A-Z RECYCLING GUIDE

Aerosols

Recycle your aerosol cans in your mixed recycling bin at home.

Please remove the plastic lids and put them in your general waste bin.

Make sure your aerosol cans are completely empty before recycling. Do not pierce, crush or flatten them. Aerosols can be stored for a long time, so there’s no need to throw away a half empty can.

Aluminium cans

Recycle your empty aluminium cans in your mixed recycling bin at home.

Aluminium foil

Recycle clean aluminium foil and foil trays in your mixed recycling bin at home.

Recycling Tip

To check whether something is made of foil or not, do the scrunch test.

Scrunch the item in your hand:

• If it stays scrunched – its foil! Recycle it in your mixed recycling bin
• If it springs back – its plastic! Put it in your general waste bin

Asbestos

You can take household asbestos to a waste transfer facility listed below.

Please visit the HSE website before you attempt to handle or remove asbestos.

If you have hired someone to remove the asbestos

If you have hired someone to remove the asbestos for you, it can’t be disposed of at any of our sites because this is classed as business waste. The tradesperson or builder should dispose of the asbestos according to the HSE guidance.

We do not accept asbestos from tradespeople at any of our facilities.

If you have removed asbestos from your own home

Take it to one of the waste transfer facilities listed below by using the entrance where council and high-sided vehicles go.

Asbestos must be double wrapped in heavy duty plastic wrapping. You can also use household rubble sacks as long as the cement-bonded asbestos is contained, double wrapped and sealed within the bags.

Important information before you visit

When you visit, you must:

Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

For health and safety reasons, PPE must be worn when recycling or disposing of your household waste at the waste transfer facilities.

If you do not wear the correct PPE, you will not be able to dispose of your waste and recycling.

You must wear:

• • • A hard hat
    • Safety glasses
    • A high visibility jacket or vest
    • Safety gloves
    • Safety boots or shoes (steel-capped)

Provide a proof of address

Please take your recent council tax bill, annual water bill or utility bill (gas, electric or landline telephone) relating to the property where the waste is from. You can bring a printed copy or show it on your phone. Please note mobile telephone bills are not accepted.

Provide a hire vehicle document

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

Waste transfer facilities that accept asbestos opening times:

Arkwright Street, Oldham

Mon to Fri – 7am to 6pm
Sat and Sun – 7am to 5pm

Bank holidays – 7am to 6pm

25 Dec – Closed
26 Dec – Closed
1 Jan – Closed

Bredbury Parkway, Bredbury

Mon to Fri – 7am to 6pm
Sat and Sun – 7am to 5pm

Bank holidays – 7am to 6pm

25 Dec – Closed
26 Dec – Closed
1 Jan – Closed

Longley Lane, Leestone Rd, Sharston

Mon to Fri – 7am to 6pm
Sat and Sun – 7am to 5pm

Bank holidays – 7am to 6pm

25 Dec – Closed
26 Dec – Closed
1 Jan – Closed

Longley Lane, Leestone Rd, Sharston

Mon to Fri – 7am to 5pm
Saturday – 7am to 1pm
Sunday – Closed

Bank holidays – 7am to 5pm

25 Dec – Closed
26 Dec – Closed
1 Jan – Closed

Baby items

You can now donate baby toys with a CE/UKCA mark at one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Baby items such as clothes, toys and equipment that are in a reusable condition can be donated to your local charity shop.

You can take baby clothes to your local recycling centre.

Batteries

Batteries don’t go in any of your bins at home. 

You can take batteries to a recycling centre.
Regular household batteries can also be recycled at most supermarkets or electrical stores.

Keep your bin crew safe

Please do not throw any batteries in any of your wheelie bins at home. This is because they are a fire risk and contain hazardous materials.

Does your item contain hidden batteries?

There are hidden batteries in many electrical items such as electric toothbrushes, toys, e-cigarettes, vapes, phones, laptops, and many more. You can recycle them by doing the following:

1. Don’t throw it in any of your bins at home!
2. Store your items properly until you can take them to a recycling point.
3. Take your items to the nearest recycling centre to dispose of them properly. Alternatively, visit Recycle Your Electricals to find your nearest electrical recycling point.

Choose to reuse

When next replacing batteries, why not buy rechargeable batteries instead? You can use them again and again, which will save you money and help you waste less.

Bikes

You can now donate bikes at any of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Got a new bike or one you don’t use anymore? You can donate bicycles for reuse at one of the many bike projects and organisations across Greater Manchester.

• CERA Cycloan
• Nationwide Cycling Academy
• Pop Up Bikes
• The Bike Hive
• Welly Project

If your bike is beyond repair, please take it to a recycling centre.

Blankets

Some charity shops and homeless shelters accept clean reusable blankets and bedding.

Alternatively, some pet charities or animal shelters welcome donations of blankets, phone them first to check. Visit Dogs Trust and the Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home or contact your local RSPCA or PDSA.

You can also take blankets to the recycling centre.

Books

Pass your used books onto friends and family or donate them to charity shops.

You can now donate used books to any of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

You can also take them to a recycling centre – put them in the media bank.

If you have books that are not reusable, you can put them in your paper and card bin at home.

Bras

Some charities collect bras for recycling. Some lingerie retail outlets also run their own in-store bra recycling schemes.

Bravissimo

With the Bravissimo Bra Recycling Scheme, you can easily donate your old bras at their Manchester shop. By recycling used bras with Bravissimo, you help support Coppafeel’s amazing work!

Bread, cakes and pastries

Uneaten bread, cakes and pastries go in your food and garden bin.

You can also reduce your food waste by freezing these items, find out more by visiting Buy Keep Eat Repeat.

Using a kitchen food caddy? Only use compostable food bags with the seedling logo and code EN13432. Do not use paper, plastic or biodegradable bags.

Compostable food bags are available from some councils and most supermarkets.

Food waste can’t be recycled at any of our Recycling Centres. This is because they are not licensed to accept food waste.

Bric a brac

You can now donate bric-a-brac to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

If you have unwanted crockery, pictures, ornaments, or other bric-a-brac items that are still in good usable condition, you could save them and take them to charity shops or local reuse organisations.

If they are broken you can put them in your general waste bin or take them to a recycling centre for disposal.

Building materials

You can take building materials from DIY projects to a recycling centre. Please sort into different materials.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repairs or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Asbestos is not accepted at any of our recycling centres.

Bulky household items

You can now donate some bulky items such as furniture and some electrics to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here

If you have bulky household items that you want to get rid of, you can:

• Donate them to some charities or reuse organisations if they are in good condition.
• Arrange a collection with your local council. Some councils may charge for this service.

If your bulky household item is not reusable, you can take them to a recycling centre.

Buttons

Keep buttons to update your clothes or donate them to your local charity shop. They will use them to revamp clothes or replace missing buttons from donated items.

Unusable buttons go in your general waste bin at home

CDs

You can now donate CD’s, DVD’s, console games and blu-rays to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

You can take reusable CD’s to a local charity shop.

You can also take reusable CD’s, DVD’s, console games and  blu-rays in their original cases to a recycling centre – put them in the media bank.

Any damaged or incomplete discs, CD/DVD copies, cassette tapes that no longer work can go in your general waste bin or the general waste container at a recycling centre.

Candle holders

You can either reuse glass holders, donate them to charity or put them in your general waste bin.

You can now donate candle holders to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Glass candle holders can’t be recycled in your mixed recycling bin with glass bottles and jars.

Car batteries

You can take car batteries to a recycling centre.

If you buy a new battery from a garage, ask them to take the old one.

Do not put car batteries in any of your bins at home.

Card packaging

Empty card packaging such as cereal boxes, egg boxes, and ready meal card sleeves can all be recycled in your paper and card bin at home. Please flatten cardboard to save space.

You can take card packaging to a recycling centre.

Choose to reuse

Shredded cardboard also makes great animal bedding.

Cardboard

Cardboard boxes and all others types of card can be recycled in your paper and card bin at home. Flatten them to save space in your bin.

This includes:

• Cardboard packaging (such as empty cereal boxes)
• Kitchen roll and toilet roll tubes
• Cardboard boxes
• Greeting cards (tear off any glitter)
• Clothes labels or tags

Make sure you remove all non-paper items like bubble wrap, plastic packaging and polystyrene and put them in your general waste bin.

