Recycling rules are a lot like navigating public transport with 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 Wigan recycling centre genius in no time!
According to Wigan Council:
Here’s what you CAN put into your recycling bins:
Blue bin / white sack:
- Office paper
- Junk mail
- Catalogues, brochures, directories
- Newspapers and magazines
- Envelopes
- Greeting cards (without glitter)
- Cardboard
- Kitchen and loo roll tubes
Brown bin:
- Cans, tins, empty aerosols
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastic bottles
- Yogurt pots
- Household plastic pots and tubes
- Aluminium foil
Green bin / green caddy:
- Grass, leaves, twigs
- Small branches
- Bread and pastries
- Egg shells
- Dairy (like cheese and yogurt)
- Raw and cooked fish and meat (including bones)
- Fruit and vegetables
- Teabags and coffee grounds
- Leftover food
Here’s what CANNOT go into your recycling bins:
Blue bin/white sack:
- Nappies
- Sanitary products
- Food
- Plastic bags, wrappers, and trays
- Polystyrene
- Hardback and paperback books
- Crisp packets
- Wallpaper
- Greeting cards with glitter
Brown bin:
- Plastic bags, wrapping, and film
- Coat hangers
- Plant pots
- Furniture and toys
- Food
- Nappies
- Sanitary products
- Foil type food sachets
- Coffee pods
- Electrical items
- Hosepipes, wires
- Wine and beverage glasses
- Windowpane glass
Green bin/green caddy:
- Cardboard
- Branches larger than 15cm in diameter
- Soil
- Rubber
- Food packaging
- Liquid oils and fat
- Liquid dairy products like milk, cream, or yogurt
- Plastic bags
Here are a few extra pointers to keep in mind when sorting out your waste for Wigan Recycling Centre
When disposing of your food waste, it can go directly into your green bins, so you don’t have to worry about always having compostable liners on hand. Your council should also supply you with a small, silver kitchen caddy to make disposing of food waste clean and easy.
For more of Wigan Council’s recycling details, check out their website.
We hope this helps uncomplicate Wigan recycling centre rules and makes it easier to sort through your waste. We know recycling isn’t the answer to the waste crisis, but it’s a step in the right direction. Happy recycling!
Join our milkround
At Modern Milkman, it’s our mission to reduce household waste one doorstep at a time. That’s why our milkies deliver your produce in returnable, recyclable or home-compostable packaging, meaning there’s less for you to find the right bin for, a real win-win if you ask us.
Sign up for milk delivery and get milk to your door by 7.30am up to three times a week, right in time for your morning cuppa! Start your day right with our tasty range of products, from coffee subscriptions to cereal refills – being eco-savvy never tasted so good.
*This information is up to date as of the 29th of August 2023.
