Recycling rules for Southwark
Based on Southwark published guidance · Last verified March 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Southwark.
Search what goes in your bins →Recycling
Accepted
Paper & Card
- Paper and envelopes
- Newspapers and magazines
- Cardboard boxes — Flatten — includes cereal boxes, roll tubes
- Greeting cards
Glass
- Glass bottles and jars — Any colour — remove lids
Plastics
- Plastic bottles — Drink, toiletry, cleaning — lids on
- Plastic food trays — Rinse first
- Yoghurt pots and tubs — Rinse first
- Plastic lids and tops
Metals
- Food and drink cans — Rinse first
- Sweet and biscuit tins
- Aerosol cans
- Aluminium foil — Must be clean
- Bottle caps and metal lids
Other
- Food and drink cartons — Tetra Paks — juice, soup, milk
Not accepted
- Carrier bags and plastic film — Jams sorting machineryInstead: General waste bin
- Sweet and crisp wrappers — Not recyclable kerbside
- Metallic wrapping paper — Contains non-recyclable coating
- Plastic-coated paper — Not recyclable kerbside
- Photographs — Not recyclable kerbside
- Polystyrene — Not recyclable kerbside
- Coat hangers — Not recyclable kerbside
- Toys — Not recyclable kerbsideInstead: Donate or general waste
- Tissues and nappies — General waste only
- Sanitary items — General waste only
- Pyrex and drinking glasses — Different glass type to bottles
- Windows and mirrors — Not recyclable kerbside
- Food and drink — Goes in food waste caddy
Common mistakes
- Clothing and textiles — Textile bank, recycling centre, or charity
- Electrical items — Hazardous waste disposal
- Paint tins — Take to Southwark Reuse and Recycling Centre
- Broken glass→ goes in General Waste — Wrap in cardboard, then black bag
- Dirty packaging→ goes in General Waste — Rinse first or put in general waste
Tips (12)
- • Empty containers first
- • Rinse away food and sauce
- • Keep lids on plastic bottles
- • Remove lids from glass jars
- • No plastic bags in recycling
- • Flatten cardboard boxes
- • No food in recycling
- • No nappies or tissues
- • No polystyrene or hangers
- • Clean foil can be recycled
- • Tetra Paks go in recycling
- • No crisp or sweet wrappers
Food Waste
Accepted
- Eggs and dairy products
- Fruit and vegetables
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Meat, fish and bones
- Bread, pasta and rice
- Plate scrapings
- Cooked and uncooked food
Not accepted
- Liquids and oils — Pour down drain or seal in container
- Plastic bags — Use compostable liners instead
- Packaging — Remove all packaging first
- Garden waste — Separate collection — must not mix
Common mistakes
- Compostable plastic bags→ goes in General Waste — Not accepted as caddy liners
Tips (8)
- • All cooked food accepted
- • Meat and bones are fine
- • Use compostable liners
- • Tea bags go in food caddy
- • Plate scrapings accepted
- • No packaging of any kind
- • No liquids or oils
- • Line with newspaper
Source: Southwark council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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