You can take cardboard boxes to a recycling centre

Choose to reuse

Shredded cardboard makes great animal bedding.

Carpet

You can take carpets to a recycling centre.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repairs or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Carrier bags (plastic)

Check your local supermarkets for a plastic bag recycling point. Some accept other sorts of plastic packaging too.

If there is not a recycling point near you, plastic carrier bags go in your general waste bin.

You can also put them in the non-recyclable waste container at a recycling centre.

Find out what happens to your plastic here.

Choose to reuse

Use a reusable bag

Cartons (Tetra Pak)

Empty food and drink cartons (Tetra Pak) go in your paper and card bin at home.

Cat litter

Please put cat litter in your general waste bin.

Cesspits and septic tanks

There are a number of companies offering services related to cesspits and septic tanks in Greater Manchester. Please search online for details.

Chemicals

Unwanted chemicals can be taken to a recycling centre for safe disposal. Please ask a member of staff for advice on where to put them.

Please ensure that container lids are secured and have a label where possible.

Christmas trees (artificial)

You can take artificial Christmas trees to a recycling centre.

You can now donate artificial Christmas trees, as long as it does not have any lights attached, to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Christmas trees (real)

Depending on where you live, you might be able to recycle your real tree at home. Everyone living in Greater Manchester can take their Christmas trees to any recycling centre for free. Your local council may offer Christmas tree drop of points and some charities may offer a collection service,

Before recycling your Christmas tree please:

1. Remove all decorations and fairy lights
2. Take off the base or wooden block if your tree has one

You can put some real Christmas trees in your food and garden bin at home. If you’re going to recycle your tree this way, make sure you cut it up first. The other thing to remember is that your tree trunk can’t be any thicker than your wrist. You can take large trunks and wooden bases to your local recycling centres.

Looking for local drop off points? You can take your Christmas tree to any of our 20 recycling centres in Greater Manchester for free. Just make sure you transport your tree safely and take note of the 2-metre height barrier! If you’re planning on using a van, pick-up truck or a twin-axle trailer to dispose of your tree, you need to apply for a permit.

Christmas wrapping paper (no glitter or foil)

You can recycle paper wrapping paper in your paper and card bin at home. You can only recycle Christmas wrapping paper if it’s entirely made out of paper.

Some wrapping paper is made out of foil, plastic and glitter. These can’t be recycled, so put them in your general waste bin.

Cleaning product bottles

Cleaning product bottles go in your mixed recycling bin. This includes bottles such as trigger spray bottles, shampoo and shower gel bottles, drinks and milk bottles.

Remove all lids from plastic bottles before putting them in your mixed recycling bin.

Find out what happens to your plastic bottles here.

Clinical waste

The following items are classed as clinical waste:

• Blood
• Human or animal tissue
• Syringes

Please seek advice from your GP or medical practice on how to dispose of clinical waste safely.

Please DO NOT put clinical waste in any of your bins at home or take them to any recycling centres.

Cloth nappies

Cloth nappies are much more environmentally-friendly and a cost effective alternative to disposable nappies.

Compare the cost of using reusable nappies and see how much you could save.

Don’t forget once your child is potty trained, you can either pass on or sell the nappies.

Live in Oldham?  You can claim a £30 voucher towards the cost of buying your own reusable nappies. For more information, email: waste@oldham.gov.uk 

Greater Manchester cloth nappy advisers and providers

Baba+Boo

Birth 2 Potty

Bolton Fluff is the Future NCT Nappy Library Facebook page

Bury and Rossendale NCT Nappy Library Facebook page

Tameside NCT Nappy Library Facebook page

Cloth Nappy Chat and Sales – Stockport, Manchester and Cheshire Facebook group

Clothes and textiles

You can take clothes in good condition to a charity shop.

You can take clothes and textiles in any condition to your local recycling centre.

Coat hangers

You can leave unwanted coat hangers at the shop when you make your new purchase. Some charity shops may accept them and reuse them.

Depending on whether they are made out of wood, wire or plastic, you can also recycle or dispose of them at your local recycling centre.

Coat hangers do not go in any of your recycling bins.

Coffee cups

Please put disposable coffee cups from high-street coffee shops in your general waste bin.

You can’t recycle coffee cups in any of your recycling bins. This is because they are often lined with plastic that is bonded to the cup to help them hold liquid and stop the paper cup going soggy. Compostable packaging such as coffee cups takes much longer to break down, sometimes it can take years. This means that they won’t be composted in the same time as your food and garden waste.

Choose to reuse

Reduce waste and save some money by using your own reusable coffee cup.

Coffee pods

Some coffee pod brands have their own recycling scheme, where they will collect used pods from your home or you can bring them to back to the shop where you purchased them from.

Some brands have partnered with Terracycle to recycle coffee pods and capsules. Check for a recycling drop off point near you.

If there isn’t a recycling scheme near you, please put coffee pods in your general waste bin.

Choose to reuse

Did you know you can buy reusable coffee pods?

Coins

Foreign coins and out of date British currency can be taken to your local charity shop. Many banks will collect them too – ask your local branch for details.

You can now donate collectable coins to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Compostable packaging

Compostable or biodegradable packaging like cups, cutlery, straws go in your general waste bin.

Please do not put these sorts of compostable items in your food and garden recycling bin.

The food and garden waste you put in your recycling bin at home that is collected by your local council is delivered to an In-Vessel composting facility and made into compost in 6 -10 weeks. Compostable packaging takes much longer to break down, sometimes it can take years. This means that they won’t be composted in the same time as your food and garden waste.

You can compost your compostable packaging in a home compost bin. To find out more visit Let’s Compost Now.

Computers

Any electrical items large or small can be recycled at a recycling centre.

Before you throw away your tech, it’s worth searching online for repair shops to see if it can be fixed.

If your computer is in good condition, you can donate it. Try Donate a PC or Computers for Charities – just make sure to clear your hard drive before donating. For advice on how to remove your data from your computer, laptop or tablet, read this useful article from the National Cyber Security Centre.

Small electrical items can often be returned to the store from where it was purchased or some other local electrical shop, to find your nearest store visit Recycle Your Electricals.

Cooked and uncooked food

Cooked and uncooked food can be recycled in your food and garden bin at home.

Food waste can’t be recycled at any of the 20 recycling centres across Greater Manchester. This is because the recycling centres are not licensed to accept segregated food waste.

You will most likely have a kitchen caddy to collect your food waste in. Make sure the caddy has a compostable liner inside.

Do not use plastic or biodegradable bags in your kitchen caddy. Only use compostable liners with the seedling logo and reference code EN13432 to make sure they are compostable. Newspaper is not a suitable alternative to line your caddy as it inhibits the composting process.

Compostable liners are either available from your local council or most supermarkets.

Food waste that can be recycled at home includes:

• Raw or cooked meat and fish, including bones
• Raw or cooked fruit and vegetables
• Leftovers from your plate
• Rice, pasta and beans
• Bread, cakes and pastries
• Dairy including egg shells
• Teabags and coffee grounds

Find out what happens to your food and garden waste here.

Cookers

Any electrical items large or small can be recycled at a recycling centre.

You can donate electric cookers that are in good visual condition, with no items missing, to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our Renew Market selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – Click here to find out more.

Often shops will collect your unwanted electricals when they deliver your new one – especially larger items like TV’s, fridge and freezers (please note that some retailers may charge to collect electrical items).

Check your local council website as they may operate a bulky waste collection service.

You also may be able to donate items that are in working condition to some local reuse organisations and charities.

Cooking oil

You can take used cooking oil to a recycling centre.

Put the cooled cooking oil in an empty sealed container and place it in the cage labelled cooking oil at the recycling centre.

Alternatively, you can put your cooled used cooking oil into a bottle. Make sure the lid is on tight and put it in your general waste bin.

Never poor oil down the drain.

Cotton wool and make up pads

Cotton wool, makeup pads and wipes go in your general waste bin.

Please do not put these in any of your recycling bins.

Crisp packets

Crisp packets go in the general waste bin.

Please do not put them in any of the recycling bins.

