Recycling rules for Highland
Based on Highland published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Here's what currently goes in each bin in Highland.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Highland
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Highland's recycling bin
Food waste: Highland has a separate food waste collection
Takes fruit and vegetables, bread, dairy products and more.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Green bin.
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Green bin.
Your bins in Highland, by colour
Container colours as published by Highland. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Blue bin
Paper, card and cardboard
Grey bin
Non-recyclable waste
Brown bin
Garden waste
Availability: selected areas, permit required
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Plastic, metal and containers (green bin), you can recycle:
- Plastic bottles, tubs and trays · Green bin
- Food tins and drink cans · Green bin
- Empty aerosols · Green bin
- Cartons (Tetrapak) · Green bin
- Aluminium food trays · Green bin
Not accepted
Plastic, metal and containers (green bin), do not include:
- Dirty and bagged recycling
- Containers with food residues · Everything must be clean
- Polystyrene
- Bubble wrap
- Plastic bagsInstead: Recycle at locations across Scotland
- Plastic filmInstead: Recycle at locations across Scotland
Food Waste
Accepted
What food waste we accept:
- Fruit and vegetables
- Bread
- Dairy products
- Fish and meat (including bones)
- Rice
- Pasta
- Teabags
- Egg shells
- Ground coffee
Garden Waste
Accepted
What can be recycled in brown bins:
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge trimmings
- Twigs and small branches
- Flowers and branches
- Weeds
Not accepted
What must not be put in brown bins:
- Soil
- Stones
- Turf and rubble
- All types of plastic
- Food waste
- Animal waste material
- Ragwort
- Japanese knotweed
We don't have checked paper and card guidance for Highland yet.
See Highland's own guidanceWhen are bins collected in Highland?
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.
Check with the council over bank holidays. See the council’s page →
No streets in Highland 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 Highland?
In Highland, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin does food waste go in Highland?
In Highland, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes fruit and vegetables, bread, dairy products and more.
What bin do tins and cans go in Highland?
In Highland, food tins and drink cans go in your recycling bin. Green bin.
What bin do aerosols go in Highland?
In Highland, empty aerosols go in your recycling bin. Green bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Highland?
Highland's recycling bin accepts plastic bottles, tubs and trays, food tins and drink cans, empty aerosols, cartons (tetrapak), aluminium food trays, and more. Green bin.
What goes in the food waste bin in Highland?
Highland's food waste bin accepts fruit and vegetables, bread, dairy products, fish and meat (including bones), rice, pasta, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Highland?
Highland's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, twigs and small branches, flowers and branches, weeds, and more.
What can't be recycled in Highland?
Items not accepted in Highland: dirty and bagged recycling, containers with food residues, plastic bags, plastic film. Containers with food residues — everything must be clean.
Helpful guides
Source: Highland council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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