What can I recycle?
In Southampton, there are six items you can recycle at home. These are paper, cardboard, aluminium cans, tins, empty aerosols and plastic bottles. Although an item may be labelled "recyclable", it's not necessarily recyclable in Southampton.
Use the buttons below to see what goes in each bin, or use the search box to find how to dispose of a particular item.
| Item | Which bin / how to dispose of | Alternative ways of disposing | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerosols | Recycling bin (as long as they are not hazardous) | Aerosols can also be recycled at out-of-home recycling points such as supermarkets | Aerosols need to be empty to be recycled, as any remaining original contents may class as hazardous waste |
| Aluminium Foil | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | If recycling out-of-home, please make sure your tin foil is clear of food waste |
| Animal waste | General waste bin | - | Please make sure you bag up your animal waste before placing in bin |
| Antibacterial wipes | General waste bin | - | Don’t be fooled into thinking these can be flushed! They can not! Most wipes should always be placed in the waste bin |
| Ammunition | Please contact your local police station | - | - |
| Asbestos | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | There is a charge for disposing of asbestos |
| Ash | General waste bin | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | Due to high levels of alkaline, wood ash can be really beneficial to your lawn |
| Baby wipes | General waste bin | - | Although they may be labelled as flushable, these are not! |
| Batteries | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | Most supermarkets now have battery collection points | Electricals should always be recycled separately from household waste. Find out more at Recycle Your Electricals |
| Bed linen | General waste bin | Textile recycling banks | You can also donate these to local charities, and many high street stores now have ‘bring back schemes’ |
| Biscuit tins (metal) | Recycling bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | - |
| Bicycles | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Consider donating your old bicycle to a local charity shop. Alternatively, Halfords work with Re-Cycle to donate bikes to rural communities in Africa. Find out more at Halfords |
| Blankets | General waste bin | Textile recycling banks | Blankets can be taken to local charities and your local homeless shelters |
| Bleach bottles | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Books | General waste bin | Good quality books are accepted at most charity shops for resale. | You can also donate books to your local library and schools |
| Bottles – glass | Grey/black glass recycling box | Bottle banks | Metal bottle lids can be left on clean glass bottles |
| Bottles – plastic | Recycling bin | - | To recycle plastic bottles correctly, please ensure they're clean and dry. If recycling the bottle lids, these must be secured to the bottle as individual bottle lids can get wedged into and clog our machinery |
| Bricks | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | There is a charge for disposing of bricks |
| Brochures | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Bubble wrap | General waste bin | - | - |
| Building rubble | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | There is a charge for disposing of rubble |
| Business waste | Commercial waste service | - | - |
| Butter and margarine tubs | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | - |
| Cans | Recycling bin | - | Cans can also be taken to your local supermarket for recycling |
| Car batteries | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Car batteries are classed as hazardous waste and should never be placed in your kerbside bins. The provider/fitter of your new battery may well be able to dispose of your old battery for you |
| Cardboard | Recycling bin | - | Remember to take tape off of cardboard boxes before recycling them |
| Cards | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Cartons, waxed juice or milk cartons | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | Because of the wax coating these items can’t be recycled in Southampton. Some retailers will take clean items back, so give them a rinse before returning them |
| Carrier bags | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | - |
| Car tyres | You can't dispose of car tyres at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre - please google options | - | When having your new car tyres fitted, the garage will often dispose of your old ones for you. Tyre companies can also dispose of old tyres for you, for a small fee |
| Catalogues | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Cat litter | General waste bin | - | Please ensure your animal waste is bagged up before placing in your general waste bin |
| CDs and DVDs | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | CDs and DVDs will be welcome at your local charity shops, or you can sell them on certain websites |
| Cereal box | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Chemicals | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Items such as pesticides, lawn treatments, white spirit, varnish, poisons (such as rat poison) and antifreeze are accepted at the Household Waste Recycling Centre. Please take them in a sealed container and speak to a member of staff. There is a maximum of five litres per household per month. |
| Christmas trees | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | See Christmas tree collections |
| Chocolate bar wrappers | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | Many supermarkets and retailers will take clean empty wrappers back for recycling |