You can also return soft plastic packaging to many of the large supermarket and shops.

Crisp tubes

DIY waste

You can take DIY waste to a recycling centre, this includes:

• Garden waste
• Hardcore and rubble (bricks, soil and tiles). You are limited to the amount of rubble you can take in one visit . The limit is five (900mm x 600mm) rubble sacks per visit.
• Plasterboard
• Scrap metal
• Wood and timber

Asbestos is not accepted at any of our recycling centres. Click here to find out what to do with asbestos.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repairs or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

DVDs

You can donate CD’s, DVD’s, console games and blue rays that are still in a good condition to one of the 18 Renew donation containers which are at recycling centres across Greater Manchester or take them to a charity shop or put them in the media banks that are located at the recycling centres.

Any damaged or incomplete discs, CD/DVD copies, cassette tapes that no longer work can go in your general waste bin or the general waste container at a recycling centre.

Dairy

Dairy including egg shells go in your food and garden bin.

Using a kitchen food caddy? Only use compostable food bags with the seedling logo with code EN13432. Do not use paper, plastic or biodegradable bags.

Compostable food bags are available from some local councils and most supermarkets.

Food waste can’t be recycled at any of our Recycling Centres. This is because they are not licensed to accept food waste.

Disposable face masks

Put disposable face masks in your general waste bin.

Disposable gloves

Put disposable gloves in your general waste bin.

Dog waste

Please put dog waste in your general waste bin. Bag it first and then put it the bin.

Do not put dog waste in your food and garden bin at home.

Drinking glasses

Broken drinking glasses should be wrapped securely and placed into your general waste bin. They should not go in the mixed recycling bin.

Donate drinking glasses that are still in a good condition at one of the 18 Renew donation containers which are at recycling centres across Greater Manchester, or take them to a charity shop.

Drinking glasses or wine glasses can’t be recycled in your mixed recycling bin at home. This is because they are made out of toughened glass containing chemicals that can’t be recycled with your glass bottles and jars.

Drinks bottles

Plastic and glass drinks bottles go in your mixed recycling bin at home. You can also recycle other plastic bottles such as cleaning product bottles, trigger spray bottles, shampoo and shower gel bottles and milk bottles.

Remove all lids from plastic bottles before putting them in your mixed recycling bin.

Find out what happens to your mixed recycling here.

Duvets

Some charity shops and homeless shelters accept clean duvets and bedding.

You can also donate used bedding to some dog homes.

If your duvet can’t be donated you can dispose of it at your local recycling centre.

E-Scooters, E-bikes, E-skateboards

Electric scooters, electric bikes and electric skateboards can be recycled at a recycling centre.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in any of your bins at home.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in the scrap metal container at the HWRC they must go in the small electricals items container.

Batteries on these items can cause fires.

If unsure, please ask a site operative.

If you are replacing an electrical item, some retailers will collect your old electrical item when they deliver your new one, or you can return some electrical items to the retailer you originally purchased it from.

Choose to reuse

Non-working items in a reasonable condition can be donated at your local HWRC by putting it in them Renew donations container.

E-cigarettes

E-cigarette and vaping device waste should be taken to the recycling centre, where the batteries can be disposed of in the battery container.

Egg cartons

You can recycle cardboard egg boxes in your paper and card bin at home. Please ensure they are empty.

Plastic egg boxes must go in your general waste bin.

Egg shells

You can recycle egg shells in your food and garden bin at home.

Engine oil

You can take used engine oil to a recycling centre. Make sure your engine oil is stored in a sealed container. Upon arrival, ask a member of staff to direct you to the right container.

Do not pour used engine oil down any drains. It can cause considerable environmental damage if it leaches into watercourses or groundwater.

• Don’t mix engine oil with any other substance – as this makes it difficult to recycle
• The government website Oil Bank Line can tell you more about recycling your oil

Envelopes

You can recycle envelopes (including those with a window) in your paper and card bin at home.

Fabrics

Fabrics and textiles in good condition can be reused, passed onto friends and relatives or taken to charity shops. You can take fabrics and textiles to your local recycling centre.

Fire extinguishers

You can take fire extinguishers from your home to a recycling centre.

Please do not put them in any of your bins at home as they may explode if they are crushed.

You can contact the company that you purchased the fire extinguisher from, they will usually take it back so that they can refill it for reuse.

Fireworks

If you are hosting a fireworks display, follow these steps to dispose of your used fireworks safely.

• Get a bucket of water ready before you start your display
• Soak your used fireworks for at least 15 minutes, overnight if possible
• Wrap your soaked fireworks in a plastic bag
• Put it in your general waste bin or take it to your local recycling centre

For any unused fireworks, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service run a fireworks amnesty where they will collect and dispose of your unused fireworks safely. Visit Firework Safety.

Flowers and plants

Flowers and plants can be recycled at home in your food and garden bin. Please remove any packaging, film, plant pots and large amounts of soil.

Other garden waste that can be recycled at home includes:

• Leaves
• Grass cuttings
• Hedge clippings
• Twigs and small branches
• Weeds (no Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam)

You can also recycle garden waste at a recycling centre. If you are taking food and garden waste to a recycling centre, it must be separated. If you take a mixed bag of food and garden waste it will have to go in the non-recyclable containers. This is because the recycling centres are not licensed to accept food waste.

You can also compost your garden waste in a home compost bin. To find out more visit Let’s Compost Now.

Fluorescent tubes

You can take fluorescent tubes to a recycling centre.

Do not put them in your mixed recycling bin.

Recycling points are available at some supermarkets.

Food and drink cartons

Empty food and drink cartons (Tetra Pak) go in your paper and card bin at home.

Food and drink pouches

Pouches such as those used for drinks, coffee, pet food and baby food can’t be recycled in your bins at home. These are difficult to recycle as they are made of both metal and plastic.

Some shops and supermarkets provide disposal point for food packaging.

If there isn’t a recycling point near you, put these in your general waste bin.

Food cans and drink cans

Empty food cans and drink cans can be recycled in your mixed recycling bin at home.

You don’t need to remove the labels, just give them a quick rinse.

Fridges and freezers

You can take fridges and freezers to a recycling centre. You can now donate fridges that are in good visual condition, with no items missing, to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew Market selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Choose to reuse

If your large electrical item, such as washing machine, is still working and in a reusable condition, your local reuse organisation may be able to refurbish it and give it a new lease of life and a new home.

Often shops will collect your unwanted electricals when they deliver your new one – especially larger items like TVs, fridges and freezers (some retailers may charge to collect electrical items).

You can arrange a collection with your local council. Some councils may charge for this service.

Furniture

You can now donate furniture at one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today. Please note upholstered furniture needs to have a fire safety tag.

You can also donate your furniture directly to a furniture reuse organisation or charity.  Some offer a free collection service.

If your furniture is not reusable you can still take it to a recycling centre for disposal. Your local council may have a collection service for bulky items.

Food nets and packaging

Plastic nets from fruit and vegetables go in your general waste bin. You can also put them in the non-recyclable waste container at a recycling centre.

Check your local supermarkets for a plastic bag recycling point. Some accept other sorts of plastic packaging too.

Garden waste

Garden waste can be recycled at home in your food and garden bin or in a home compost bin

This includes:
• Flowers and plants
• Leaves
• Grass cuttings
• Hedge clippings
• Twigs and small branches
• Weeds (no Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam)

Please do not put soil in your food and garden bin.

You can take garden waste to a recycling centre, please separate soil from garden waste.

Gas bottles

You can take gas bottles to a recycling centre.

Gas bottles can be refilled for further use or can be returned to the supplier.

Please do not put gas bottles in any of your bins at home as they may explode if they are crushed.

Gas cylinders/cartridges

You can take gas cylinders or cartridges to a recycling centre.

Please do not put gas bottles in any of your bins at home as they may explode if they are crushed.

Gas bottles can be refilled for further use or can be returned to the supplier.

General waste

All these things can go in your general waste bin:

• Plastic pots, trays and tubs
• Plastic packaging
• Plastic bags
• Polystyrene
• Food and drink pouches
• Plant pots
• Pet waste
• Cotton wool and make up pads
• Nappies and sanitary products
• Tissues and used paper towels
• Wet wipes
• Wallpaper

Do not put the following items in your general waste bin:

• Batteries
• Clothes and textiles
• Electrical items

Your general waste does not go to landfill, it is used to make electricity.

