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What to do with

Foil

Foil is widely recycled
Clean household foil and aluminium trays are widely recycled in household collection schemes and at recycling points. Enter your postcode below to check if you can recycle foil at home.
Enter your postcode

How to recycle foil

  • Rinse or wipe off any crumbs or food residue from foil trays. To rinse just dunk the tray in the washing up water - no need to run the tap.
  • Scrunch kitchen foil, tub and pot lids and wrappers together to form a ball - the bigger the ball, the easier it is to recycle.

As well as foil, you can usually recycle these other aluminium items:

  • Drinks cans
  • Screw top lids from wine bottles (recycle with the bottle - the cap can be left on)
  • Takeaway containers and barbeque trays.

How to recycle a foil tray

Do the scrunch test to check whether your shiny wrapper is aluminium foil or plastic film: scrunch the wrapper in your hand - if it springs back open it’s not recyclable foil.
Do the scrunch test!

What to do with...

  • Popular items
  • Aerosols
  • Batteries
  • Clothing & textiles
  • Electrical items
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  • Plastic film & carrier bags
  • All items

Related websites

Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation

Related content


Find out how to recycle:

Food and drink cans

Food and drink cartons

Food and drink pouches

Pizza boxes


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The Waste and Resources Action Programme (which operates as WRAP) is a registered UK Charity No. 1159512 and registered as a Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No. 4125764.

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