Recycling rules for Falkirk
Based on Falkirk published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Falkirk.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Falkirk
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Falkirk's recycling bin
Use green bin.
Glass bottles and jars: Not accepted in Falkirk's recycling bin
Use black box or take to a recycling point.
Food waste: Falkirk has a separate food waste collection
Takes dairy and eggshells, fruit, vegetables and more.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue bin.
Clothes: Not accepted in Falkirk's recycling bin
use textile banks or take to a recycling centres.
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue bin.
Your bins in Falkirk, by colour
Container colours as published by Falkirk. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Black box
Glass bottles and jars
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
What you can recycle in the blue bin:
- Food trays · Blue bin
- Drinks bottles · Blue bin
- Milk bottles · Blue bin
- Yoghurt pots · Blue bin
- Shampoo bottles · Blue bin
- Drinks cans · Blue bin
- Food tins · Blue bin
- Empty aerosol cans · Blue bin
- Aluminium foil · Blue bin
- Foil trays · Blue bin
Not accepted
Please DO NOT PUT the following materials in your blue bin::
- Plastic cups and strawsInstead: Use the green bin
- Pet food pouchesInstead: Use the green bin
- PolystyreneInstead: Use green bin
- Glass bottlesInstead: Use black box or take to a recycling point
- Food wasteInstead: Use the food waste caddy
- Polythene, such as bubble wrapInstead: Use green bin
- TextilesInstead: use textile banks or take to a recycling centres
- VapesInstead: Take to a recycling centre
Tips (3)
Top tips on using your blue bin:
- • Please rinse and squash cans, tins and plastic containers
- • Flatten your plastic bottles
- • Make sure aerosol cans are empty before recycling
Food Waste
Accepted
What can I put in my food waste caddy?:
- Dairy and eggshells
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Bread, cakes and pastries
- Rice, pasta and beans
- Teabags and coffee grounds
- Pet food
Not accepted
Do not put these items in the food waste caddy::
- Oils and fats
- Liquids
Garden Waste
Accepted
Garden waste permits, yes please:
- Grass cuttings
- Weeds and clippings
- Flowers and plants
- Leaves
- Hedge trimmings
- Prunings
- Twigs and small branches
- Windfall fruit
- Real Christmas trees
Not accepted
Garden waste permits, no thanks:
- Soil and turfInstead: Take to recycling centre
- StonesInstead: Take to recycling centre
- Building rubbleInstead: Take to recycling centre
- Plant potsInstead: Take to recycling centre
- Plastic bags and packagingInstead: Use green bin
- Food wasteInstead: Use food waste caddy
When are bins collected in Falkirk?
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 Falkirk’s own words: “If your collection day falls on a public holiday, your bin will be emptied that day as usual, except over Christmas and New Year. Your calendar will show alternative dates when your containers will be emptied.” See the council’s page →
In Falkirk’s own words: “Garden waste will be collected every 4 weeks between April and November before moving to an on-demand service between December and March.”
No streets in Falkirk 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 Falkirk?
In Falkirk, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin. Use green bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Falkirk?
In Falkirk, glass bottles can't go in your recycling bin. Use black box or take to a recycling point.
What bin does food waste go in Falkirk?
In Falkirk, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes dairy and eggshells, fruit, vegetables and more.
What bin do tins and cans go in Falkirk?
In Falkirk, food tins go in your recycling bin. Blue bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Falkirk?
Falkirk's recycling bin accepts food trays, drinks bottles, milk bottles, yoghurt pots, shampoo bottles, drinks cans, and more. Blue bin.
What goes in the food waste bin in Falkirk?
Falkirk's food waste bin accepts dairy and eggshells, fruit, vegetables, bread, cakes and pastries, rice, pasta and beans, teabags and coffee grounds, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Falkirk?
Falkirk's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, weeds and clippings, flowers and plants, leaves, hedge trimmings, prunings, and more.
What can't be recycled in Falkirk?
Items not accepted in Falkirk: plastic cups and straws, pet food pouches, polystyrene, glass bottles.
Helpful guides
Source: Falkirk council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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