Recycling rules for Maidstone
Based on Maidstone published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Maidstone.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Maidstone
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Maidstone's recycling bin
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Green bin or black box.
Food waste: Not accepted in Maidstone's recycling bin
Clothes: Not accepted in Maidstone's recycling bin
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Your bins in Maidstone, by colour
Container colours as published by Maidstone. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Black or orange bin
Food
Black bin
Rubbish that cannot be recycled
Or sacks
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Green bin or black box, what you can put in:
- Glass bottles and jars · Green bin or black box
- Plastic meat trays
- Fruit and vegetable punnets
- Plastic bottles
- Yoghurt pots and plastic tubs
- Newspaper and magazines
- Leaflets and envelopes
- Cardboard packaging
- Flattened cardboard
- Cans and tins
- Metal bottle tops and jar lids
- Kitchen foil and foil trays
- Empty aerosol cans
- Toothpaste tubes
- Cartons and Tetra Pak cartons
Not accepted
Green bin or black box, what you cannot put in:
- Plastic sacks and carrier bags
- Nappies
- Food waste
- Cling film and plastic films
- Crisp packets
- Bread bags
- Polystyrene
- Textiles, shoes or clothes
- Electrical items
- Pet food pouches
- Knives and sharp items
- Books
Garden Waste
Accepted
Garden bin, what you can put in:
- Flowers and plants
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge trimmings and prunings
- Leaves and small branches
- Weeds
Not accepted
Garden bin, what you cannot put in:
- Kitchen scraps
- Rubble
- Stones
- Turf
- Soil or compost
We don't have checked food waste guidance for Maidstone yet.
See Maidstone's own guidanceWhen are bins collected in Maidstone?
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 Maidstone 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 Maidstone?
In Maidstone, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin does cardboard go in Maidstone?
In Maidstone, cardboard packaging goes in your recycling bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Maidstone?
In Maidstone, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. Green bin or black box.
What bin does food waste go in Maidstone?
In Maidstone, food waste can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin do clothes go in Maidstone?
In Maidstone, textiles, shoes or clothes can't go in your recycling bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Maidstone?
Maidstone's recycling bin accepts glass bottles and jars, plastic meat trays, fruit and vegetable punnets, plastic bottles, yoghurt pots and plastic tubs, newspaper and magazines, and more. Green bin or black box.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Maidstone?
Maidstone's garden waste bin accepts flowers and plants, grass cuttings, hedge trimmings and prunings, leaves and small branches, weeds, and more.
What can't be recycled in Maidstone?
Items not accepted in Maidstone: plastic sacks and carrier bags, nappies, food waste, cling film and plastic films.
Helpful guides
Source: Maidstone council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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