The only types of plastic you can recycle in your mixed recycling bin at home are plastic bottles.

Why Only Plastic Bottles?
A bottle and a food tray are made of the same type of plastic but not the same grade of plastic, therefore the grades of plastic will behave differently when they are recycled, as they melt at different temperatures. Our Materials Recycling Facility cannot sort between the different grade of plastics, and so they can’t be recycled together.

There are really good reasons why we can only recycle plastic bottles in Greater Manchester:

1. Manufacturers that make new products demand high grade plastics. High Grade = Plastic Bottles.
2. Plastics like yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and plastic trays (pots, tubs and trays) are a low grade plastic and the manufacturers just don’t want these.
3. During the recycling process, the plastic is melted. Plastic bottles and plastic pots, tubs and trays melt at different temperatures, meaning the pots, tubs and trays contaminate the bottles and the batch can’t be used to make new products.
4. Other areas may collect plastic pots, tubs and trays, but currently very little is recycled. Most of it is turned into green energy.

Find our more at our What happens to my waste? page.

Buy Revive Compost

Revive Compost, made with your recycled food and garden waste, is available to buy from one of our weighbridge facilities (where council and high-sided vehicles go). Payment by cash or card is accepted.

Please note we do not offer a delivery service.

For a list of the locations, please visit our Revive Compost page.

Visiting the Recycling Centre with a vehicle over 2 metres

If you have a vehicle over 2 metres, you will not be able to access the Recycling Centres via the normal entrance due to the height barrier.

You can use the Recycling Centres that have a weighbridge entrance. This is where council, trade and high-sided vehicles go.

You will need to take one of the following bills related to the property where the waste is from:

Current council tax bill

Annual water bill

Most recent utility bill (gas, electric or landline telephone bill only) Please note mobile telephones are not accepted. 

If your bills are paperless, you can simply show a copy on your phone. You will be asked to show these documents by a member of staff on arrival, as the weighbridge facility is mainly used by traders to dispose of business waste which is chargeable. Please be aware that vehicles are monitored and waste will be checked.

If you are using a hire vehicle please make sure you take your hire vehicle documents with you.

Recycling Centres with a weighbridge entrance:

Raikes Lane, Bolton

Salford Road, Over Hulton, Bolton

Every Street, Bury

Longley  Lane, Sharston, Manchester

Reliance Street, Newton Heath, Manchester

Arkwright Street, Oldham

Chichester Street, Rochdale

Cobden Street, Salford

Bredbury Parkway, Bredbury, Stockport

Bayley Street, Stalybridge, Tameside

Using a hire vehicle

Yes, you can use a hire vehicle to recycle and dispose of your household waste at one of our Recycling Centres. You will need to take your hire vehicle documents with you when you visit. Please make sure you separate your waste and recycling before you visit.

If your hire vehicle is over 2 metres you will not be able to access the Recycling Centre via the normal entrance due the height barrier. You will need to visit a Recycling Centre which has a weighbridge entrance.. This is where council, trade, and high-sided vehicles go. As well as your hire vehicle documents, you will need to take one of the following bills related to the property where the waste is from:

Current council tax bill

Annual water bill

Most recent utility bill (gas, electric or landline telephone bill only) Please note mobile telephones are not accepted.

You will be asked to present these documents by staff on arrival, as the weighbridge facility is primarily used by traders to dispose of business waste which is chargeable. Please be aware that vehicles are monitored and waste will be checked.

Recycling Centres with weighbridge access:

Raikes Lane, Bolton

Salford Road, Bolton

Every Street, Bury

Longley Lane, Sharston, Manchester

Reliance Street, Newton Heath, Manchester

Arkwright Street, Oldham

Chichester Street, Rochdale

Cobden Street, Salford

Bredbury Parkway, Stockport

Bayley Street, Tameside

To book a bulky waste collection

Bolton council offers a chargable collection service for unwanted household items.

Please contact Bolton council directly.

Tel: 01204 336 632

Or book in person at the One Stop Shop in Bolton Town Hall

For more information, please visit the Bolton council website.

If your items are reusable why not donate them instead? There are furniture reuse organisations across Greater Manchester, some which offer a free collection service. To locate your nearest organisation or for more information please visit our Furniture reuse page.

To report a missed bin collection

Please contact Bolton council directly.

Tel: 01204 336 632

Email: wasteandrecycling@bolton.gov.uk

To report fly-tipping on council property

Please contact Bolton council directly.

Tel: 01204 336 632

Email: neighbourhoodservicesinbox@bolton.gov.uk

You can also complete the online form.

To request a new recycling bin or container

Please contact Bolton council directly.

Email: wasteandrecycling@bolton.gov.uk

Tel: 01204 336 632

You can also complete the online order form or order a new recycling bin orcontainer in person at the One Stop Shop in Bolton Town Hall.

How to order more compostable food bags

When you are running low on liners, please tie an empty liner around the handle of your food waste container or green bin on collection day and the crew will leave you a new roll of liners.

You can also visit the One Stop Shop at Bolton Town Hall or the UCAN centres for replacement rolls of liners.

To find out where your nearest UCAN Centre is visit the Bolton council website.