Recycling rules for Wolverhampton
Based on Wolverhampton published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Wolverhampton.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Wolverhampton
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Wolverhampton's recycling bin
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Remove plastic inserts, polystyrene and tape.
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Empty and rinse out.
Food waste: Wolverhampton has a separate food waste collection
Takes fruit and vegetables including peelings, fish, meat and bones, coffee grounds and more.
Shredded paper: Not accepted in Wolverhampton's recycling bin
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Your bins in Wolverhampton, by colour
Container colours as published by Wolverhampton. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Brown or green bin
General waste
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Items that can be put into your recycling bin::
- Aerosols
- Cardboard · Remove plastic inserts, polystyrene and tape
- Drink cans
- Foil packaging
- Food tins · Empty and rinse out
- Glass bottles and jars · Empty and rinse out
- Household plastic bottles · Remove any pumps where possible
- Newspapers, magazines and catalogues
- Paper
- Paper bags
- Greetings cards without glitter
- Plastic drinks bottles
- Plastic packaging · Empty, rinse, remove film lids and pads
- Food and drink cartons
Not accepted
Do not put any of the following into your Recycling bin::
- Pizza boxes · Too contaminated by food residue
- Polystyrene
- Nappies and sanitary products
- Garden waste
- Textiles, clothing or bedding
- Electrical items
- Glittery cards
- Wrapping paper
- Laminated paper
- Shiny metallic paper
- Sticky paper
- Tissues
- Ribbon and bows decorations
- Cling film
- Food waste
- Soft plastic wrappers
- Crisp tubes
- Laminated pouches
- Medicine packs
- Plastic bottles containing hazardous chemicals
- Toothpaste tubes
- Wet wipes
- Cotton wool/pads
- Plastic bags
- Needles or medical waste
- Hard plastics
- Batteries
- Gas bottles
- Any other general waste
- Shredded paper
- Drinking glasses
- Wood
Food Waste
Accepted
Items that can be put into your food waste caddy are::
- Fruit and vegetables including peelings
- Fish, meat and bones · Raw or cooked
- Coffee grounds
- Tea bags
- Cheese
- Pasta, rice, bread and pastries
- Plate scrapings and leftovers
- Out-of-date food · Without packaging
- Egg shells
- Wet and dry pet food
Not accepted
Do not put any of the following items into your food waste caddy::
- Liquids
- Plastic bags (including black bags)
- Compostable or biodegradable plastics
- Flowers and garden waste
- Pet litter and pet poo
- Nappies
- Packaging
- Any material that is not food waste
Garden Waste
Accepted
Purple garden waste bin (paid-for service):
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge clippings
- Leaves
- Small branches
- Tree prunings
- Twigs
- Weeds
- Woody green waste · Up to six inches in diameter
- Real Christmas trees
Not accepted
Do not put the following into your Garden Waste bin.:
- Soil
- Rubble
- General Waste
- Recycling
When are bins collected in Wolverhampton?
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 Wolverhampton 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 Wolverhampton?
In Wolverhampton, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin does cardboard go in Wolverhampton?
In Wolverhampton, cardboard goes in your recycling bin. Remove plastic inserts, polystyrene and tape.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Wolverhampton?
In Wolverhampton, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. Empty and rinse out.
What bin does food waste go in Wolverhampton?
In Wolverhampton, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes fruit and vegetables including peelings, fish, meat and bones, coffee grounds and more.
What goes in the recycling bin in Wolverhampton?
Wolverhampton's recycling bin accepts aerosols, cardboard, drink cans, foil packaging, food tins, glass bottles and jars, and more. Remove plastic inserts, polystyrene and tape.
What goes in the food waste bin in Wolverhampton?
Wolverhampton's food waste bin accepts fruit and vegetables including peelings, fish, meat and bones, coffee grounds, tea bags, cheese, pasta, rice, bread and pastries, and more. Raw or cooked.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Wolverhampton?
Wolverhampton's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, hedge clippings, leaves, small branches, tree prunings, twigs, and more.
What can't be recycled in Wolverhampton?
Items not accepted in Wolverhampton: pizza boxes, polystyrene, nappies and sanitary products, garden waste. Pizza boxes — too contaminated by food residue.
Helpful guides
Source: Wolverhampton council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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