You can take general waste to a recycling centre

Gift wrap (no glitter or foil)

Plain gift wrapping paper can be recycled in your paper and card bin.

You can only recycle wrapping paper entirely made out of paper. Some wrapping paper that is made out of foil, plastic or contains glitter can’t be recycled. Put this type of paper in your general waste bin.

Glass bottles and jars

You can recycle glass bottles and jars (all colours) in your mixed recycling bin at home.

Please remove all lids from your bottles and jars and give them a rinse before recycling. Put the lids in your general waste bin.

Grass cuttings

Grass cuttings can be recycled at home in your food and garden bin.

Other garden waste that can be recycled at home includes:

• Flowers and plants
• Leaves
• Hedge clippings
• Twigs and small branches
• Weeds (no Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam)

You can also recycle garden waste at a recycling centre.

You can also compost your garden waste in a home compost bin. To find out more visit Let’s Compost Now.

Greetings cards and wrapping paper (no glitter or foil)

You can recycle greetings cards and paper wrapping paper in your paper and card bin at home. You can only recycle greetings cards and wrapping paper if they’re entirely made out of paper.

Some are made out of foil, plastic and glitter. None of these can be recycled and microplastics such as glitter can’t be separated from the paper fibres during the recycling process. Tear off any glittery parts or non-paper decorations and put them in your general waste bin. Make sure you also remove any bows or ribbons before recycling your wrapping paper.

Not sure if your wrapping paper is made of paper?  Try to scrunch up the paper into a ball. If it stays scrunched, it can be recycled.

Gypsum

You can take household gypsum to a waste transfer facility listed below.

If you have hired someone to remove the gypsum

If you have hired someone to remove the gypsum for you, it can’t be disposed of at any of our sites because this is classed as business waste. The tradesperson or builder should dispose the gypsum for you.

If you have removed gypsum from your own home

Take it to one of the waste transfer facilities listed below by using the entrance where council and high-sided vehicles go.

Important information before you visit

When you visit, you must:

Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

For health and safety reasons, PPE must be worn when recycling or disposing of your household waste at the waste transfer facilities.

You must bring and wear your own.

If you do not wear the correct PPE, you will not be able to dispose of your waste and recycling.

You must wear:

• • • Hard hat
    • Safety glasses
    • High visibility jacket or vest
    • Safety gloves
    • Safety boots or shoes (steel-capped)

Provide a proof of address

Please take your recent council tax bill, annual water bill or utility bill (gas, electric or landline telephone) relating to the property where the waste is from. You can bring a printed copy or show it on your phone. Please note mobile telephone bills are not accepted.

Provide a hire vehicle document

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

Waste transfer facilities

Glass

Crockery glass or window glass (flat glass) can’t be recycled in your mixed recycling bin.

This is because they are made out of a toughened glass containing chemicals that can’t be recycled with your glass bottles and jars. These type of glass does not melt at the same temperature as bottles and jars. If it enters the glass recycling process, it can result in new containers being rejected.

Crockery glass can be disposed of at your local recycling centre or in your general waste bin.

Please do not put crockery glass into glass recycling banks. They are for bottles and jars only.

Hard plastics

Hard plastics such as broken garden furniture, broken toys and hard plastic storage containers can be taken to the recycling centre.

Hardcore and rubble

You can take hardcore and rubble to a recycling centre.

You are limited to the amount of rubble you can take in one visit. The limit is five (900mm x 600mm) rubble sacks per visit. Residents of Greater Manchester are able to dispose of rubble if they have carried the work out at home by themselves.

Hazardous waste

Hazardous waste is any type of waste that can harm human health or the environment, or is difficult to handle.
Each of the items on the lists below are classed as hazardous waste.

You can take the following hazardous items from your home to a recycling centre:

• TV and computer monitors
• Fridges and freezers
• Fluorescent light tubes
• Engine oil
• Lead acid (automotive) batteries

You must separate out any hazardous waste from your general waste before taking it to a recycling centre. Ask a member of staff for advice when you arrive at the recycling centre.

Asbestos is not accepted at any of our recycling centres.

Your local council may collect hazardous waste, contact your council directly.

Specialists are needed to remove and dispose of:

• Invasive weeds and plants
• Infectious clinical waste

Hearing aids

Hearing aids that use batteries or are rechargeable can be recycled at a recycling centre.

Choose to reuse

Hearing aids are often collected for charity. Collection points be found at:

• Doctors surgeries
• Hospital audiology departments
• Private hearing specialists
• Charity shops like Help the Aged and Age Concern
• Organisations like The Lions Clubs

Donated hearing aids sometimes can be repaired and refurbished.

Do not put items with batteries in any of your bins at home as this may cause fires.

Hedge clippings

Hedge clippings can be recycled at home in your food and garden bin.

Other garden waste that can be recycled at home includes:

• Flowers and plants
• Leaves
• Grass cuttings
• Twigs and small branches
• Weeds (no Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam)

You can also recycle garden waste at a recycling centre.

You can also compost your garden waste in a home compost bin. To find out more visit Let’s compost now.

Hedge trimmings

Broken or unwanted electric hedge trimmers can be recycled at a recycling centre.

You can now donate electric hedge trimmers (not petrol-powered) that are in good visual condition, with no items missing, to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew Market selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Petrol powered hedge trimmers can also be recycled in the scrap metal container. Please make sure the petrol tank is completely empty.

Household chemicals

Household chemicals can be taken to a recycling centre.

Hazardous household chemicals can cause damage to health or the environment. Please follow guidance provided on the packaging on how to dispose of it safely.

Inhalers

Please take empty or old inhalers back to your local pharmacy for disposal.

Please do not put these in your general waste or recycling bins.

Ink cartridges and toners

You can recycle printer cartridges at a recycling centre.

You can also return used cartridges to the shop you purchased it from or mail the cartridges back to the manufacturer.

Choose to reuse

Most ink or printer cartridges can be refilled with a store-bought refill kit.

Invasive weeds

Do not put invasive weeds in your food and garden bin and do not take it to a recycling centre. The in vessel composting process will not kill or prevent the spreading of invasive weeds such as Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam.

Invasive weeds are classed as hazardous waste and removal of these should be done under the guidance provided by the Environment Agency.

Irons

You can take irons to a recycling centre and put them in the small electrical appliances container.

Do not put electrical items in any of your bins at home.

If you are replacing an electrical item, some retailers will take your old electrical item back. Visit recycle your electricals for more information.

You can now donate irons that are in good visual condition, with no items missing to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew Market selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Japanese Knotweed

Do not put Japanese Knotweed in your food and garden bin and do not take it to your recycling centre. The in vessel composting process will not kill or prevent the spreading of invasive weeds such as Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam.

Japanese Knotweed is classed as hazardous waste and removal of this should be done under the guidance provided by the Environment Agency.

Jewellery

Jewellery and watches are accepted by many charity shops.

There are online organisations like Recycling For Good Causes that will take jewellery and watches in any condition. They are used for resale or are recycled to raise funds for national charities and local groups such as Scouts and Brownies.

Junk mail

Junk mail can be recycled in your paper and card bin.

Junk mail items includes

• Newspapers and magazines
• Telephone directories & catalogues
• Envelopes
• Takeaway menus and leaflets

Please remove all plastic wrapping and put it in your general waste bin.

Sign up to the Mail Preference Service to reduce your junk mail.

Kettles

Electrical items can be recycled at a recycling centre. Please put them in the small electrical appliances container

Do not put electrical items in any of your bins at home.

If you are replacing an electrical item, some retailers will collect your old electrical item when they deliver your new one.

Keys (metal)

Keys can be recycled at a recycling centre.

Kitchen foil and foil trays

Clean aluminium foil and foil trays can be recycled in your mixed recycling bin.

This does not include crisp packets or pet food pouches. These items can look like aluminium foil but are actually made from metallised plastic film. You can put these in your general waste bin.

