Recycling rules for Oxford
Based on Oxford published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Oxford.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Oxford
Polystyrene: Usually general waste (UK-wide position)UK-wide, not council-specific
Across the UK, polystyrene is rarely collected at the kerbside and usually belongs in general waste. Oxford's published guidance we hold doesn't list it.
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Food waste: Oxford has a separate food waste collection
Takes bread and pastries, dairy products and dairy alternatives, eggs and eggshells and more.
Shredded paper: Goes in your recycling bin
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Your bins in Oxford, by colour
Container colours as published by Oxford. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Brown bin
Garden waste
Availability: Garden Waste Collection Scheme subscribers
Or eco sacks
Green bin
Rubbish
Or lilac sacks
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Paper and card items you can put in your blue bin and clear sacks include:
- Art paper (white or coloured)
- Books
- Brochures and catalogues
- Cardboard (boxes, labels, toilet and kitchen roll tubes)
- Greetings cards
- Junk mail
- Newspapers and magazines
- Paper envelopes · With or without windows
- Shredded paper
- Telephone directories
- Wrapping paper
Food and drink packaging items you can put in your blue bin and clear sacks incude:
- Aluminium drinks cans
- Biscuit and sweet tins
- Cardboard egg boxes
- Glass bottles and jars
- Juice and milk cartons
- Kitchen foil and foil trays
- Food tins and drinks cans
- Plastic drink and milk bottles · Replace lids after squashing
- Plastic food pots, tubs and trays · Including black plastic food trays
Other plastic items you can put in your blue bin and clear sacks include:
- Soft, stretchy, scrunchy plastic · Such as bread bags and cling film
- Bubble wrap
- Empty carrier bags · Not black plastic
- Cleaning product bottles · Not trigger spray tops
- Shampoo bottles
Food Waste
Accepted
Solid food waste (raw, cooked and leftover plate scrapings) you can put in your caddy or shared red bin include:
- Bread and pastries
- Dairy products and dairy alternatives · Such as cheese, yoghurt, cream
- Eggs and eggshells
- Fruit and vegetables · Including peelings and fruit stones
- Meat, fish and bones · And plant-based alternatives
- Pasta and rice
- Used tea bags and coffee grounds (it's OK if these are still wet)
Not accepted
Top tips:
- Garden waste or food packaging (even if it's compostable)
Garden Waste
Accepted
Compostable garden waste you can put in your brown bin or sacks includes:
- Garden prunings
- Small shrubs
- Weeds and plants
- Cut flowers
- Leaves
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge trimmings
- Small branches · No more than 5cm / 2 inches in diameter
- Wood ash (must be completely cool as hot ashes are a fire risk)
Not accepted
- Tree logs, soil or turfInstead: Search the waste wizard at oxfordshire.gov.uk
Top tips:
- Liners or bags (most of these are non-biodegradable and cannot be taken to the composting plant)
When are bins collected in Oxford?
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 Oxford’s own words: “Blue bins and clear sacks are for household mixed recycling items only. We collect these every other week.”
No streets in Oxford 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 cardboard go in Oxford?
In Oxford, cardboard (boxes, labels, toilet and kitchen roll tubes) goes in your recycling bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Oxford?
In Oxford, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin.
What bin does food waste go in Oxford?
In Oxford, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes bread and pastries, dairy products and dairy alternatives, eggs and eggshells and more.
What bin does shredded paper go in Oxford?
In Oxford, shredded paper goes in your recycling bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Oxford?
Oxford's recycling bin accepts art paper (white or coloured), books, brochures and catalogues, cardboard (boxes, labels, toilet and kitchen roll tubes), greetings cards, junk mail, and more.
What goes in the food waste bin in Oxford?
Oxford's food waste bin accepts bread and pastries, dairy products and dairy alternatives, eggs and eggshells, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and bones, pasta and rice, and more. Such as cheese, yoghurt, cream.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Oxford?
Oxford's garden waste bin accepts garden prunings, small shrubs, weeds and plants, cut flowers, leaves, grass cuttings, and more.
What can't be recycled in Oxford?
Items not accepted in Oxford: garden waste or food packaging (even if it's compostable), tree logs, soil or turf, liners or bags (most of these are non-biodegradable and cannot be taken to the composting plant).
Helpful guides
Source: Oxford council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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