Recycling rules for West Oxfordshire
Based on West Oxfordshire published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in West Oxfordshire.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for West Oxfordshire
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. West Oxfordshire's published guidance we hold doesn't list it.
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue lidded bin.
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Black box.
Food waste: West Oxfordshire has a separate food waste collection
Takes all food, cooked and raw, fat and lard, small amounts of cooking oil and more.
Shredded paper: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue lidded bin.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue lidded bin.
Your bins in West Oxfordshire, by colour
Container colours as published by West Oxfordshire. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Grey or black bin
Non-recyclable household rubbish
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
In your blue lidded bin you can recycle::
- Paper, shredded paper, newspapers, magazines, junk mail · Blue lidded bin
- Books · Blue lidded bin, small amounts
- Cardboard and cards (excess cardboard can be left by the side of your recycling bin if broken down to A3 size) · Blue lidded bin
- Tins and cans · Blue lidded bin
- Clean aluminium foil · Blue lidded bin
- Plastic pots, tubs and food trays · Blue lidded bin
- Plastic bottles, bottle tops and trigger sprays · Blue lidded bin
- Plastic bags · Blue lidded bin
- Plastic foil-lined pouches · Blue lidded bin
- Cling film and bubble wrap · Blue lidded bin
- Empty aerosols, but not spray paint · Blue lidded bin
- Glass bottles and jars · Black box
Not accepted
We cannot collect any of the following in your recycling bin::
- Crisp packets and sweet wrappers
- Black plant pots
- Hard plastics, for example, toys
- Broken glass, glasses and tumblers, sheet glass, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes
- TV screens, computer monitors, larger electrical items · Cannot be collected
Food Waste
Accepted
Put the following in your food waste caddy::
- All food, cooked and raw
- Fat and lard
- Small amounts of cooking oil
- Meat and fish bones
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Stale pet food
Not accepted
Do not put any of these items in your food waste bin::
- Black bin bags
- Packaged food
- Household recycling
- Household, DIY or hazardous waste
- Dog waste, cat litter or dead animals
Garden Waste
Accepted
Put all compostable garden waste (not in bags) in your bin, including::
- Grass cuttings · Not in bags
- Leaves, bark and tree prunings · Not in bags
- Twigs and small branches · Up to 5cm (2in) across
- Tree stumps · Up to 10cm (4in) across
- Bedding from herbivore pets
- Cut flowers
- Plants and weeds
- Real Christmas trees · cut into 2-3ft sections and remove decorations
- Cold wood ash
Not accepted
Please do not put the following materials into your garden waste bin::
- Bricks, stones or soil
- Turf
- Plastic bags, pots or seed trays
- Ceramics or crockery
- Metal or glass
- Cat and dog faeces or bedding
- Herbicides and pesticides
- Fencing and posts
- Kitchen roll and tissues
- Cardboard (please recycle in your blue bag)Instead: Recycle in your blue bag
When are bins collected in West Oxfordshire?
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 West Oxfordshire’s own words: “Collections are fortnightly.”
No streets in West Oxfordshire 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 West Oxfordshire?
In West Oxfordshire, cardboard and cards (excess cardboard can be left by the side of your recycling bin if broken down to a3 size) goes in your recycling bin. Blue lidded bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in West Oxfordshire?
In West Oxfordshire, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. Black box.
What bin does food waste go in West Oxfordshire?
In West Oxfordshire, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes all food, cooked and raw, fat and lard, small amounts of cooking oil and more.
What bin does shredded paper go in West Oxfordshire?
In West Oxfordshire, paper, shredded paper, newspapers, magazines, junk mail goes in your recycling bin. Blue lidded bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in West Oxfordshire?
West Oxfordshire's recycling bin accepts paper, shredded paper, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, books, cardboard and cards (excess cardboard can be left by the side of your recycling bin if broken down to a3 size), tins and cans, clean aluminium foil, plastic pots, tubs and food trays, and more. Blue lidded bin.
What goes in the food waste bin in West Oxfordshire?
West Oxfordshire's food waste bin accepts all food, cooked and raw, fat and lard, small amounts of cooking oil, meat and fish bones, tea bags and coffee grounds, stale pet food, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in West Oxfordshire?
West Oxfordshire's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, leaves, bark and tree prunings, twigs and small branches, tree stumps, bedding from herbivore pets, cut flowers, and more. Not in bags.
What can't be recycled in West Oxfordshire?
Items not accepted in West Oxfordshire: crisp packets and sweet wrappers, black plant pots, hard plastics, for example, toys, broken glass, glasses and tumblers, sheet glass, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes. TV screens, computer monitors, larger electrical items — cannot be collected.
Helpful guides
Source: West Oxfordshire council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
Work for West Oxfordshire? See how BinBosh helps councils →
Never guess which bin
Get free reminders the night before your bins go out.