Recycling rules for Crawley
Based on Crawley published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Crawley.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Crawley
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Crawley's recycling bin
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Food waste: Crawley has a separate food waste collection
Takes all uneaten food, plate scrapings, mouldy and out of date food and more.
Shredded paper: Not accepted in Crawley's recycling bin
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Your bins in Crawley, by colour
Container colours as published by Crawley. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Grey bin (orange lid)
Food waste
Availability: Individual households; shared bins start 2027
Green bin (green lid)
Garden waste
Availability: optional, chargeable service
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Recycling and textiles, we will collect:
- Cartons
- Catalogues and magazines
- Cereal and egg boxes
- Empty aerosols
- Foil containers and tin foil
- Food and drink cans
- Glass bottles and jars
- Newspapers
- Paper and envelopes
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic tubs, trays and containers
- Telephone directories
- Books · only a few to not make the bin too heavy
- Plastic plant pots (any colour except black) larger than 40 millimetres by 40 millimetres
Not accepted
Recycling and textiles, we won’t collect:
- Batteries
- Crisp packets
- Crockery
- Drinking glasses
- Electrical items
- Metallic food pouches
- Paper towels
- Plastic bags or film
- Plastic toys, furniture
- Black plastic plant pots or trays
- Plastic plant pots or trays (any colour) smaller than 40mm by 40mm
- Polystyrene
- Pyrex glass
- Shredded paper
Food Waste
Accepted
Food waste:
- All uneaten food
- Plate scrapings
- Mouldy and out of date food
Food waste, dairy:
- Dairy products
- Eggs including shells
Food waste, bread and pastries:
- Bread
Food waste, meat and bones:
- Raw meat
- Cooked meat
Food waste, tea and coffee:
- Tea bags
- Coffee grounds
Food waste, fruit and vegetables:
- Peelings
Not accepted
What can't go in my food waste bin?:
- Oils
- Liquids
- Flowers
- Non-food items
- Animal waste
- Pet bedding
Garden Waste
Accepted
Garden waste recycling bin, we accept the following items::
- Grass cuttings
- Weeds
- Hedge and shrub cuttings
- Flowers and plants
- Leaves
- Tree cuttings
Not accepted
Garden waste recycling bin, we do not accept the following items::
- Food waste including fruit and veg grown at home
- Branches bigger than wrist thickness (100 millimeters or 4 inches) or treated wood
- Excess soil, turf, ash, concrete, stones or rubble
- General household waste including animal waste, cat litter, hay or straw
- Notifiable plants
- Plastic bags, plant pots or seed trays
When are bins collected in Crawley?
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 Crawley’s own words: “We collect waste on all bank holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. If your collection falls on one of these days, we'll collect it on an alternative date, which is published each year.” See the council’s page →
In Crawley’s own words: “For individual households, we collect food waste weekly, and general waste and recycling fortnightly on alternate weeks.”
No streets in Crawley 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 Crawley?
In Crawley, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Crawley?
In Crawley, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin.
What bin does food waste go in Crawley?
In Crawley, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes all uneaten food, plate scrapings, mouldy and out of date food and more.
What bin does shredded paper go in Crawley?
In Crawley, shredded paper can't go in your recycling bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Crawley?
Crawley's recycling bin accepts cartons, catalogues and magazines, cereal and egg boxes, empty aerosols, foil containers and tin foil, food and drink cans, and more.
What goes in the food waste bin in Crawley?
Crawley's food waste bin accepts all uneaten food, plate scrapings, mouldy and out of date food, dairy products, eggs including shells, bread, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Crawley?
Crawley's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, weeds, hedge and shrub cuttings, flowers and plants, leaves, tree cuttings, and more.
What can't be recycled in Crawley?
Items not accepted in Crawley: batteries, crisp packets, crockery, drinking glasses.
Helpful guides
Source: Crawley council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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