Recycling rules for Peterborough
Based on Peterborough published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Peterborough.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Peterborough
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Peterborough's recycling bin
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Food waste: Not accepted in Peterborough's recycling bin
Use your grey caddy.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Batteries: Not accepted in Peterborough's recycling bin
Your bins in Peterborough, by colour
Container colours as published by Peterborough. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Black bin
General household rubbish
Grey caddy
Food waste
Smaller indoor and larger outdoor caddy
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Items you can put in your green bin:
- Plastic tubs, trays, pots, film, carrier bags and bottles · Leave lids on; remove absorbent layers
- Metal - food tins, drink cans, clean foil, aluminium trays, empty aerosols, large metal sweet tins, biscuit tins - you can leave tops, lids and caps on
- Paper - newspapers, magazines, brochures, junk mail, envelopes, telephone directories and catalogues
- Packaging card, egg boxes, juice and squash cartons
- Glass bottles and jars
Not accepted
Items you cannot put in your green bin:
- Polystyrene, crisp packets, pouches, toothpaste tubes
- Pyrex or ceramics
- Broken glassInstead: See the black bin page
- Food wasteInstead: Use your grey caddy
- Engine oil
- Textiles and clothingInstead: Take to the Household Recycling Centre
- Video tapes, CDs and DVDsInstead: Take to the Household Recycling Centre
- Batteries and vapes
- Electrical items and light bulbsInstead: Take to the Household Recycling Centre
- Hard non-packaging plastics
- Baking trays, saucepans
- Medical and hygiene waste
- NappiesInstead: Put in the black bin
- Black bin bags
- Garden waste or soil
- Wood, bricks, rubbleInstead: Take to the Household Recycling Centre
Garden Waste
Accepted
Items you can put in your brown bin:
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge trimmings
- Tree and shrub prunings
- Small sticks, twigs and tree roots
- Leaves
- Weeds
- Old flowers and plants
- Windfall fruit and vegetables from the garden · Not kitchen waste
Not accepted
Items you cannot put in your brown bin:
- Invasive plant species
- Food or kitchen waste
- Soil or rubble
- Pet waste and bedding
- General household waste
- Flower pots and plastic bags
We don't have checked food waste guidance for Peterborough yet.
See Peterborough's own guidanceWhen are bins collected in Peterborough?
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 Peterborough’s own words: “We collect grey food waste bins once a week when collecting your green or black bin.”
No streets in Peterborough 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 Peterborough?
In Peterborough, polystyrene, crisp packets, pouches, toothpaste tubes can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Peterborough?
In Peterborough, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin.
What bin does food waste go in Peterborough?
In Peterborough, food waste can't go in your recycling bin. Use your grey caddy.
What bin do tins and cans go in Peterborough?
In Peterborough, metal - food tins, drink cans, clean foil, aluminium trays, empty aerosols, large metal sweet tins, biscuit tins - you can leave tops, lids and caps on goes in your recycling bin.
What bin do batteries go in Peterborough?
In Peterborough, batteries and vapes can't go in your recycling bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Peterborough?
Peterborough's recycling bin accepts plastic tubs, trays, pots, film, carrier bags and bottles, metal - food tins, drink cans, clean foil, aluminium trays, empty aerosols, large metal sweet tins, biscuit tins - you can leave tops, lids and caps on, paper - newspapers, magazines, brochures, junk mail, envelopes, telephone directories and catalogues, packaging card, egg boxes, juice and squash cartons, glass bottles and jars, and more. Leave lids on; remove absorbent layers.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Peterborough?
Peterborough's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, tree and shrub prunings, small sticks, twigs and tree roots, leaves, weeds, and more.
What can't be recycled in Peterborough?
Items not accepted in Peterborough: polystyrene, crisp packets, pouches, toothpaste tubes, pyrex or ceramics, broken glass, food waste.
Helpful guides
Source: Peterborough council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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