To find out if an item is foil or metallised plastic film, do the scrunch test. Simply scrunch the item in your hand – if it stays ‘scrunched’ it is foil and can be recycled. If it springs back it is probably metallised plastic film and can’t be recycled.

Kitchen roll

Used kitchen roll go in your general waste bin.

The cardboard tube from kitchen and toilet rolls go in your paper and card bin.

Kitchen utensils

You can now donate kitchen utensils that are in good condition to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Metal kitchen cutlery and utensils including knives can be recycled in the scrap metal container at your local recycling centre.

Put plastic cutlery in your general waste bin.

Knitting needles

You can now donate knitting needles to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

If they are broken, put them in your general waste bin.

Keg (beer)

Beer kegs can be taken to your local recycling centre.

Lamps

You can take broken lamps to a recycling centre and put them in the small electrical appliance container. Please remove all light bulbs.

Do not put electrical items in your general waste bin.

You can now donate lamps that are in good visual condition, with no items missing, at one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Choose to reuse

If your electrical items are still working and in a reusable condition, your local reuse organisation may be able to refurbish or fix it.

Laptops

Laptops can be recycled at a recycling centre.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in any of your bins at home.

Choose to reuse

Before you throw away your tech, it’s worth searching online for repair shops to see if it can be fixed.

If your electrical item is still working and in a reusable condition, your local reuse organisation may be able to refurbish or fix it – giving it a new lease of life and a new home.

If your laptop is in good condition, you can donate it. Try Donate a PC or Computers for Charities – just make sure to clear your hard drive before donating.

Please remove any personal data from your laptop before you recycle or donate it. For advice on how to remove your data from your computer, laptop or tablet, read this useful article from the National Cyber Security Centre.

Large electrical items

Any electrical items large or small can be recycled at a recycling centre.

You can now donate some large electric items that are in good visual condition, with no items missing, at one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price –find out more here today.

If you are replacing an electrical item, some retailers will collect your old electrical item when they deliver your new one.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in any of your bins at home.

Lateral flow testing kits

To safely dispose of the test kit, place all of the items from the test including the plastic packaging into a bag and then place in your general waste bin. This applies whether the test result is positive or negative.

None of the plastic items or plastic packaging should be put into your recycling bin.

Lawnmowers

You can take electric lawnmowers to a recycling centre.

You can now donate some electric lawnmowers (not petrol-powered) that are in good visual condition, with no items missing, to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew Market selling pre-love household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Petrol lawnmowers can be recycled with the scrap metal at your local recycling centre. Please make sure the petrol tank is completely empty.

Leaves

Leaves can be recycled at home in your food and garden bin.

Other garden waste that can be recycled at home includes:

• Flowers and plants
• Grass cuttings
• Hedge clippings
• Twigs and small branches
• Weeds (no Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam)

You can also recycle garden waste at your local recycling centre.

You can also compost your garden waste in a home compost bin. To find out more visit Let’s Compost Now.

Leftovers from your plate

Leftovers from your plate go in your food and garden bin.

Using a kitchen food caddy? Only use compostable food bags with the seedling logo and code EN13432. Do not use paper, plastic or biodegradable bags.

Compostable food bags are available from some councils and most supermarkets.

Food waste can’t be recycled at any of our recycling centres. This is because they are not licensed to accept food waste.

For more hints and tips to reduce your food waste visit: Buy Keep Eat Repeat.

Lids (glass bottles and jars)

Please put lids in your general waste bin.

Please remove all lids from glass bottles and jars before putting them in your mixed recycling bin.

The lids from glass bottles and jars can’t be recycled with the rest of your recycling, as some are made of a combination of metal and plastic.

Lids (plastic bottles)

Plastic lids go in your general waste bin.

Remove all lids from plastic bottles before putting them in your mixed recycling bin.

Find out what happens to your plastic here.

Choose to reuse

Some schools, community centres collect lids for arts and crafts projects.

Light bulbs

You can take energy saving / LED  light bulbs to a recycling centre.

Incandescent light bulbs can’t be recycled, please put in your general waste bin.

Lithium-ion batteries

If you need to dispose of a damaged or end of life battery, Do NOT put these in any of your bins at home. These batteries can cause fires in bin lorries and recycling and waste centres.
To dispose of your batteries safely please visit your nearest recycling centre.

If you are replacing an electrical item, some retailers will collect your old electrical item when they deliver your new one, or you can return some electrical items to the retailer you originally purchased it from.

Choose to reuse

Non-working items in a reasonable condition can be donated at your local HWRC by putting it in them Renew donations container.

Magazines and catalogues

Magazines and catalogues can be recycled in your paper and card recycling bin (remove all plastic wrapping) this includes:

• Magazines and catalogues
• Newspapers
• Books
• Envelopes
• Junk mail such as takeaway menus

Choose to reuse

Share your magazines with your friends and family so they get used more than once before being recycled.

Mattresses

You can take your used mattresses to a recycling centre.

You can recycle mattresses at the following recycling centres:

• Adswood Road Recycling Centre
• Arkwright Street Recycling Centre
• Bayley Street Recycling Centre
• Boysnope Wharf Recycling Centre
• Bredbury Parkway Recycling Centre
• Cemetery Road Recycling Centre
• Chichester Street Recycling Centre
• Cobden Street Recycling Centre
• Hurstwood Court Recycling Centre
• Longley Lane Recycling Centre
• Lumns Lane Recycling Centre
• Reliance Street Recycling Centre
• Rose Hill Recycling Centre
• Salford Road Recycling Centre
• Spring Vale Recycling Centre
• Woodhouse Lane Recycling Centre

Mattress recycling containers are not available at Chester Road Recycling Centre, Ash Road Recycling Centre or Sandfold Lane Recycling Centre but you can still take your mattress to these recycling centres for disposal.

If you don’t have a vehicle to transport your mattress, your local council may offer a collection service for bulky items.

Choose to reuse

You can donate your mattress to some charities if it’s in a reusable condition.

Media (Books, CDs and DVDs)

You can now donate books, CDs and DVDs in good condition to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops, selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

You can take reusable second hand books, CDs and DVDs to a local charity shop. You can also take reusable CDs, DVDs, console games, blu-rays in their original cases and books to a recycling centre – put them in the media bank.

Please put damaged books in your paper and card bin at home.

Any damaged or incomplete discs, CD/DVD copies, cassette tapes that no longer work can go in your general waste bin or the general waste container at the recycling centre.

Medicines and tablets

Medicines and tablets are classed as hazardous waste so can’t go in your bins at home. If you have any left over medicines you should check with your local pharmacy as they will normally take them back for disposal.

The empty plastic packaging goes in your general waste bin.

The empty glass or plastic bottles go in your mixed recycling bin.

The cardboard boxes go in your paper and card recycling bin.

Metal tins and boxes

Large metal tins like sweet and biscuit tins can’t be recycled in your mixed recycling bin at home. This is because they are too large to be properly sorted in the materials recovery facility.
Reuse them for storage or take them to a recycling centre and put them in the scrap metal container.

Metal tubes

Metal tubes go in your general waste bin.

This includes:

• Tomato and garlic puree tubes
• Sauce tubes
• Personal care and beauty tubes

Microwaves

Microwaves can be recycled at a recycling centre.

You can now donate microwaves that are in good visual condition, with no items missing, at one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew Market selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Alternatively, you could give it to a charity shop or furniture reuse organisation that accepts electrical items. Many offer collection services.

Please do not put electrical items in any of your bins at home.

Milk bottles

You can recycle plastic and glass milk bottles in your mixed recycling bin.

Please remove all lids from plastic bottles before putting them in your mixed recycling bin. Plastic lids can’t be recycled with the rest of the recycling as they are made of a different type of plastic.

Mirrors

You can take broken mirrors to a recycling centre for disposal. Please do not put mirrors in any of your recycling bins.

You can now donate mirrors in good condition with no damage to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Mobile phones

Mobile phones can be recycled at a recycling centre.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in any of your bins at home.

Choose to reuse

Before you throw away your tech, it’s worth searching online for repair shops to see if it can be fixed.

If your electrical item is still working and in a reusable condition, your local reuse organisation may be able to refurbish or fix it – giving it a new lease of life and a new home.

If your phone is in good condition, you can donate it – just make sure to clear your phone before donating.

