Recycling rules for North Yorkshire
Based on North Yorkshire published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in North Yorkshire.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for North Yorkshire
Polystyrene: Not accepted in North Yorkshire's recycling bin
Cardboard: Not accepted in North Yorkshire's garden waste bin
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Food waste: Not accepted in North Yorkshire's garden waste bin
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Your bins in North Yorkshire, by colour
Container colours as published by North Yorkshire. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Blue bin
Paper and card
Blue lid; being rolled out in phases
Red bin
Glass, cans, plastic and cartons
Red lid; being rolled out in phases
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
The red lidded wheelie bin is for:
- Aerosols
- Clean foil
- Food and drink cans and cartons
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays · Mixed recycling bin or box
Not accepted
The following items are not included in the core materials list and should not be placed in recycling containers. These items are:
- Carrier bags, wrappers, cling film and black plastic containers
- Black bags or general waste
- Nappies and sanitary products
- Textiles and clothing
- Polystyrene
- Hard plastics such as toys, buckets or food storage containers
- Laminated foil such as pet food and coffee pouches
- Bags and films · Get caught up in sorting machinery
- Biscuit wrappers and coffee, pet and baby food pouches
Common mistakes
- Plastic film, sacks, wrappers, cups, toys, bubble wrap, CD cases→ goes in General Waste
- Expanded polystyrene→ goes in General Waste
Garden Waste
Accepted
Only the following garden waste will be accepted in your garden waste wheelie bin:
- Cut flowers, plants and weeds
- Grass cuttings
- Hay and straw · No animal bedding
- Hedge clippings
- Leaves and bark
- Small branches or prunings
- Windfall fruit from your garden
Not accepted
What goes in your garden waste bin, we can’t accept:
- Ash
- Cardboard or paper
- Disposable nappies or sanitary waste
- Food waste including fruit and vegetable peelings
- General household rubbish
- Pet waste
- Plant pots
- Plastic bags including compostable or biodegradable bags
- Rubble, soil, stones and turf
- Wood
When are bins collected in North Yorkshire?
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 →
In North Yorkshire’s own words: “Your rubbish will still be collected every two weeks, but your collection day or time may change.”
No streets in North Yorkshire 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 North Yorkshire?
In North Yorkshire, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin does cardboard go in North Yorkshire?
In North Yorkshire, cardboard or paper can't go in your garden waste bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in North Yorkshire?
In North Yorkshire, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin.
What bin does food waste go in North Yorkshire?
In North Yorkshire, food waste including fruit and vegetable peelings can't go in your garden waste bin.
What bin do tins and cans go in North Yorkshire?
In North Yorkshire, food and drink cans and cartons go in your recycling bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in North Yorkshire?
North Yorkshire's recycling bin accepts aerosols, clean foil, food and drink cans and cartons, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, and more. Mixed recycling bin or box.
What goes in the garden waste bin in North Yorkshire?
North Yorkshire's garden waste bin accepts cut flowers, plants and weeds, grass cuttings, hay and straw, hedge clippings, leaves and bark, small branches or prunings, and more. No animal bedding.
What can't be recycled in North Yorkshire?
Items not accepted in North Yorkshire: carrier bags, wrappers, cling film and black plastic containers, black bags or general waste, nappies and sanitary products, textiles and clothing. Bags and films — get caught up in sorting machinery.
Helpful guides
Source: North Yorkshire council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
Work for North Yorkshire? See how BinBosh helps councils →
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