Recycling rules for Lewisham

Accepted

Not accepted

• ✗Black bin bag rubbish — General waste only
• ✗Nappies — General waste only
• ✗Cat litter or dog poo — General waste only
• ✗Food waste — Use grey food waste bin
• ✗Garden waste — Use brown garden waste bin
• ✗Tissues — Contaminated paper product
• ✗Plastic bags, cling film and bubble wrap — Not recyclable kerbside
• ✗Wet or dirty paper or cardboard — Contaminates clean recyclables
• ✗Laminated or waxed paper — Not recyclable kerbside
• ✗Crisp packets and sweet wrappers — Not recyclable kerbside
• ✗Hard plastics like Tupperware — Not recyclable kerbside
• ✗Soiled food trays or tins — Must be cleaned first
• ✗Soiled pizza boxes — Food contaminates cardboard
• ✗Textiles, clothes and shoes — Not recyclable kerbsideInstead: Take to charity shop or textile bank
• ✗Window glass, broken glass and light bulbs — Different glass typesInstead: Take to recycling centre
• ✗Pyrex and ceramics — Different melting point to glass
• ✗Masks and disposable gloves — General waste only
• ✗Coat hangers — Not recyclable kerbside
• ✗Small electrical items and batteries — Contains hazardous partsInstead: Take to recycling bank

Common mistakes

• ⚠Crisp packets→ goes in General Waste — Foil-lined, not recyclable kerbside
• ⚠Plastic bags→ goes in General Waste — Take to supermarket collection point
• ⚠Pyrex and ceramics→ goes in General Waste — Different melting point to glass
• ⚠Textiles and clothes — Donate to charity or textile bank
• ⚠Batteries — Take to a recycling bank

Accepted

• ✓Vegetable and fruit waste
• ✓Food scraps, cooked and uncooked
• ✓Bread
• ✓Cheese
• ✓Egg shells
• ✓Tea bags and coffee grounds

Not accepted

• ✗Nappies — General waste only
• ✗Garden waste or soil — Use brown garden waste bin
• ✗Household waste — Use black or blue rubbish bin
• ✗Packaging and food cartons — Use green recycling bin
• ✗Liquids like milk, oil or fat — Not accepted in food bin
• ✗Plastics including bin liners — Not compostable
• ✗Kitchen towel or tissue — Not accepted in food bin
• ✗Cat litter and dog poo — Use general waste bin

Common mistakes

• ⚠Kitchen towel→ goes in General Waste — Not accepted in Lewisham food bin
• ⚠Bin liners→ goes in General Waste — Use clear bag or newspaper instead