Nine things you must never put in your recycling bin

In our previous article on the tricky topic of recycling contamination, we discussed the different ways you can inadvertently contaminate your recycling. We looked at how contamination can happen when you put something in with the recycling that although potentially recyclable, isn’t collected for recycling by your local council, and how recyclable materials tainted by other substances – such as food residue – can impact the recyclability of a lorry load of materials.

The third category covers things that can’t be recycled at all, and that’s what we’re looking at today. We researched the top contaminants in this post and found that 45% of UK households put one or more of these items in their kerbside recycling collection. With contamination potentially sending a whole lorry-loads of recycling to landfill, it pays to know what should and shouldn’t go in your recycling bin, so here are the top non-recyclables that you should never put in it.

Unfortunately, nappies are made from mixed materials. Some councils offer a dedicated collection for disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products such as incontinence pads and sanitary products. If this service isn’t offered by your council, nappies should go in your general rubbish bin. An alternative to disposable nappies are reusable ones which can be washed and used again and again. 

Animal waste is another thing that doesn’t belong in a recycling bin (if you’re out walking your dog on bin day and have a poo bag to get rid of, don’t be tempted to pop it into a recycling bin left out on the pavement!). Animal waste, whether it’s a poo bag or the contents of your cat’s litter tray, belongs in the general rubbish bin.

One exception: waste and bedding (straw or wood shavings) from herbivores, such as rabbits and other pet rodents, can go on your compost heap if you have one. If you’ve just cleaned out their hutch or cage, why not put the contents to good use in the garden!

If you’re embarking on a renovation or garden landscaping project, you may be wondering what to do with all the rubble you’ve somehow accumulated. This isn’t recyclable from the kerbside but small amounts are usually accepted at household recycling centres. Before travelling, it’s best to check whether your local site accepts it and whether there are any restrictions or charges in place – consult our Recycling Locator to find out more about your nearest facility. 

While they may not be as dirty as nappies, these are still unhygienic, and they’re made from mixed materials and therefore not recyclable. Put them in your general rubbish bin and consider switching to reusable alternatives such as cotton handkerchiefs to cut down on waste.

On the subject of unhygienic mixed materials, anything to do with COVID-19 (or indeed any other disease) is a no-go as far as your recycling bin is concerned. That includes personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks and gloves, lateral flow cartridges and testing devices. These should go in your general rubbish bin. Only the cardboard package and paper instructions are recyclable.  

You’d be forgiven for thinking that because you can recycle glass bottles and jars, you can also recycle other glass objects, such as broken drinking glasses or ovenware such as Pyrex. Sadly, that’s not the case – these are made from different materials, with a different melting point, so they can’t be put in your recycling bin. Wrap them carefully in old newspaper, a padded envelope or the leftover paper from an online delivery and put them in your general rubbish bin. 

Plastic toys can’t be collected with your kerbside recycling, but there are lots of other things you can do with them. If you can’t reuse them, consider donating them to a charity shop or children’s hospital, or give them to someone who’ll appreciate them via platforms such as Freecycle. Alternatively, if they are broken and beyond use, take them to a household recycling centre as many have reuse and repair points – check our Recycling Locator to find your nearest one. 

Light bulbs are dangerous, as well as being made from mixed materials, so they can’t go in your recycling bin. You can recycle energy-efficient bulbs at specialist locations that you can find using our Recycling Locator, but older ‘incandescent’ ones can’t be recycled and should go in your general rubbish. Always make sure to wrap glass safely in paper or card before putting them in the bin.

Some councils do accept batteries in your kerbside collection, but many don’t, so check the Recycling Locator to find out. Even if they can be collected from home, batteries need to be kept separate from the other materials, as they’re highly flammable and a danger to collection crews and sorting staff. Here’s why binned batteries can be dangerous. 

Finally, if you’re ever unsure about whether something can be recycled, you can always check our Recycle an Item A-Z guide!