Recycling rules for Luton
Based on Luton published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Luton.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Luton
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Luton's recycling bin
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Glass bottles and jars: Not accepted in Luton's recycling bin
Food waste: Luton has a separate food waste collection
Takes leftover food from dishes and plates, fruit and vegetables, dairy products and more.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Your bins in Luton, by colour
Container colours as published by Luton. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Brown bin
Green garden waste
Availability: Paid seasonal subscription
Black bin
Rubbish
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
What to put in your recycling bin, when sorting your recycling for collection, you can include::
- Mixed paper · Includes loose shredded paper
- Cardboard
- Food tins and drink cans
- Empty aerosols
- Clean aluminium foil
- Juice and milk cartons or tetra packs
- Plastic bottles and containers
Not accepted
What to put in your recycling bin, do not include::
- Nappies
- Black bags or rubbish
- Food waste
- Wood and garden waste
- Building waste
- Rubble, hardcore or soil
- Glass bottles and jars
- Other glass, including mirrors, plates and glasses
- Polystyrene
- Carpets, mattresses and furniture
- Plastic bags, other plastic packaging or rigid plastic
- Rigid plastic like toys
- Household batteries
- Small electrical appliances
Food Waste
Accepted
What you can recycle in your blue food waste bin:
- Leftover food from dishes and plates
- Fruit and vegetables · Raw, cooked and peelings
- Dairy products
- Eggs and eggshells
- Raw and cooked meat and fish
- Small poultry and fish bones
- Bread, cakes and pastries
- Rice, pasta and cereal
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
Not accepted
What to put in your food waste bin, what not to include:
- Large bones
- Packaging
- Liquids
- Fats or oils from cooking
- Pet faeces or litter
Garden Waste
Accepted
Garden waste and composting, you can add::
- Plants
- Flowers
- Vegetables and fruit waste
- Weeds
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge trimmings
- Leaves
- Small branches · Up to four inches thick
Not accepted
Garden waste and composting, you cannot add::
- Plastic bags
- Plastic pots
- Bricks, soil and rubble
- Animal waste and bedding
- Large tree branches
- Tree trunks
- Any other treated wood items
Glass
Accepted
What to put in your glass recycling bin, you can recycle glass bottles, including::
- Wine bottles
- Beer bottles
- Cooking oil bottles
- Other glass drink bottles
What to put in your glass recycling bin, you can also recycle glass jars, including::
- Jam jars
- Chutney jars
- Baby food jars
- Cooking sauce jars
- Pickle jars
Not accepted
What to put in your glass recycling bin, do not include::
- Glasses
- Mirrors and windows
- Crockery like cups, mugs and plates
- Pyrex dishes
- Spectacles
- Light bulbs
- Plant pots
When are bins collected in Luton?
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 Luton 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 Luton?
In Luton, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin does cardboard go in Luton?
In Luton, cardboard goes in your recycling bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Luton?
In Luton, glass bottles and jars can't go in your recycling bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Luton?
Luton's recycling bin accepts mixed paper, cardboard, food tins and drink cans, empty aerosols, clean aluminium foil, juice and milk cartons or tetra packs, and more. Includes loose shredded paper.
What goes in the food waste bin in Luton?
Luton's food waste bin accepts leftover food from dishes and plates, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, eggs and eggshells, raw and cooked meat and fish, small poultry and fish bones, and more. Raw, cooked and peelings.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Luton?
Luton's garden waste bin accepts plants, flowers, vegetables and fruit waste, weeds, grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, and more.
What goes in the glass bin in Luton?
Luton's glass bin accepts wine bottles, beer bottles, cooking oil bottles, other glass drink bottles, jam jars, chutney jars, and more.
What can't be recycled in Luton?
Items not accepted in Luton: nappies, black bags or rubbish, food waste, wood and garden waste.
Helpful guides
Source: Luton council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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