Recycling rules for Wirral
Based on Wirral published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Wirral.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Wirral
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. Wirral's published guidance we hold doesn't list it.
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Tops can be put back on.
Food waste: Wirral has a separate food waste collection
Takes meat, fish and bones, dairy products, eggs and cheese, bread, cakes and pastries and more.
Clothes: Not accepted in Wirral's recycling bin
Textile banks.
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Such as deodorant and hairspray.
Batteries: Not accepted in Wirral's recycling bin
Recycle at the tip.
Your bins in Wirral, by colour
Container colours as published by Wirral. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Green bin
Household waste that cannot be recycled
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
You can recycle the following items in your grey recycling bin.:
- Envelopes · you do not need to remove the plastic window
- Junk mail · Removed from any plastic bags
- Magazines · Removed from any plastic bags
- Paper · Not shredded
- Pizza boxes · Clean, with no grease or food
- Wrapping paper · Not foil
- Plastic bottles · Including milk bottles
- Plastic tubs and trays · Such as yoghurt pots and takeaway trays
- Glass bottles and jars · Tops can be put back on
- Aerosol cans · Such as deodorant and hairspray
- Foil · Clean
Not accepted
The following items should not be put in your recycling bin::
- BatteriesInstead: Recycle at the tip
- Food wasteInstead: Grey food waste bin if you have one
- NappiesInstead: Green bin
- Plastic bags and wrappersInstead: Green bin
- TextilesInstead: Textile banks
Food Waste
Accepted
You can recycle all food waste, including::
- Meat, fish and bones · Raw or cooked
- Dairy products, eggs and cheese
- Bread, cakes and pastries
- Fruit, vegetables and peelings · Raw or cooked
- Rice, pasta and beans
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- All uneaten food · Including plate scrapings, mouldy and out of date food
Not accepted
Food waste collection, do not put these items in your caddy::
- Packaging
- Liquids such as milk, oil or liquid fat
- Non-food waste
Garden Waste
Accepted
What you can put in your brown bin:
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge trimmings
- Prunings
- Leaves
- Weeds
- Dead flowers
- Real Christmas trees · please chop into smaller pieces to fit inside the bin
When are bins collected in Wirral?
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 Wirral’s own words: “Your food waste caddy will be collected every week. Your green bin is collected every 2 weeks.”
No streets in Wirral 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 do glass bottles and jars go in Wirral?
In Wirral, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. Tops can be put back on.
What bin does food waste go in Wirral?
In Wirral, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes meat, fish and bones, dairy products, eggs and cheese, bread, cakes and pastries and more.
What bin do clothes go in Wirral?
In Wirral, textiles can't go in your recycling bin. Textile banks.
What bin do aerosols go in Wirral?
In Wirral, aerosol cans go in your recycling bin. Such as deodorant and hairspray.
What goes in the recycling bin in Wirral?
Wirral's recycling bin accepts envelopes, junk mail, magazines, paper, pizza boxes, wrapping paper, and more. you do not need to remove the plastic window.
What goes in the food waste bin in Wirral?
Wirral's food waste bin accepts meat, fish and bones, dairy products, eggs and cheese, bread, cakes and pastries, fruit, vegetables and peelings, rice, pasta and beans, tea bags and coffee grounds, and more. Raw or cooked.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Wirral?
Wirral's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, prunings, leaves, weeds, dead flowers, and more.
What can't be recycled in Wirral?
Items not accepted in Wirral: batteries, food waste, nappies, plastic bags and wrappers.
Helpful guides
Source: Wirral council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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