Recycling rules for Sunderland
Based on Sunderland published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Sunderland.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Sunderland
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Sunderland's recycling bin
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Food waste: Not accepted in Sunderland's recycling bin
Shredded paper: Goes in your recycling bin
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Empty; foil clean.
Your bins in Sunderland, by colour
Container colours as published by Sunderland. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Blue bin
All dry recyclable materials, including paper
Paper caddies no longer needed
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
What to put in your blue recycling bin:
- White, grey and brown cardboard
- Food and drink cartons
- Plastic bottles and plastic food packaging
- Food tins, clean foil, drink cans and aerosols · Empty; foil clean
- Glass bottles and jars
- Greeting cards without glitter
- Toothpaste tubes · Clean and empty
- Paper, including loose shredded paper
Not accepted
Please DO NOT put these items in your blue bin:
- Batteries · They can cause fires
- Disposable vapes · Contain batteries and can cause fires
- Small electrical items containing batteries · They can cause fires
- Any electrical items
- InhalersInstead: Return used inhalers to a pharmacy
- Tissue paper or wallpaper
- Textiles, fabrics and shoes
- Nappies
- Plastic films
- Hard plastic
- Plastic guttering, plant pots and planting trays
- Glittery cards and other glittery items
- Styrofoam or polystyrene packaging
- Wrapping paper
- Light bulbs
- Dog waste bags
- Food waste
- Garden waste
- Paint tins
- Wood
- Plastic bags · Plastic bags cannot be recycled
Garden Waste
Accepted
Brown garden waste bin, what you can put in the bin:
- Grass cuttings
- Weeds and dead plants
- Twigs and small branches
- Hedge clippings
- Cut flowers and houseplants
- Shrub prunings
- Leaves
Not accepted
Brown garden waste bin, what you can NOT put in the bin:
- Food waste
- Vegetable peelings and egg shells
- Tea bags or coffee grinds
- Large items of garden waste
- Wood and timber
- Soil and rubble
- Turf
Tips (4)
- • Do not put garden waste in plastic bags
- • Place it directly in the bin
- • Place the sticker on the brown bin under the handles
- • Do not overfill the bin; the lid must close properly
We don't have checked food waste guidance for Sunderland yet.
See Sunderland's own guidanceWhen are bins collected in Sunderland?
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 Sunderland 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 Sunderland?
In Sunderland, styrofoam or polystyrene packaging can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin does cardboard go in Sunderland?
In Sunderland, white, grey and brown cardboard goes in your recycling bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Sunderland?
In Sunderland, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin.
What bin does food waste go in Sunderland?
In Sunderland, food waste can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin does shredded paper go in Sunderland?
In Sunderland, paper, including loose shredded paper goes in your recycling bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Sunderland?
Sunderland's recycling bin accepts white, grey and brown cardboard, food and drink cartons, plastic bottles and plastic food packaging, food tins, clean foil, drink cans and aerosols, glass bottles and jars, greeting cards without glitter, and more. Empty; foil clean.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Sunderland?
Sunderland's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, weeds and dead plants, twigs and small branches, hedge clippings, cut flowers and houseplants, shrub prunings, and more.
What can't be recycled in Sunderland?
Items not accepted in Sunderland: batteries, disposable vapes, small electrical items containing batteries, any electrical items. Batteries — they can cause fires.
Helpful guides
Source: Sunderland council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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