Recycling rules for Swansea
Based on Swansea published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Swansea.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Swansea
Polystyrene: Usually general waste (UK-wide position)UK-wide, not council-specific
Across the UK, polystyrene is rarely collected at the kerbside and usually belongs in general waste. Swansea's published guidance we hold doesn't list it.
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
please empty and flatten boxes.
Food waste: Swansea has a separate food waste collection
Takes fruit and vegetable peelings, left over cooked food, tea bags and coffee grounds and more.
Shredded paper: Goes in your recycling bin
Separate green bag.
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Green bag with glass.
Drink cartons: Not accepted in Swansea's recycling bin
Your bins in Swansea, by colour
Container colours as published by Swansea. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Green bag
Cans, glass, paper and cardboard
Glass and cans in one bag, paper and card in a separate bag
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Put the following items of glass and cans in one green bag::
- Bottles and jars
- Cans and tins · Green bag with glass
- Empty aerosol cans · Green bag with glass
- Aluminium foil wrap and trays · Green bag with glass
- Small metal kitchenware · Pots, pans, baking trays
- Metal lids · Green bag with glass
Keep the following items of paper and cardboard in a separate green bag::
- Card · Separate green bag
- Catalogues · Separate green bag
- Envelopes and junk mail · Separate green bag
- Magazines and newspapers · Separate green bag
- Shredded paper · Separate green bag
- Greetings cards · Plain card only
- Corrugated cardboard · please empty and flatten boxes
Not accepted
Please don't include the following items in your green bags::
- Broken glass (please wrap safely and place in black bags)Instead: Wrap safely and place in black bags
- Ceramic mugs, bowls and plates
- Mirrors
- Paint tins and oil cans
- Plate glass
- Pyrex
- Sharp metal objects
- Tissues and paper towels
- Food contaminated paper/cardboard
- Milk or juice cartons or paper cups
- Wallpaper
- Wrapping paper
- Soft plasticsInstead: Black bags, or supermarket recycling
Food Waste
Accepted
Put the following items into your food waste bin::
- Fruit and vegetable peelings
- Left over cooked food
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Egg shells
- Gone off/mouldy food
- Meat and fish · Raw or cooked
- Dairy products
- Small bones
Not accepted
Do not put the following items into your food waste bin::
- Packaged food (please separate gone off food from packaging and recycle separately)Instead: Recycle packaging separately
- Card, cardboard or kitchen paper
When are bins collected in Swansea?
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 Swansea’s own words: “We will collect them fortnightly on your green week.”
No streets in Swansea 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 cardboard go in Swansea?
In Swansea, corrugated cardboard goes in your recycling bin. please empty and flatten boxes.
What bin does food waste go in Swansea?
In Swansea, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes fruit and vegetable peelings, left over cooked food, tea bags and coffee grounds and more.
What bin does shredded paper go in Swansea?
In Swansea, shredded paper goes in your recycling bin. Separate green bag.
What bin do aerosols go in Swansea?
In Swansea, empty aerosol cans go in your recycling bin. Green bag with glass.
What bin do drink cartons go in Swansea?
In Swansea, milk or juice cartons or paper cups can't go in your recycling bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Swansea?
Swansea's recycling bin accepts bottles and jars, cans and tins, empty aerosol cans, aluminium foil wrap and trays, small metal kitchenware, metal lids, and more. Green bag with glass.
What goes in the food waste bin in Swansea?
Swansea's food waste bin accepts fruit and vegetable peelings, left over cooked food, tea bags and coffee grounds, egg shells, gone off/mouldy food, meat and fish, and more. Raw or cooked.
What can't be recycled in Swansea?
Items not accepted in Swansea: broken glass (please wrap safely and place in black bags), ceramic mugs, bowls and plates, mirrors, paint tins and oil cans.
Helpful guides
Source: Swansea council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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