Recycling rules for Plymouth

Accepted

Not accepted

• ✗Black bags — These cannot be recycledInstead: Place recycling loose in the bin or bag
• ✗Plastic bags — Listed as soft plastics for the brown binInstead: Brown general waste bin or bags
• ✗Plastic film — If you can scrunch it up it cannot be recycledInstead: Brown general waste bin or bags
• ✗Broken glass — Listed for the brown general waste binInstead: Brown general waste bin or bags
• ✗Mirrors — Listed for the brown general waste binInstead: Brown general waste bin or bags
• ✗Sheet glass — Listed for the brown general waste binInstead: Brown general waste bin or bags
• ✗Polystyrene — Listed for the brown general waste binInstead: Brown general waste bin or bags
• ✗Coffee cups — Listed for the brown general waste binInstead: Brown general waste bin or bags
• ✗Lightbulbs — Listed for the brown general waste binInstead: Brown general waste bin or bags

Common mistakes

• ⚠Batteries — Take to supermarkets or our recycling centre
• ⚠Dirty foil→ goes in General Waste — Brown bin; clean sheet cooking foil goes in the green bin
• ⚠Foil lined food packets→ goes in General Waste — Brown general waste bin or bags
• ⚠Shiny foil gift wrap→ goes in General Waste — Brown general waste bin or bags
• ⚠Cards with glitter and glue→ goes in General Waste — Brown general waste bin or bags

Accepted

• ✓All uneaten food and plate scrapings
• ✓Tea bags — Biodegradable and non-biodegradable accepted
• ✓Coffee grounds
• ✓Out of date or mouldy food
• ✓Raw and cooked meat — Including bones
• ✓Raw and cooked fish — Including skin and bones
• ✓Shellfish and seafood shells
• ✓Dairy products — Such as cheese
• ✓Eggs and eggshells
• ✓Rice, pasta and beans
• ✓Baked goods — Such as bread, cakes and pastries
• ✓Fruit and vegetables — Raw and cooked, peelings, and cut flowers
• ✓Pet food waste

Not accepted

• ✗Packaging and wrappers — Includes plastic bags, foil and food packaging
• ✗Liquids and oils — Includes milk, cooking oil, liquid fat and drinks
• ✗Pet waste, animal bedding and cat litter — Any animal waste, including hay, straw or wood shavings
• ✗Garden waste — Such as grass cuttings, leaves and weedsInstead: Black garden waste bin or bags (paid scheme)
• ✗Glass, metal and general household rubbish — Not accepted in the food waste caddy
• ✗Bags for life as liners — These can be reused for shoppingInstead: Old carrier bags or newspaper

Common mistakes

• ⚠Cooking oil — Chelson Meadow recycling centre accepts cooking oil
• ⚠Vegetable peelings in the garden bin→ goes in Food Waste — Garden waste excludes food and vegetable peelings

Accepted

• ✓Flowers
• ✓Grass cuttings
• ✓Shrub and hedge trimmings
• ✓Plants
• ✓Twigs and branches — Up to 7cm in width
• ✓Weeds
• ✓Loose leaves

Not accepted

• ✗Invasive species — E.g. Japanese Knotweed, Hogweed or Ragwort
• ✗Plant pots and trays — Flowerpots of any type are not collected
• ✗Soil, compost or turf — Contaminated containers are not collected
• ✗Bricks, stones or rubble — Contaminated containers are not collectedInstead: Chelson Meadow (DIY waste rules apply)
• ✗Animal waste and pet litter — Of any description, including bedding, straw or hay
• ✗Artificial grass — Contaminated containers are not collected
• ✗Ash, charcoal or burned material — Contaminated containers are not collected
• ✗Compostable packaging — Contaminated containers are not collected
• ✗Garden furniture and toys — Contaminated containers are not collected
• ✗Treated wood — Including fencing wood or decking wood
• ✗Wire netting — Contaminated containers are not collected
• ✗Plastic bags or liners — Garden waste must be placed loose
• ✗Commercial waste — Domestic garden waste only
• ✗Other non-plant material — Any other non-organic material from your garden

Common mistakes

• ⚠Food and vegetable peelings→ goes in Food Waste — Use the weekly food waste caddy
• ⚠Excess garden waste — Recycling centre, or store it until the next collection