Recycling rules for Tameside
Based on Tameside published guidance · Last verified September 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Tameside.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Tameside
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. Tameside's published guidance we hold doesn't list it.
Cardboard: Goes in your paper & card bin
Blue bin (paper and cardboard).
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Your bins in Tameside, by colour
Container colours as published by Tameside. Some homes get a different container — see the notes.
Green bin
General waste (refuse)
Council text also mentions black bags and tied refuse sacks for general waste
Brown bin
Food and garden waste
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Plastics
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic food trays and yoghurt pots
- Pots, tubs and trays — Accepted from 14 October 2024
Metals
- Aerosol cans
- Aluminium foil
- Cans and tins
Glass
- Glass bottles and jars
Not accepted
- Plastic bags — The council is not able to recycle plastic bagsInstead: Green general waste bin
Common mistakes
- Drinks cartons→ goes in Paper & Card — Blue bin (paper and cardboard)
- Cardboard→ goes in Paper & Card — Blue bin (paper and cardboard)
- Newspapers and magazines→ goes in Paper & Card — Blue bin (paper and cardboard)
- Uncooked and cooked food→ goes in Food Waste — Brown bin (food and garden waste)
- Nappies→ goes in General Waste — Green general waste bin
- Dog and cat waste→ goes in General Waste — Green general waste bin
Tips (12)
- • No plastic bags in black bin
- • Plastic bags go in green bin
- • Pots, tubs & trays accepted
- • Aerosols & foil accepted
- • Glass bottles & jars accepted
- • Drinks cartons: blue bin
- • Cardboard goes in blue bin
- • Food goes in the brown bin
- • Extra recycling in a clear bag
- • Bin out by 7am on the day
- • Most homes: every 3 weeks
- • Contaminated bins may be left
Paper & Card
Accepted
Other
- Drinks cartons
Paper & Card
- Cardboard
- Newspapers and magazines
- Junk mail
- Paper
Not accepted
- Plastic bags — The council is not able to recycle plastic bagsInstead: Green general waste bin
Common mistakes
- Plastic bottles→ goes in Recycling — Black bin
- Pots, tubs and trays→ goes in Recycling — Black bin, from 14 October 2024
- Cans and tins→ goes in Recycling — Black bin
- Glass bottles and jars→ goes in Recycling — Black bin
- Uncooked and cooked food→ goes in Food Waste — Brown bin (food and garden waste)
Tips (12)
- • Drinks cartons go in blue bin
- • Cardboard goes in blue bin
- • Newspapers go in blue bin
- • Junk mail goes in blue bin
- • No plastic bags in blue bin
- • Plastic bottles: black bin
- • Glass & cans go in black bin
- • Food goes in the brown bin
- • Extra recycling in a clear bag
- • Bin out by 7am on the day
- • Most homes: every 3 weeks
- • Contaminated bins may be left
When are bins collected in Tameside?
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.
Tameside doesn't move bin collections for bank holidays, so your usual day stands. Christmas and New Year weeks can still differ, so check the council's site for those. Your neighbours can vote on the actual day on BinBosh if it changes.
No streets in Tameside 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 Tameside?
In Tameside, cardboard goes in your paper & card bin. Blue bin (paper and cardboard).
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Tameside?
In Tameside, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Tameside?
Tameside's recycling bin accepts plastic bottles, plastic food trays and yoghurt pots, pots, tubs and trays, aerosol cans, aluminium foil, cans and tins, and more. Accepted from 14 October 2024.
What goes in the paper & card bin in Tameside?
Tameside's paper & card bin accepts drinks cartons, cardboard, newspapers and magazines, junk mail, paper, and more.
What bin do drinks cartons go in Tameside?
In Tameside, drinks cartons go in your paper & card bin. Blue bin (paper and cardboard).
What bin do plastic bags go in Tameside?
In Tameside, plastic bags can't go in your recycling bin. The council is not able to recycle plastic bags. Green general waste bin.
What can't be recycled in Tameside?
Items not accepted in Tameside: plastic bags, plastic bags. Plastic bags — the council is not able to recycle plastic bags.
What happens if I put the wrong item in my bin in Tameside?
Common mix-up in Tameside: Drinks cartons should go in the paper & card bin. Blue bin (paper and cardboard). Wrong items can contaminate entire loads.
Helpful Guides
Source: Tameside council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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