Please remove any personal data from your mobile phone before you recycle or donate it. For advice on how to remove your data from your electrical items read this useful article from the National Cyber Security Centre. 

Musical instruments

Musical instruments come in such a variety of shapes, sizes and materials that they can be hard to recycle. If they can’t be repaired, take them to a recycling centre for disposal.

You can now donate musical instruments that are in good working order at one of our 18 centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

You could also:

• Donate it to a charity shop, local community or youth music programme
• Pass it on for free on websites
• Sell it online to make some extra cash

Nappies and sanitary products

Disposable nappies and sanitary products can’t be recycled, please put them in your general waste bin where they are used to make electricity.

Please do not put nappies and sanitary products in your recycling bins.

There are a number of reusable options available for both sanitary products and cloth nappies.

Needles and syringes

Dispose of needle-sticks and syringes as per supplier’s instructions, usually by sealing in a container.

Please check with your local council for safe disposal schemes.

Please do not put them in any of your bins at home or take them to any of our recycling centres.

Newspapers

All newspapers can be recycled in your paper and card bin.

This includes:

• Magazines and catalogues
• Books
• Envelopes and mail
• Junk mail

Please remove any plastic wrapping first.

Nitrous oxide canisters (laughing gas)

You can take Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) canisters to a recycling centre.

Please do not put gas canisters in any of your bins at home as they may explode if they are crushed.

For more information about Nitrous Oxide please visit Talk to Frank.

Ovens

You can recycle your used oven at a recycling centre.

You can also arrange a bulky waste collection with your local council. Some councils charge for this service.

You can now donate electric ovens that are in good visual condition, with no items missing, to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew Market selling pre-love household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Often, shops will collect your unwanted electrical or gas appliances when they deliver your new one (please note that some retailers may charge to collect electrical items).

Paint and paint cans

You can take paint cans from home DIY projects to a recycling centre for safe disposal or you could donate leftover paint to a local reuse scheme.

Do not put paint cans and tins in your mixed recycling bin and paint must not be poured down the drain.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Choose to reuse

There are a number of community paint schemes which accept donations of leftover paint.

Paper and shredded paper

Most types of paper can be recycled in your paper and card bin. This includes:

• Paper and shredded paper
• Magazines and catalogues
• Newspapers
• Books
• Envelopes and mail
• Junk mail
• Greetings cards and wrapping paper

Paper with foil, glitter or plastic coating can’t be recycled and should go in your general waste bin.

Pet bedding

You can put pet bedding from domestic pets, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters for example in your food and garden recycling bin at home. The following types are allowed:

• Hay
• Sawdust
• Straw
• Wood shavings
• Chipped wood

Pet food

You can recycle pet food at home in your food and garden bin.

Please note that food waste can’t be recycled at any of the 20 Recycling Centres across Greater Manchester. This is because the Recycling Centres are not licensed to accept segregated food waste.

You will most likely have a kitchen caddy to collect your food waste in. Make sure the caddy has a compostable liner inside. Do not use newspaper, plastic or biodegradable bags in your kitchen caddy, as they inhibit the composting process.

Only use compostable liners with the seedling logo and reference code EN13432 to make sure they are compostable. Compostable liners are either available from your local council or most supermarkets.

Other food waste that can be recycled at home includes:

• Raw or cooked meat and fish, including bones
• Raw or cooked fruit and vegetables
• Leftovers from your plate
• Rice, pasta and beans
• Bread, cakes and pastries
• Dairy including egg shells
• Teabags and coffee grounds

Pet waste

Pet waste such as cat litter and dog poo should be bagged and put in your general waste bin.

Do not put pet waste in your food and garden bin at home.

Petrol

You can take petrol to a recycling centre.  Please store in a robust, sealed container.

You will need to place your container of petrol in the designated collection container. You will not be able to to take your container home.

When you arrive, please ask a member of staff to direct you to the designated container.

Photographs

Photographs and negatives go in your general waste bin at home.

Most photo paper is coated with a very thin layer of plastic to control water absorption and speed drying. Therefore, it can’t be recycled in your paper and card bin.

Plastic bags

Check your local supermarkets for a plastic bag recycling point. Some accept other sorts of plastic packaging too.

If you can’t reuse or recycle them, you can put in your general waste bin. You can also put them in the non-recyclable waste container at a recycling centre.

Find out what happens to your plastic here.

Plastic bottles

Plastic bottles go in your mixed recycling bin. This includes bottles such as, cleaning product bottles, trigger spray bottles, shampoo and shower gel bottles, drinks and milk bottles.

Plastic film

Plastic film goes in your general waste bin. This includes things like, cling film, film off ready meals and plastic wrapping. You can also put them in the non-recyclable waste container at a recycling centre.

Check your local supermarkets for a plastic bag recycling point. Some accept other sorts of plastic packaging too.

Plastic packaging

Some supermarkets also have plastic carrier bag recycling points which also accept things like, bread bags, bubble wrap and frozen food bags.

You can also put plastic packaging in your general waste bin or put them in the non-recyclable waste container at a recycling centre.

Please do not put plastic packaging in any of your recycling bins.

Find out what happens to your plastic here.

Plastic pots, tubs and trays

Plastic pots, tubs and trays go in your general waste bin. This includes things like, yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, meat trays and fruit punnets.

You can also put them in the non-recyclable waste container at a recycling centre.

Find out what happens to your plastic here.

Plastic toothpaste tubes

Plastic toothpaste tubes go in your general waste bin. This includes other tubes such as creams and lotions.

Plastics

Plastic bottles go in your mixed recycling bin. This includes bottles such as:

• Cleaning product bottles
• Trigger spray bottles
• Shampoo and shower gel bottles
• Drinks and milk bottles

Some local supermarkets have a plastic bag recycling point that also accepts other sorts of plastic packaging too.

All other plastics go in your general waste bin. This includes things like, plastic pots, tubs, trays, nappies, polystyrene and wet wipes.

Hard plastics such as broken garden furniture, broken toys and hard plastic storage containers can be taken to the recycling centre.

Pillows

Some charities or animal shelters take donated pillows. Visit Dogs Trust or Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home. You could also contact your local RSPCA or PDSA.

You can also put them in the non-recyclable waste container at a recycling centre.

Pizza boxes

Empty pizza boxes can be recycled in your paper and card bin at home, even when stained or greasy. Just make sure there is no leftover pizza still in the box.

Plasterboard

You can take plaster and plasterboard to a recycling centre.

If you have removed plasterboard from your own home you can take plasterboard to one of the recycling centres listed below.

No Trade Waste:

• Arkwright Street (Oldham)
• Bayley Street (Tameside)
• Cemetery Road (Bury)
• Chichester Street (Rochdale)
• Springvale (Rochdale)
• Hurstwood Court (Bolton)
• Salford Road (Bolton)
• Bredbury Parkway (Stockport)
• Adswood (Stockport)
• Boysnope Wharf (Salford)
• Lumns Lane (Salford)
• Longley Lane (Manchester)

If you are using using your own van, pick-up truck, twin axle trailer or hire van, you will need a van permit

If you have hired someone to remove the plasterboard for you, it can’t be disposed of at any of our sites because this is classed as business waste. The tradesperson or builder should dispose of the plasterboard for you.

Polystyrene

Please put polystyrene in your general waste bin.

This includes:

• Polystyrene takeaway trays
• Polystyrene cups
• Polystyrene plates
• Polystyrene foam chips packaging
• Polystyrene moulded packing
• Styrofoam

You can also put polystyrene in the non-recyclable waste container at a recycling centre

Pots, pans and saucepans

Pots, pans and saucepans can be taken to a recycling centre. You can now donate pots and pans at 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-love household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Alternatively, you could:

• Take them to a charity shop or local reuse organisations
• Give them away for free on websites
• Sell them online

Please do not put pots, pans and saucepans in any of your recycling bins.

Pottery

Print cartridges

You can recycle printer cartridges at a recycling centre.

You can also return used cartridges to the shop you purchased it from or mail the cartridges back to the manufacturer.

Most ink or printer cartridges can be refilled with a store-bought refill kit.

