New recycling rules 31st March 2026

[PeteXXX]

From the end of March, England is introducing "Simpler Recycling" to standardise collections across the country. You will likely use at least four separate bins for food/garden waste, paper/card, dry recyclables, and general rubbish.

Warning: Putting the wrong items in your recycling bins can result in fines of up to £400.

Items You CANNOT Put in Recycling Bins

1. Glass

• No: Drinking glasses, Pyrex, mirrors, light bulbs, window glass, ceramics, or vases.

• Only glass used as packaging (jars/bottles) is generally accepted.

2. Metal

• No: Cutlery, pots, pans, kettles, irons, or pipes.

• No: Foil pouches (pet food/coffee) or containers for paint/engine oil.

• No: Batteries or electrical items.

3. Plastic

• No: "Compostable" or "biodegradable" plastics (including coffee pods).

• No: Polystyrene, PVC, or bulky items like garden furniture and toys.

• No: Bottles that held chemicals like white spirits or antifreeze.

4. Paper and Card

• No: Tissues, toilet paper, wet wipes, or makeup pads.

• No: Nappies or period products.

• Note: Food/drink cartons (Tetra Pak) should go in the plastic stream, not paper.

5. Food Waste

• No: Packaging of any kind (except approved caddy liners).

• No: Compostable plastic pods.

6. Garden Waste

• No: Soil, stones, gravel, bricks, or sand.

• No: Animal bedding, tea bags, or coffee grounds.

• No: Fencing, garden tools, or plastic plant pots.

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Hope that's clear then 👍

 

[wiggydiggy]

My council won't introduce these changes until 2028 so I'll have a couple of years to see how it works elsewhere, but I think it's pretty clear.

Anything not recyleable will still go in my 'residual' or household waste, with some exceptions - Stones, gravel, bricks, or sand I have to dispose of myself as the local recycling doesn't take those. Batteries or electrical items I can recycle at a few different places. Few other things.

It will be interesting to see if the council starts confiscating bins again if you put the wrong thing in, like they did a few years ago, always seemed like a daft idea as then everything just went in household none-recycling.

 

[biggs682]

Not a lot of change then

 

[Toshiba Boy]

Recycling pretty good down this way.

Coupled with what I take to the local tip, our non recyclable household waste, which is collected only once every three weeks now, is often only half full or less.

This compares to an overflowing bin every week in days gone past. How things have changed.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Not a lot of change then

Glass is new for me and welcome - I currently walk or cycle a bag of bottles/jars over to the bins near me when needed.

Food is good. I used a composter for a little bit but it never really worked properly.

Garden Waste is interesting - I currently pay £50ish a year for 6 monthly brown bin garden waste collection, I think this means that will now be included in council tax collections but I'm not sure.

 

[classic33]

It's more the fines that are the new part. Don't pay and they'll simply blacklist you, not removing any more until the fines are cleared.

 

[PeteXXX]

Our Hamtun garden bins are chargeable @ £69 pa