag it and put it in the green-lidded bin
• ✗Non-compostable liners — Liners must be compostableInstead: Newspaper or a paper bag

Common mistakes

• ⚠Food waste in the brown-lidded garden bin→ goes in Food Waste — No longer allowed now the food waste service has started