Recycling rules for Coventry
Based on Coventry published guidance · Last verified September 2026
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us
Here's what currently goes in each bin in Coventry.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Coventry
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Coventry's recycling bin
Small amounts, bagged, in the green-lidded bin; large amounts to the tip.
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Flatten first.
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Food waste: Coventry has a separate food waste collection
Takes all uneaten food and plate scrapings, eggs and eggshells, mouldy and out-of-date food and more.
Shredded paper: Not accepted in Coventry's recycling bin
Green-lidded bin, animal bedding or home composting.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Wash and squash them first.
Your bins in Coventry, by colour
Blue bin
Recycling
Blue is the recycling colour in 35 of the 91 councils with a checked recycling colour.
Blue lid
Green bin
Rubbish
Green is the general rubbish colour in 16 of the 100 councils with a checked general rubbish colour.
Green lid
Brown bin
Garden waste
Brown is the garden waste colour in 77 of the 141 councils with a checked garden waste colour.
Brown lid; paid subscription permit, £40 per bin (1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027)
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Metals
- Aluminium foil · UK basics
- Food and drink cans · Wash and squash them first · Symbol guide
- Aerosols · Don't pierce, crush or flatten; lid goes in rubbish · UK basics
Plastics
- Plastic and foil takeaway containers · Wash first; polystyrene ones are not recyclable
- Plastic bottles · Milk, detergent, toiletry and cleaning bottles · Symbol guide
- Plastic food trays · Including fruit or meat trays
- Plastic food pots and tubs · Including yogurt and dessert pots; wash first
Glass
- Glass bottles and jars · Symbol guide
Paper & Card
- Newspapers and magazines · Symbol guide
- Cardboard, including toilet roll tubes · Remove staples and squash flat
- Cereal boxes · Flatten first
- Junk mail
- Mixed paper and card
- Envelopes
- Catalogues and telephone directories
- Wrapping paper that stays scrunched · Scrunch test: paper that springs back can't be recycled
- Christmas cards · Tear off any glitter sections first
Other
- Food and drink cartons · Including Tetrapaks; wash and squash first · Symbol guide
Not accepted
- Plastic film and bags · UK basicsInstead: Many larger supermarkets recycle plastic bags
- Black bags
- Shredded paper · UK basicsInstead: Green-lidded bin, animal bedding or home composting
- Broken glassInstead: Green-lidded bin
- Polystyrene · UK basicsInstead: Small amounts, bagged, in the green-lidded bin; large amounts to the tip
- NappiesInstead: Bag them and put them in the green-lidded bin
- Food wasteInstead: Weekly food waste bin
- Plastic plant potsInstead: Green-lidded bin, or reuse them in the garden
- Black plastic · UK basics
- Wallpaper
- Light bulbsInstead: Household Recycling and Reuse Centre (the tip)
- Textiles, clothes and bedding · UK basicsInstead: Charity shop or the tip
- Cookware such as pots, pans or PyrexInstead: Charity shop if usable, otherwise the tip
- Coffee cups · UK basicsInstead: Use a reusable coffee cup or mug
- Greasy pizza boxes
- Bubble wrapInstead: 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 · UK basics
- 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 · UK basics
- Electrical items · Never in any household bin; the tip or bulky collection · Symbol guide
- 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
Tips (16)
- • Out by 7am, handles to road
- • Collected every fortnight
- • No plastic bags in the bin
- • Wash and squash cans, bottles
- • Don't pierce or crush aerosols
- • Remove staples, flatten boxes
- • Labels can stay on
- • No shredded paper
- • No black plastic
- • No polystyrene
- • Wrap broken glass: green bin
- • Lid must shut; don't compact
- • Do the scrunch test on paper
- • Codes 1 or 2 are recyclable
- • Unsure? Leave it out
- • Extra recycling bins are free
Food Waste
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
- Liquids
- Oil or liquid fatInstead: Seal in a container and take to the tip
- Non-food items
- Garden waste or flowersInstead: Brown-lidded garden waste bin, home compost or the tip
- Pet wasteInstead: Bag it and put it in the green-lidded bin
- Non-compostable linersInstead: 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
Tips (15)
- • Collected every week
- • Out by 7am on collection day
- • Liners must be compostable
- • Newspaper or paper bag liners
- • Keep the lid closed and locked
- • Push handle down to lock
- • Put your house number on it
- • Bones are accepted
- • Mouldy food is accepted
- • No biodegradable packaging
- • No liquids, oil or fat
- • Rinse every few weeks
- • Put it by your other bins
- • Flats: use the communal bin
- • No food in the garden bin
Garden Waste
Accepted
- Grass cuttings
- Shrub and hedge clippings
- Plants and weeds · Not invasive weeds such as Japanese Knotweed
- Leaves
- Twigs and bark
- Flowers
- Straw and hay · If contaminated by animals, use the green-lidded bin
Not accepted
- Black-bagged waste
- Food packaging
- Garden furniture
- Polystyrene
- Coal
- Diseased plants
- Dog poo, cat litter or nappies
- Large amounts of soil or turf
- Tree stumps
- Rubble or bricks
- Weedkiller
- Plastic bags
- Textiles - clothes and beddingInstead: Charity shop or the tip
- Plant potsInstead: Green-lidded bin, or reuse them in the garden
- Nitrous oxide canisters (laughing gas bottles)Instead: The tip
Common mistakes
- Food waste → goes in Food Waste · Not in the brown-lidded bin from September 2026
- Invasive weeds such as Japanese Knotweed → goes in General Waste · Green-lidded bin; never compost them or use the garden bin
Tips (13)
- • Paid annual permit per bin
- • Permit runs 1 June to 31 May
- • No sticker, no collection
- • Collected every fortnight
- • Annual pause at Christmas
- • Out by 7am, handles to road
- • Bring bin in within 24 hours
- • Lid must close fully
- • No compacting; not too heavy
- • Liners: compostable only
- • No extra bags at the side
- • Can share with a neighbour
- • Report a miss within 48 hours
How Coventry compares
- Coventry’s lists say shredded paper does not go in its recycling (“Shredded paper”). Of the 79 councils whose lists say either way, 56 take it.
