Recycling rules for South Ribble
Based on South Ribble published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in South Ribble.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for South Ribble
Polystyrene: Not accepted in South Ribble's recycling bin
Cardboard: Not accepted in South Ribble's food waste bin
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue bin; including lids.
Food waste: South Ribble has a separate food waste collection
Takes fruit, salad and vegetables, vegetable and fruit peelings and more.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue bin.
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue bin; empty.
Your bins in South Ribble, by colour
Container colours as published by South Ribble. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Green box
Paper and cardboard
Grey bin
Non-recyclable household waste
Brown bin
Garden waste
Availability: chargeable subscription service
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Things that should go in your blue bin::
- Plastic bottles · Blue bin
- Drinks bottles · Blue bin
- Day-to-day cleaning product bottles · Blue bin
- Cosmetics bottles · Blue bin
- Pots · e.g. yogurt, soup
- Tubs · Blue bin
- Toothpaste tubes · Blue bin
- Chocolate and biscuit tubs and trays · Blue bin
- Plant pots · Blue bin
- Glass bottles and jars · Blue bin; including lids
- Steel and aluminium tins and cans · Blue bin
- Aluminium foil and foil trays · Blue bin; clean
- Aerosol cans · Blue bin; empty
- Food and drink cartons · Blue bin; made from a fibre-based composite
- Trays and punnets · Blue bin; remove film lids and absorbent pads
Not accepted
Things that cannot go in your blue bin::
- Paper and card in blue binInstead: Green box
- Plastic carrier bagsInstead: Check recycling at grocery stores
- Plastic film, wrappings, bubble wrapInstead: Check recycling at grocery stores
- Polystyrene
- FoodInstead: Food waste caddy
- Nappies, wet wipes, tissues
- Crockery, pans, cutlery
- Glass panes, pyrex, drinking glasses
- Crisp and sweet wrappers
- Film lids from pots or trays
- Laminated pouches
- Plastic toys
- Medicine packs
Things that cannot go in your green box::
- Glass, cans, plastics in green boxInstead: Blue bin
Common mistakes
- Recycling in black sacks or carrier bags→ goes in Recycling · Place items loose
Food Waste
Accepted
What can I recycle in the food waste bin?:
- Fruit · Raw and cooked
- Salad and vegetables · Raw and cooked
- Vegetable and fruit peelings
- Tea bags (including the bag) and coffee grounds
- Bread, cakes and baked goods
- Pasta, rice, beans and pulses
- Meat and bones · Raw and cooked
- Fish and shellfish · Including bones and shells
- Eggs and eggshells
- Dairy products · including cheese and yogurts
- Pet food · Tinned and dry
- Small amounts of gravy or sauces
- Meal and take-away leftovers
Not accepted
Please do not put any of the following in your food waste bins::
- Liquids such as milk and oils
- Packaging
- Cardboard
- Other recycling
- Garden waste
Garden Waste
Accepted
Things that should go in your brown bin::
- Grass
- Leaves
- Flowers and plants · Soil removed
- Weeds
- Twigs and small branches
- Windfall fruit
- Houseplants and flower cuttings
- Real Christmas trees · Chopped up
- Hay and straw bedding · Non-meat eating animals only
- Garden vegetable waste · Not kitchen waste
Not accepted
Things that cannot go in your brown bin::
- Large branches and wood
- Treated or painted wood
- Soil and turf
- Stones, rubble, sand, grit
- Cat litter and dog faeces
- Plastic bags, flower pots, trays or any other plastic items
- Food or kitchen waste
- Vacuum dust or fire cinders
Tips (3)
- • The bin lid must be fully closed
- • No side waste will be collected
- • Contaminated bins will not be collected
When are bins collected in South Ribble?
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 →
No streets in South Ribble 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 South Ribble?
In South Ribble, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin does cardboard go in South Ribble?
In South Ribble, cardboard can't go in your food waste bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in South Ribble?
In South Ribble, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. Blue bin; including lids.
What bin does food waste go in South Ribble?
In South Ribble, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes fruit, salad and vegetables, vegetable and fruit peelings and more.
What goes in the recycling bin in South Ribble?
South Ribble's recycling bin accepts plastic bottles, drinks bottles, day-to-day cleaning product bottles, cosmetics bottles, pots, tubs, and more. Blue bin.
What goes in the food waste bin in South Ribble?
South Ribble's food waste bin accepts fruit, salad and vegetables, vegetable and fruit peelings, tea bags (including the bag) and coffee grounds, bread, cakes and baked goods, pasta, rice, beans and pulses, and more. Raw and cooked.
What goes in the garden waste bin in South Ribble?
South Ribble's garden waste bin accepts grass, leaves, flowers and plants, weeds, twigs and small branches, windfall fruit, and more. Soil removed.
What can't be recycled in South Ribble?
Items not accepted in South Ribble: paper and card in blue bin, plastic carrier bags, plastic film, wrappings, bubble wrap, polystyrene.
Helpful guides
Source: South Ribble council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
Work for South Ribble? See how BinBosh helps councils →
Never guess which bin
Get free reminders the night before your bins go out.