What goes in which bin?

This page gives you information on what items you can put in your recycling bin and box and what should go in your rubbish bin and garden waste bin.

What goes in my recycling bin?

Top tips

Put recycling items loose into the bin - Don't bag your recycling in black sacks or plastic bags as we must be able to see the contents. If you have extra recycling and it won't fit in your bin, you can bag items in a clear/see-through bag and leave it next to it.
Wash and squash items - This stops contamination, keeps your bin clean and saves space so you can recycle more!
Wet cardboard cannot be recycled - Don't leave cardboard next to your bin on a wet day. Fold and squash large cardboard so it fits in your recycling bin or you can take it to your nearest household waste recycling centre (tip).

The following items go into your grey recycling bin with the blue lid.

Material	Yes please	No thanks
Plastics	all plastic bottles plastic pots (such as yoghurt, cream) plastic tubs (such as margarine, butter, ice cream) plastic trays (such as fruit, meat)	hard plastic containers children's toys lids bags/wrap/film ready meal food trays polystyrene/bubble wrap plant pots
Mixed paper Card	all paper all cardboard greetings cards (plain cards without foil, glitter or ribbon) envelopes	kitchen paper baby/facial/cleaning wipes nappies tissues
Food tins Drink cans	all steel and aluminium food tins and drink cans tin foil and foil trays biscuit and sweet tins	cutlery or any other metal objects pans oven trays
Cartons	all cartons eg fruit juice, drinks and soup	polystyrene
Aerosols	aerosol cans

What goes in my recycling box?

Top tips

Always keep glass separate -place glass bottles and jars loose in your recycling box

The following items go into the recycling box.

Material	Yes please	No thanks
Glass bottles and jars	Glass bottles and jars	broken glass Pyrex light bulbs mirrors flat glass lids/caps

Other recyclable items

What about other items which are tricky to summarise under general headings?

Find a full list of A-Z household waste items in our Icon for pdf A to Z of Reuse and Recycling (PDF, 92.2kb)

What goes in my rubbish bin?

Top tips

If in doubt, keep it out of your recycling bin - If you're unsure whether you can recycle an item, leave it out of your recycling bin and put it in your rubbish bin. This stops your recycling bin being contaminated.

The following items go in your rubbish bin.

Material	Yes please	No thanks
Household waste	domestic household waste that cannot be recycled used kitchen paper baby/facial/cleaning wipes nappies pet waste polystyrene/bubble wrap plastic bags/wrap/film food waste that cannot be composted ready meal food trays lids/caps broken glass	recycling rubble or bricks vehicle parts items which may make the bin too heavy batteries clothes/textiles

What goes in my garden waste bin?

Top tips

Please don't bag your garden waste - Put it loose in the bin

The following items go into the garden waste bin.

Material	Yes please	No thanks
Garden waste	grass cuttings shrubs leaves weeds flowers and plants hedge clippings prunings small branches (thinner than 7cm in diameter)	plastic / black bags bio-degradable or compostable bags plant pots / plastic trays kitchen / food waste soil / bricks / rubble nappies paper / plastic / cardboard textiles/clothing pet waste children's toys garden ornaments large branches (thicker than 7cm in diameter)

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I find out when my bin is emptied?

Please enter your house number and postcode in the 'My Durham' section of our website. You can download a collection calendar which tells you when your bins will be emptied.

Why is it important to put the right things in the right bins?

It's really important that you follow these guidelines as it helps to reduce contamination and means we can recycle, reuse or compost more of your waste. If you put wrong items in the wrong bin, this could result in the whole bin lorry load being classed as 'contaminated' and rejected for recycling.

How will I know I have put the wrong item in the wrong bin?

You will find a sticker on your bin and a letter through your door to help you to understand how to 'Bin it right'. You may also receive a home visit to explain recycling in more detail. Find out more in our Icon for pdf Bin it right - Guide to recycling at home (PDF, 5.0mb) .

Why do I need to separate glass from my recycling bin, when they both 'appear' to be emptied into the same wagon?

Our recycling wagons have separate, split compartments, to the rear. Your recycling bin is emptied into one side and the glass box is emptied into the other. Glass and recycling is sorted differently at the recycling plant and this means more of your waste can be recycled and turned into new products.