Recycling rules for Derby

Accepted

Not accepted

• ✗Food waste — Contaminates recyclingInstead: Green food waste container
• ✗Nappies and sanitary products — Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Black bin
• ✗Plastic bags and film — Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Supermarket soft plastics collection points
• ✗Crisp and snack packets — Flexible plastics are not acceptedInstead: Supermarket soft plastics recycling
• ✗Sweet wrappers and other flexible plastics — Not accepted in the blue bin
• ✗Textiles and clothing — Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Sell or donate if in good condition
• ✗Polystyrene — Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Polystyrene packaging goes in the black bin
• ✗Recycling in bags — Items must be placed loose inside the bin
• ✗Food waste caddies and containers — Hard plastic; can't be recycled in the blue binInstead: Raynesway HWRC returns them to council stock

Common mistakes

• ⚠Batteries — Supermarket battery recycling points; fire risk in bins
• ⚠Electrical items — Raynesway HWRC, drop-off points or retailer schemes
• ⚠Vapes — Raynesway HWRC or local drop-off points

Accepted

• ✓Uneaten food and plate scrapings
• ✓Raw and cooked meat — Bones included
• ✓Raw and cooked fish — Bones included
• ✓Dairy products, cheese and egg
• ✓Teabags and coffee grounds
• ✓Rice, pasta and beans
• ✓Bread, cakes and pastries
• ✓Raw and cooked vegetables
• ✓Whole fruit and peelings
• ✓Mouldy and out-of-date food — Including ready meals
• ✓Bags and liners used to line the caddy — Any type: carrier, bread, potato or compostable bags

Not accepted

• ✗Food packaging — Not food: plastic (except liners), glass, metal, card
• ✗Non-food items — The green container is for food waste only
• ✗Liquids like soup, milk or cooking oil — Containers aren't sealed, so liquids spill

Common mistakes

• ⚠Food waste in the brown bin→ goes in Food Waste — Brown bins with food in are not collected

Accepted

• ✓Grass cuttings
• ✓Leaves and hedge trimmings
• ✓Small branches and twigs — Cut back large branches so they fit
• ✓Windfall fruit
• ✓Plants, weeds and cut flowers
• ✓Pet waste from vegetarian animals — E.g. rabbits or hamsters, including bedding
• ✓Real Christmas trees — Trunk thinner than 12cm, cut down, decorations off

Not accepted

• ✗Food waste — Garden waste only from 31 March 2026Instead: Green food waste container
• ✗Soil, rubble, stones or turf — Not accepted in the brown bin
• ✗Plant pots, garden furniture or plastics — Not accepted in the brown bin
• ✗Large logs or timber — Not accepted in the brown bin
• ✗Nappies or sanitary products — Not accepted in the brown binInstead: Black bin
• ✗Plastic bags or packaging — Includes biodegradable and compostable plastics
• ✗Liquids, oils or fats — Not accepted in the brown bin
• ✗Pet waste or bedding from other pets — Only accepted from vegetarian pets like rabbitsInstead: Cat litter and pet waste go bagged in the black bin
• ✗Christmas tree decorations — Cannot be composted

Common mistakes

• ⚠Compostable bags and liners→ goes in Food Waste — Not in the brown bin; fine as food caddy liners
• ⚠Cat litter→ goes in General Waste — Bagged, in the black bin