Recycling rules for Newcastle upon Tyne
Based on Newcastle upon Tyne published guidance · Last verified September 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Newcastle upon Tyne
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Newcastle upon Tyne's recycling bin
Not recyclable kerbside.
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Flatten boxes.
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Lids on.
Food waste: Not accepted in Newcastle upon Tyne's recycling bin
Contaminates clean recyclables.
Shredded paper: Goes in your general waste bin
Bag it for the green rubbish bin, or compost it at home.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Rinse.
Your bins in Newcastle upon Tyne, by colour
Container colours as published by Newcastle upon Tyne. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Green bin
Household waste
Bag all waste in black bags, carrier bags or bin liners
Brown bin
Garden waste
See the council's garden waste page for prices
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Glass
- Glass bottles and jars · Lids on
Metals
- Food and drink cans · Rinse
- Empty aerosol cans
- Aluminium foil · Scrunch into a ball
- Foil trays · Rinse before recycling
- Biscuit tins
Plastics
- Plastic bottles · Leave lids on
- Plastic pots, tubs and trays · Rinse — includes yoghurt pots
- Plastic chocolate tubs · Rinse
Paper & Card
- Cardboard · Flatten boxes
- Newspapers and magazines
- Paper
- Envelopes · Window envelopes are fine
- Pizza boxes · Empty and squash; no food residue left
Other
- Beverage cartons · Rinse, includes Tetra Paks
Not accepted
- Compostable plastics · Not recyclable kerbsideInstead: Put in green (general waste) bin
- Compostable cutlery and plates · Not recyclable kerbside
- Small electrical items · Contains hazardous partsInstead: Book free council collection or take to recycling centre
- Nappies · General waste onlyInstead: Put in green (general waste) bin
- Food waste · Contaminates clean recyclables
- Plastic bags · Recycling goes in loose, not bagged
- Polystyrene · Not recyclable kerbside
- Black plastic food trays · Not currently recycledInstead: Put in green rubbish bin
Common mistakes
- Shredded paper→ goes in General Waste · Bag it for the green rubbish bin, or compost it at home
- Batteries · Most supermarkets or the recycling centre
- Textiles · Donate or use a textile bank; worn out goes in the green bin
- Pyrex dishes→ goes in General Waste · Not currently recycled
- Cling film and film lids→ goes in General Waste · Not currently recycled
Tips (12)
- • Items must be clean and dry
- • Leave lids on bottles
- • Scrunch foil into a ball
- • Flatten cardboard boxes
- • Rinse pots, tubs and trays
- • No plastic bags in the bin
- • No food waste in recycling
- • Squash bottles to save space
- • No nappies — general waste
- • Window envelopes are fine
- • No compostable plastics
- • Aerosol cans are recyclable
Garden Waste
Accepted
- Garden trimmings
- Cuttings
- Prunings
- Leaves
- Weeds
Not accepted
- Branches, logs or roots over 10cm in diameter
- Japanese knotweed
- Turf
- Soil
- Clay
- Stones
- Rubble
- Plant pots
- Dog and cat faeces
- Straw and hay bedding used for pets
- Food waste or refuse
- Compostable films, plastics, cutlery and plates
- Anything in black bags or plastic bags
Tips (9)
- • Loose, not in plastic bags
- • On the kerb by 6:30am
- • Branches under 10cm diameter
- • No Japanese knotweed
- • No soil, turf, clay or stones
- • No plant pots or rubble
- • No pet faeces or bedding
- • No food waste
- • No compostable plastics
When are bins collected in Newcastle upon Tyne?
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.
In Newcastle upon Tyne, a bank holiday pushes that week's collections back by a day: after a Monday holiday, Monday's bins go out on Tuesday, Tuesday's on Wednesday, and so on. BinBosh adjusts your dates automatically, and your neighbours can vote on the actual day if it differs.
In Newcastle upon Tyne’s own words: “We make collections every week, alternating weekly between recycling and general waste.”
No streets in Newcastle upon Tyne 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 Newcastle upon Tyne?
In Newcastle upon Tyne, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin. Not recyclable kerbside.
What bin does cardboard go in Newcastle upon Tyne?
In Newcastle upon Tyne, cardboard goes in your recycling bin. Flatten boxes.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Newcastle upon Tyne?
In Newcastle upon Tyne, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. Lids on.
What bin does food waste go in Newcastle upon Tyne?
In Newcastle upon Tyne, food waste can't go in your recycling bin. Contaminates clean recyclables.
What bin does shredded paper go in Newcastle upon Tyne?
In Newcastle upon Tyne, shredded paper goes in your general waste bin. Bag it for the green rubbish bin, or compost it at home.
What goes in the recycling bin in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Newcastle upon Tyne's recycling bin accepts glass bottles and jars, food and drink cans, empty aerosol cans, aluminium foil, foil trays, plastic bottles, and more. Lids on.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Newcastle upon Tyne's garden waste bin accepts garden trimmings, cuttings, prunings, leaves, weeds, and more.
What can't be recycled in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Items not accepted in Newcastle upon Tyne: compostable plastics, compostable cutlery and plates, small electrical items, nappies. Compostable plastics — not recyclable kerbside.
Helpful guides
Source: Newcastle upon Tyne council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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