What to put in clear sacks and orange-lidded recycling banks
Only put items in your sacks or banks that are in the Please recycle lists for each material.
- Rinse any food remains off containers before recycling
- Never include anything that could cause risk during the collection or sorting process, such as hypodermic needles
- Can't find what you're looking for? Try our A-Z recycling tool
Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
Please recycle
- All plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays that are clean and dry
Don't include
- Loose pump and trigger mechanisms from spray dispensers
- Soft plastics, like plastic carrier bags and pet food pouches
- Scrunchy plastic wrappers, for example biscuits and crisp packets
- Plastic film like bubble wrap, cling film, fruit punnet lids and bread bags
- Biodegradable plastic
- Polystyrene or styrofoam
- Toys, plant pots or any other plastic items
Tips
- Any spray trigger or pump mechanisms should be left on their bottles
- Most soft plastics can be recycled with carrier bags at larger supermarkets
- There’s no need to check the codes on these items that indicate the type of plastic - a number in a triangular recycling symbol
Mixed paper and card
Please recycle
- All sheets of paper, card and cardboard. It should be clean and dry
Don't include
- Wet or dirty paper or cardboard, like food and grease-stained pizza boxes
- Used tissues, kitchen roll or paper towels
- Shredded paper
- Wallpaper
- Hardback books that would be better re-used or donated to charity
Tips
- Boxes and larger pieces of cardboard should be flattened or broken up
- Alternatively, households receiving the clear sack recycling service can tie bundles of cardboard with non-nylon string and place them for collection next to their recycling sacks
Mixed glass bottles and jars
Please recycle
- All glass bottles and jars. They should be clean and dry
Don't include
- Plastic lids or corks - metal lids should be removed and included loose in your recycling
- Broken glass in clear recycling sacks
- Any other glass, for example: Pyrex and ovenware, mirrors, window glass, drinking glasses - these melt at different temperatures
Tips
- Rinse off any food remains before recycling
Food and drink cartons
Please recycle
- All food and drinks cartons, like Tetra Paks. They should be clean and dry
Don't include
- Paper cups
- Compostable food packaging
Tips
- Please rinse and squash
- Remove plastic lids and tops where possible
- Remove plastic lids from Tetra Pak
Food tins and drink cans
Please recycle
- All drinks cans and food tins. These should be clean and dry
- Metal lids
Don't include
- Aerosol cans
- Foil or metal food trays
- Large biscuit and sweet tins
- Paint cans
Tips
- Please rinse and squash
- Aerosols, foil and large tins can cause problems at the sorting plant. However, they can be recycled in the scrap metal bay at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Smugglers Way, Wandsworth
More information
Our leaflets give you more information about recycling.