Quilts

Some charities or animal shelters take donated quilts. Visit Dogs Trust or Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home. You could also contact your local RSPCA or PDSA.

You can also put them in the non-recyclable waste container at a recycling centre.

Radios

You can now donate radio’s in a reusable condition to 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-love household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

If your radio is broken, you can take it to a recycling centre and put in in the small electrical appliances container.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in any of your bins at home.

Raw or cooked fruit and vegetables

Both raw and cooked fruit and vegetables can be recycled in your food and garden bin .

Food waste can’t be recycled at any of the recycling centres. This is because the recycling centres are not licensed to accept food waste.

if you use a kitchen food caddy, only use compostable liners with the seedling logo and reference code EN13432 to make sure they are compostable.

Compostable liners are available from some councils and most supermarkets.

Food waste that can be recycled at home includes:

• Raw or cooked meat and fish, including bones
• Leftovers from your plate
• Rice, pasta and beans
• Bread, cakes and pastries
• Dairy including egg shells
• Teabags and coffee grounds

Raw or cooked meat and fish, including bones

Raw or cooked meat and fish, including bones, can be recycled in your food and garden bin.

Food waste can’t be recycled at any recycling centres. This is because the recycling centres are not licensed to accept food waste.

If you use a kitchen food caddy, only use compostable liners with the seedling logo and reference code EN13432 to make sure they are compostable.

Compostable liners are available from some councils and most supermarkets.

Food waste that can be recycled at home includes:

• Raw or cooked fruit and vegetables
• Leftovers from your plate
• Rice, pasta and beans
• Bread, cakes and pastries
• Dairy including egg shells
• Teabags and coffee grounds

Rubble and Hardcore

You can take rubble and hardcore to a recycling centre. You are limited to the amount of rubble you can take in one visit. The limit is five (900mm x 600mm) rubble sacks per visit. If you are carrying out large DIY projects that produce a lot of rubble, we advise you hire a skip.

There is a restriction on the amount of rubble you can take to a recycling centre because rubble is one of the main types of waste that traders are disposing of illegally at the recycling centres.

Rubble and hardcore includes:

• Bricks
• Ceramics
• Clay
• Concrete
• Paving slabs
• Rubble
• Sand
• Stones
• Tiles
• Soil

Do not put rubble or soil in any of your bins at home.

If you are using using your own van, pick-up truck, twin axle trailer or hiring a van, you will need to apply for a van permit.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Rugs

You can take rugs to a recycling centre.

If you have a rug that is in good condition you can donate this item to one of 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-love household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Safety razor blades

Steel safety razor blades can be recycled in the scrap metal container at a Recycling Centre or you can put them in your general waste bin.

Cartridge and disposable razors go in your general waste bin.

Sat navs

You can take sat navs to a recycling centre and put them in the small electrical appliances container.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in any of your bins at home.

If your electrical item is still working and in a reusable condition, your local reuse organisation may be able to refurbish it.

Scrap metal

You can take scrap metal to a recycling centre.

Do not put scrap metal in any of your bins at home.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repairs or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Sewing machines and accessories

You can now donate sewing machines alongside the accessories to 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-love household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

If your sewing machine is still working and in a reusable condition, your local reuse organisation may be able to refurbish it.

Before throwing your sewing machine away it’s also worth searching online for repair shops to see if it can be fixed.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in any of your bins at home.

Shampoo and shower gel bottles

Shampoo and shower gel bottles go in your mixed recycling bin. This includes bottles such as:

• Cleaning product bottles
• Trigger spray bottles
• Drinks and milk bottles

Remove all lids from plastic bottles before putting them in your mixed recycling bin.

Find out what happens to your plastic bottles here

Sharps

You need to dispose of sharps by following the supplier’s instructions.

You can get a sharps bins on prescription (FP10 prescription form) and it can be returned to your doctor to dispose of when it’s full.

Please do not put sharps in any of your bins at home.

Shoes

Some charity shops accept shoes in good condition.

If they are too old and worn you can put them in your general waste bin or put them in the non-recyclable container at the recycling centre.

Shredded paper

Shredded paper goes in your paper and card bin.

Small electrical items

Any electrical items large or small can be recycled at a recycling centre.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in any of your bins at home.

If you are replacing an electrical item, some retailers will collect your old electrical item when they deliver your new one.

Sofas / Settees

You can now donate some sofas, settees and chairs to 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-love household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

You can only donate your sofa if it still has a fire label attached to it (usually found underneath the sofa).

Many furniture reuse organisations and charities also offer free collections for sofas and other furniture that can be reused.

For sofas that can’t be reused you can still take it to a recycling centre for disposal or you can check whether your local council provide a bulky collection service.

Soil

You can take garden soil to a recycling centre. Please transport it in robust sacks. You are limited to the amount you can take in one visit. The limit is five (900mm x 600mm) rubble sacks per visit.

Soil can’t go in your food and garden bin at home as it will affect the quality of the compost produced. This is because soil is a mineral and may also contain other potentially toxic elements like heavy metals.

Any garden waste produced by tradespeople or gardeners you hired to carry out improvements or maintenance to your garden is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

If you are using using your own van, pick-up truck, twin axle trailer or you are hiring a van, you will need a van permit.

Stamps

Many charities benefit from stamp donations. Contact your local charity to see if they would like to take them. Charities sell stamps to dealers, usually per kilo, and use the money to fund projects.

Stoma bags

Stoma bags go in your general waste bin or clinical waste bin.

You can also put them in the non-recyclable waste container at a recycling centre.

When emptying a stoma bag, pour the faeces and urine down the toilet. The best way to dispose of a stoma bag is to rinse it after emptying and wrap it in a plastic bag.

Some councils provide a home collection service for clinical waste – check with your local council.

Storage heaters

You can take storage heaters to a recycling centre.

Please note: before taking storage heaters to the recycling centre, you need to check whether it has an asbestos brick inside. This can be done by researching the product on the internet. If it contains asbestos, please advise a member of staff at the recycling centre so it can be segregated.

If the storage heater does not contain asbestos, it can be recycled in the small electrical container.

If the storage heater does contain an asbestos brick, it can be taken to a waste transfer facility.

Straws

Straws go in your general waste bin.

Buy a straw you can wash and reuse instead of single use straws.

Sun beds

You can take sun beds to a recycling centre.

Please note: your sun bed must be dismantled before arriving on site. The fluorescent tubes must be removed from the frame prior to arriving at site. Fluorescent tubes go in a separate container and the frame can be put in the large electricals container for recycling.

TV and monitors

You can now donate TVs and monitors that are in good visual condition, with no items missing to 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew Market selling pre-love household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

You can recycle TVs (including smart TVs) and monitors at a recycling centre. Do not put electrical items in your bins at home.

If your TV or monitor is still working and in a reusable condition, your local reuse organisation may be able to refurbish it. Some charities will collect unwanted electrical items for free.

Often shops will collect your unwanted electricals when they deliver your new one – especially larger items like TV’s, fridges and freezers (please note that some retailers may charge to collect electrical items).

Tablets

Any electrical items large or small can be recycled at a recycling centre.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in any of your bins at home.

Before you throw away your tech, it’s worth searching online for repair shops to see if it can be fixed.

If your electrical item is still working and in a reusable condition, your local reuse organisation may be able to refurbish or fix it – giving it a new lease of life and a new home.

For advice on how to remove your data from your computer, laptop or tablet, read this useful article from the National Cyber Security Centre.

Teabags and coffee grounds

Teabags and coffee grounds, including loose tea leaves go in your food and garden bin. Coffee filters go in your general waste bin.

Please note that food waste can’t be recycled at any of the recycling centres across Greater Manchester. This is because the recycling centres are not licensed to accept food waste.

If you use a kitchen food caddy, only use compostable liners with the seedling logo with reference code EN13432 to make sure they are compostable.

Compostable liners are available from some councils and most supermarkets.

Food waste that can be recycled at home includes:

• Raw or cooked meat and fish, including bones
• Raw or cooked fruit and vegetables
• Leftovers from your plate
• Rice, pasta and beans
• Bread, cakes and pastries
• Dairy including egg shells

Tetra Pak

Empty food and drink cartons (Tetra Pak) go in your paper and card bin at home.

