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 👍

 

[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.

 

[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

 

[Pat "5mph"]

@PeteXXX we already have similar here in Scotland, but your instructions are more comprehensive than the ones we are given.
Putting wrong items in the bins will result in the bin not being emptied and being "tagged".
However, all bins are emptied in the same waste skip.
When challenged, the council workers said "the manager told us to do it"
I thought this only happened in my run down estate, but a friend that lives in a more affluent area said it's the same there!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

@PeteXXX we already have similar here in Scotland, but your instructions are more comprehensive than the ones we are given.
Putting wrong items in the bins will result in the bin not being emptied and being "tagged".
However, all bins are emptied in the same waste skip.
When challenged, the council workers said "the manager told us to do it"
I thought this only happened in my run down estate, but a friend that lives in a more affluent area said it's the same there!

Happens here, too.

We separate glass, tins and plastics and they all end up in the same hatch in the recycling truck.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Doesn't look much different to what we have at the moment: Our recycling bin is mixed recycling and this looks to separate out paper/card. We don't get a garden waste bin by default - we have to pay for it.

Apart from that, all pretty familiar.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

We don't get a garden waste bin by default - we have to pay for it.

Yes, so do we.
I make compost with my garden waste, plus I get the neighbors' waste too.
Takes a bit of work, but ... it works!

 

[raleighnut]

Happens here, too.

We separate glass, tins and plastics and they all end up in the same hatch in the recycling truck.

The machine at the recycling plant separates it easily using magnets and water.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Yes, so do we.
I make compost with my garden waste, plus I get the neighbors' waste too.
Takes a bit of work, but ... it works!

I compost too but I just put soft stuff in there. Tougher stuff and things that might survive and re-grow go in the garden bin.

 

[lazybloke]

Many thanks @PeteXXX, i can't stand my neighbours but thanks to your list i can cause mischief and get them tagged for non-compliant sorting.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

The machine at the recycling plant separates it easily using magnets and water.

I didn't know that. Thanks.

But why do I have to separate it?

 

[PeteXXX]

Many thanks @PeteXXX, i can't stand my neighbours but thanks to your list i can cause mischief and get them tagged for non-compliant sorting.

And so begins the Orwellian nightmare 😱🤣

 

[Dadam]

Have you a link for this? I've not heard anything about it. In Leeds we only have 3 bins, black is general waste, brown is garden waste and green is recycling. There's no time to get a new bin to everyone so it can't be coming in here for ages yet.

Also they only just added glass to the allowed list of stuff for the green bins last year so changing it again would cause no end of confusion.