Recycling rules are a lot like navigating public transport on a hangover – confusing, frustrating, and a little bit overwhelming. But we’re here to change that! We’ve laid out what you can and can’t recycle, as well as some general bin rules that may have been lost in translation. With this handy guide, you’ll be a recycling genius in no time.
According to Selby District Council:
Here’s what you CAN put into your recycling bins:
Brown bin:
- • Newspapers, magazines, and brochures
- • Telephone directories and catalogues
- • Wrapping paper (without foil or glitter)
- • Cardboard packaging
- • Junk mail, office paper, and envelopes (can keep the windows in)
- • Greeting cards (remove any glitter, ribbons, and other craft decorations)
- • Cereal boxes, food packaging, and egg cartons
- • Shredded paper
Blue bin:
- • Plastic bottles like milk, shampoo, and fabric softener bottles
- • Plastic yogurt pots, margarine tubs, and food trays
- • Plastic chocolate boxes including Quality Street, Celebrations, and Heroes
- • Clean ready meal trays (both plastic and foil)
- • Empty tins and cans
Green bin:
- • Grass cuttings
- • Flowers
- • Plants and weeds
- • Leaves
- • Hedge clippings
- • Prunings, twigs, and small branches (up to 4cm thick)
Here’s what CANNOT go into your recycling bins:
Brown bin:
- Food and drinks carton
- Foil and foil-lined packaging
- Wrapping paper made with foil or glitter
- Tetra packs
Blue bin:
- Polystyrene
- Glass milk bottles – these should be returned to your milkman
- Light bulbs or broken glass
- Pyrex dishes, window glass or drinking glasses
- Crisps packets, sweet wrappers and other foil lined packaging.
- Glasses or spectacles
- Bubble wrap, plastic wrapping or plastic carrier bags
- Paint cans
- Empty toothpaste containers
- Tetra Paks
Green bin:
- Food waste including meat, fish, vegetable peelings or tea bags
- Nappies
- Soil, rubble or stones
- Glass, metal and plastic
- Treated wood (including fencing)
- Animal faeces, bedding or pet litter
- Turf or compost
- Plant pots
- Sacks or plastic bags
- Japanese Knotweed or other invasive weeds or plants
As well, your council has a few extra notes to keep in mind when sorting out your waste.
Ditch the plastic bags. Please put your recycling directly into your bin, as plastic bags will contaminate your recycling.
Make sure to wash and squash all your containers before you recycle them.
Have any extra glass, cans, and plastic? Just take them to a Household Waste and Recycling Centre.
For more of Selby’s recycling details, just follow the link here.
We hope this helps uncomplicate your local recycling rules and makes it easier to sort through your paper and tins. We know recycling isn’t the answer to the waste crisis, but it’s a step in the right direction. Happy recycling!
*This information is up to date as of 07 April 2022.