Textiles

Textiles in good condition can be reused, sold, passed onto friends and relatives or taken to charity shops.

You can take textiles to your local recycling centre and put in the textile bins.

Thermometers

Thermometers and other products that contain mercury can be recycled at your local recycling centre. Please inform a member of staff so they can put the item in a safe and secure area.

Tights

You can put torn or worn tights in your general waste bin. Alternatively you can take them to the textile bank at your local recycling centre.

Tiles (floor and wall)

You can take tiles from DIY projects from home to a recycling centre as long as you carried out the work yourself. Tiles go in the hardcore and rubble container.

You are limited to the amount of rubble you can take in one visit. The limit is five (900mm x 600mm) rubble sacks per visit.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Please do not put tiles in any of your bins at home.

Timber and wood

You can take timber and wood to a recycling centre.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repairs or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Tissues

Tissues go in your general waste bin.

Please do not put any tissues in your paper and card bin.

Tools

You can now donate unwanted tools at one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

Some charities will take old tools for refurbishment. Tools for Self Reliance refurbish hand tools (except gardening tools) and send them to developing countries. You can deliver tools or they can be collected if necessary.

Broken tools can be taken to your local recycling centre.

Towels

Some pet charities or animal shelters welcome donations of towels, contact them first to check. Visit Dogs Trust and Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home or contact your local RSPCA or PDSA.

Towels can be put in the non recyclable waste at the recycling centre.

Toys and games

You can now donate your unwanted toys that are in good safe condition to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our Renew shops, selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

You can also donate toys and games to charity shops.

You can trade or sell computer and console games at some stores.

Plastic toys can’t be recycled in your mixed recycling bin. Broken toys can be taken to your local recycling centre.

Trigger spray bottles

Trigger spray bottles go in your mixed recycling bin. You can also recycle other plastic bottles such as, cleaning product bottles, shampoo, shower gel bottles, drink and milk bottles.

Remove all lids from plastic bottles before putting them in your mixed recycling bin.

You can learn more about what happens to your plastic bottles here.

Turf (natural)

You can take natural turf to a recycling centre. Please transport it in robust sacks. You are limited to the amount you can take in one visit. The limit is five (900mm x 600mm) rubble sacks per visit.

Turf/soil can’t go in your food and garden bin at home as it will affect the quality of the compost produced. This is because soil is a mineral and may also contain other potentially toxic elements like heavy metals.

Any garden waste produced by tradespeople or gardeners you hired to carry out improvements or maintenance to your garden is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Twigs and small branches

Twigs and small branches can be recycled at home in your food and garden bin as long as they aren’t thicker than your wrist.

Other garden waste that can be recycled at home includes:

• Flowers and plants
• Leaves
• Grass cuttings
• Hedge clippings
• Weeds (no Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam)

You can also compost your garden waste in a home compost bin. To find out more visit Let’s compost now.

Tyres

Tyres can be recycled at a recycling centre.

Tyres are shredded and granulated at our partner site in Bury. They are turned into a crumb which is used in equestrian matting, playgrounds and sometimes for drainage. During the shredding process, some wire is removed and recycled.

If you have tyres replaced by a garage, they are responsible for disposing of the tyres correctly.

USB Stick / external hard-drive

Any electrical items large or small can be recycled at a recycling centre.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in any of your bins at home.

Before you throw away your tech, it’s worth searching online for repair shops to see if it can be fixed.

If your electrical item is still working and in a reusable condition, your local reuse organisation may be able to refurbish or fix it – giving it a new lease of life and a new home.

Make sure to clear your hard drive or flash drive before donating. For advice on how to remove your data from your computer, laptop or tablet, read this useful article from the National Cyber Security Centre.

Underwear

You can take unwanted underwear, including knickers, pants, bras and socks to the textile recycling container at your local recycling centre.

Bravissimo

With the Bravissimo Bra Recycling Scheme, you can easily donate your old bras at their shop in Manchester. By recycling used bras with Bravissimo, you help support Coppafeel’s amazing work!

Vinyl records

You can now donate any vinyl records that are in good condition at 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our new Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – find out more here today.

You can’t recycle vinyl records in your mixed recycle bin.

Broken or damaged vinyl records can be put in your general waste bin or taken to a recycling centre.

Vapes / Vaping devices

E-cigarettes and vaping device waste should be taken to the recycling centre, where the batteries can be disposed of in the battery container.

Do not put electrical or battery powered items in any of your bins at home.

Vegetable oil

You can take used vegetable oil to a recycling centre.

Put the cooled cooking oil in an empty disposable sealed container and take it to a recycling centre. When you arrive, please ask a member of staff to direct you to the designated container.
Alternatively you can put your cooled cooking oil into a plastic bottle. Make sure the lid is on tight and put it in your general waste bin.

Do not pour cooking oil down the sink.

Video cassettes

Some charity shops may accept video cassettes that are in good condition.

You can put them in your general waste bin or take them to a recycling centre for disposal.

Watches

Some charities and online organisations like Recycling for Good Causes will accept jewellery and watches (including broken) via post. They are resold or recycled to raise funds for national charities and local groups such as Scouts and Brownies.

Water filters

Some brands offer a recycling scheme.

If they don’t have a recycling scheme, please put water filters in your general waste bin.

Weeds (no Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam)

Weeds such as dandelions, nettles, sheep’s sorrel and other non-invasive weeds can go in your food and garden bin at home. You can also take them to a recycling centre with your garden waste.

You can’t put invasive weeds in your food and garden bin or take them to your local recycling centre. The in vessel composting process will not kill or prevent the spreading of invasive weeds such as Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam.

Invasive weeds are classed as ‘hazardous waste’ and removal of these should be done under the guidance provided by the Environment Agency.

Wet wipes

Please put wipes in your general waste bin.

Wet wipes such as:

• Baby wipes
• Cosmetic wipes
• Bathroom cleaning wipes
• Toilet wipes

Please do not put them in any recycling bin or flush them down the toilet.

White goods

You can now donate white goods that are in good visual condition, with no items missing, to one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our Renew Market selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – click here to find out more today.

White good such as fridges, freezers and washing machines can be taken to a recycling centre, or check to see if your council offers a bulky waste collection for electrical items.

Often shops will collect your unwanted electricals when they deliver your new one – especially larger items like TVs, fridges and freezers (some retailers may charge to collect electrical items).

Wine bottles

Glass wine bottles can be recycled in your mixed recycling bin at home.

Rinse out the bottles and remove lids/corks which go in your general waste bin.

Wool

Donate wool to charity shops, schools or community groups.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper can’t be recycled in your paper and card bin. Please put any new or used wallpaper in your general waste bin.

You can donate leftover rolls of wallpaper to some charity shops.

Any waste produced by tradespeople or builders you hired to carry out improvements, repair or alterations to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

Washing machines and dryers

You can now donate washing machines and dryers that are in good visual condition, with no items missing to 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our Renew Market selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – to find out more click here.

Often shops will collect your unwanted electricals when they deliver your new one – especially larger items like TVs, fridges and freezers (some retailers may charge to collect electrical items).

Washing machines and dryers can be taken to a recycling centre. Some councils also offer a bulky waste collection for electrical items.

Windows

• Put the glass in the rubble container
• Put wood in the wood container
• Put plastic in the general waste container

Any windows removed by tradespeople you hired to carry out improvements or maintenance to your home is classed as business waste and can’t be disposed of at any of our recycling centres. Always ask a tradesperson to include waste disposal in their quote.

X-mas trees

You can take your real Christmas trees to a recycling centre. Remove all decorations and remove the wooden block from the base of the tree as this is too big to be composted. It can be placed in the wood container.

Some councils will collect your Christmas trees and some also have designated Christmas tree recycling points.

If you have an artificial tree, and it is in good working condition you can donate it at one of our 18 recycling centres across Greater Manchester to help stock our Renew shops selling pre-loved household items at an affordable price – click here to find out more today.
You can also take it to your local recycling centre and put it in the non-recyclable container.

Yoghurt pots

Please put plastic yoghurt pots, tubs and trays in your general waste bin at home.

Your general waste is used to make electricity.  Find out how here.

In Greater Manchester, you can only recycle plastic bottles. Find out why here.