Recycling rules for Manchester
Based on Manchester published guidance · Last verified March 2026
Search what goes in your bins →Recycling
Accepted
Paper & Card
- Cardboard boxes — Blue bin — crush down to fit
- Paper and shredded paper — Blue bin
- Newspapers, magazines and catalogues — Blue bin
- Unwanted books — Blue bin
- Envelopes and junk mail — Blue bin
- Greetings cards and wrapping paper — Blue bin — no glitter
- Toilet and kitchen roll tubes — Blue bin
Other
- Drinks cartons and Tetra Pak — Blue bin — rinse
Plastics
- Plastic bottles — Brown bin — empty
- Plastic pots, tubs and trays — Brown bin — empty
Metals
- Foil and foil trays — Brown bin — empty
- Empty aerosol cans — Brown bin
- Tins and cans — Brown bin
Glass
- Glass bottles and jars — Brown bin
Not accepted
- Plastic film and carrier bags — Not recyclable kerbsideInstead: Take to supermarket recycling point
- Crisp packets — Not recyclable kerbside
- Pet food pouches — Not recyclable kerbside
- Coffee cups — Lined with non-recyclable plastic
- Bubble wrap — Not recyclable kerbside
- Polystyrene — Not recyclable kerbside
- Glittery wrapping paper — Glitter contaminates paper
- Bottle tops — Put in general waste bin
- Nappies — General waste only
- Batteries — Contains hazardous materialsInstead: Take to recycling centre
- Electrical items — Contains hazardous partsInstead: Take to recycling centre
Common mistakes
- Carrier bags→ goes in General Waste — Take to supermarket recycling point
- Coffee cups→ goes in General Waste — Plastic lining makes them non-recyclable
- Bottle tops→ goes in General Waste — Not accepted in Manchester recycling
- Crisp packets→ goes in General Waste — Foil-lined, not recyclable kerbside
- Batteries — Take to recycling centre
Tips (12)
- • Paper and card in blue bin
- • Glass and cans in brown bin
- • Flatten all cardboard
- • No plastic bags or film
- • No coffee cups
- • Remove bottle tops
- • No glittery wrapping paper
- • No polystyrene
- • Bottles go in brown bin
- • Tetra Pak in blue bin
- • No crisp packets
- • Rinse bottles and cans
Source: Manchester council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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