Food waste in Coventry
In Coventry’s own words (checked September 2026): “Coventry City Council introduced a new weekly food waste recycling service for households across the city.” “Food waste collections across Coventry started in September 2026.”
The government’s rule for England requires “weekly food waste collections for most homes, unless a transitional arrangement applies”. Read it on gov.uk
Which councils collect food waste weeklyAreas covered by Coventry
- Postcode districts all or nearly all in Coventry: CV1, CV2, CV4 and CV5; CV6 (shared with Nuneaton and Bedworth).
- Postcode districts mostly in Coventry: CV3 (shared with Rugby).
- Postcode districts partly in Coventry: CV7 (shared with North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby, Solihull).
Built-up areas (ONS) with the most postcodes in Coventry: Coventry, Keresley Newlands.
Shares count each district’s live postcodes; a district is listed where Coventry has at least 5% of them or 50. Built-up areas are ONS statistical areas, not a list from the council.
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2025. Contains Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2025. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Council homepages: GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Next door
In North Warwickshire the recycling bin is red, the general rubbish bin is black and the garden waste bin is green (availability: paid subscription with permit sticker); here the recycling bin is blue, the general rubbish bin is green and the garden waste bin is brown. Plastic film goes in the recycling in North Warwickshire but not in Coventry.
In Nuneaton and Bedworth the recycling bin is brown, the general rubbish bin is black and the garden waste bin is green (availability: paid subscription, £45 per bin per year); here the recycling bin is blue, the general rubbish bin is green and the garden waste bin is brown. Shredded paper goes in the recycling in Nuneaton and Bedworth but not in Coventry.
In Warwick the general rubbish bin is grey (availability: Homes suitable for a grey bin) and the garden waste bin is green (availability: Paid subscription with valid permit); here the general rubbish bin is green and the garden waste bin is brown. Plastic film goes in the recycling in Warwick but not in Coventry.
In Solihull the recycling bin is brown (availability: Some homes use clear sacks instead) and the garden waste bin is green (availability: annual subscription required); here the recycling bin is blue and the garden waste bin is brown. Plastic film goes in the recycling in Solihull but not in Coventry. Crisp packets go in the recycling in Solihull but not in Coventry.
Neighbouring councils we have checked: North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwick, Solihull.
When are bins collected in Coventry?
Coventry sets collection days by street: find your bin day, or browse neighbours’ schedules by postcode.
Coventry 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.
Coventry collects garden waste all year.
No Coventry streets on BinBosh yet: add yours for neighbours to adopt.
How we checked this page
We checked this guidance against Coventry’s website in September 2026.
Source: Coventry council website, which has the latest updates. Bin colours are as the council publishes them; some homes get a different container.
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us
Every report goes to BinBosh’s owner, who checks it against the council’s own page.
Frequently asked questions
What colour are the bins in Coventry?
In Coventry the recycling bin is blue, the garden waste bin is brown and the general rubbish bin is green. Blue is the recycling colour in 35 of the 91 councils with a checked recycling colour.
Where does glass go in Coventry?
Glass goes in the blue recycling bin in Coventry (“Glass bottles and jars”).
Does Coventry collect food waste, and how often?
In Coventry’s own words (checked September 2026): “Coventry City Council introduced a new weekly food waste recycling service for households across the city.” “Food waste collections across Coventry started in September 2026.”
Is garden waste collected all year in Coventry?
Coventry collects garden waste all year.
Do bin collections change on bank holidays in Coventry?
Coventry 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.
What goes in the recycling bin in Coventry?
Coventry’s recycling bin takes “Aluminium foil”, “Food and drink cans” and “Aerosols”, among other things.
See the full recycling listWork for Coventry? See how BinBosh helps councils →
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