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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 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 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 used to make electricity.

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

If you have a vehicle over 2 metres high,  you can take your household waste and recycling to one of sites with an entrance for council and high-sided vehicles.  Go to our Where’s my nearest recycling centre?page, input your postcode and select ‘vehicles over 2 metres high’ from the drop-down menu to locate your nearest site.

Using a hire vehicle – under 2 metres high

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.

Using a hire vehicle  – over 2 metres high

If your hire vehicle is over 2 metres high 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 an entrance where council, trade, and high-sided vehicles go. 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.

Visit Where’s my nearest Recycling Centre? page for more information.

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.