| Cleaning wipes | General waste bin | - | Wipes with any kind of moisture can not be recycled, or flushed down the toilet |
| Cling film | General waste bin | - | - |
| Clothes | General waste bin | Textile recycling banks | You can also donate clothes to your local charity shops |
| Coats | General waste bin | Textile recycling banks | You can also donate coats to your local charity shops |
| Coat hangers | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | Some large retailers recycle unwanted coat hangers and charity shops can use them again |
| Coffee Cups | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | Some coffee chains will take back empty coffee cups so check with your favourite coffee shop for more details |
| Coffee grounds | General waste bin | Compost - see the Get Composting website | - |
| Coffee pods | General waste bin | Some manufacturers offer recycling schemes | Pods from 11 major coffee brands can be recycled through the Podback scheme |
| Computers | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | - |
| Confidential waste | General waste bin | - | - |
| Cookers | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | The council also runs a bulky items collection service | There is a charge for bulky items collection |
| Cooking oil | General waste bin | - | - |
| Corks | General waste bin | - | - |
| Cotton wool | General waste bin | - | - |
| Cotton wool buds | General waste bin | - | - |
| Crisp packets | General waste bin | - | - |
| Cutlery | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Consider donating cutlery to your local charity shop, or soup kitchen |
| Curtains | General waste bin | Textile recycling banks | Consider donating curtains to your local charity shop |
| Diesel | You can't dispose of fuel at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre - please google options | - | Find your nearest hazardous waste disposal point |
| Directories | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Disposable plates, cups and napkins | General waste bin | - | - |
| DIY waste (bricks, rubble) | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | There is a charge for disposing of rubble |
| Domestic appliances | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | The council also runs a bulky items collection service | - |
| Drinking glasses | General waste bin | - | Make sure it is wrapped up so nobody gets cut |
| Duvets | General waste bin | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | Consider donating your duvet to your local charity shop |
| DVD player | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Electricals should always be recycled separately from household waste. Find out more at Recycle Your Electricals |
| Egg boxes – cardboard | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Egg boxes – plastic | General waste bin | - | - |
| Egg shells | General waste bin | Compost - see the Get Composting website | - |
| Electrical goods | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Electricals should always be recycled separately from household waste. Find out more at Recycle Your Electricals |
| Engine oil | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | Engine oil is a hazardous waste and as such can be dangerous. Please ensure this is in a sealed container before dropping to your nearest recycling point |
| Envelopes | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Fireworks | General waste bin | - | - |
| Fish tank chemicals | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | - |
| Flower pots and trays – plastic | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | Plastic pots tubs and trays can not be recycled kerbside in Southampton yet |
| Flour bags | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Fluorescent tubes | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | These may contain hazardous waste that can not be placed in your general waste bin |
| Foil | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | If you are recycling foil out of home, please ensure it’s clear of food waste and grease |
| Food wrap | General waste bin | - | - |
| Food tins | Recycling bin | - | Don't forget to wash them out! |
| Food trays and pots (plastic) | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | If you are recycling food trays out of home, please ensure they are clear of food waste and grease |
| Food waste | General waste bin | Compost - see the Get Composting website | - |
| Fridges and freezers | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | The council also runs a bulky items collection service | There is a charge for bulky items collection |
| Fruit peelings | General waste bin | Compost - see the Get Composting website | - |
| Furniture | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | The council also runs a bulky items collection service | You can also give these away to charity if in good condition. See other ways to dispose of bulky waste |
| Garden waste | Garden waste bin | - | There is an annual charge for a garden waste bin |
| Gas bottles | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Many gas bottles can be refilled and re-used. For more information visit LPG cylinder supply and return |
| Glass bottles | Grey/black glass recycling box | Bottle banks | - |
| Glass items | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | For items like glasses and vases, please consider donating to your local charity shop |
| Grass cuttings | Garden waste bin | - | There is an annual charge for a garden waste bin |
| Greaseproof paper | General waste bin | - | - |
| Hand soap bottle | Recycling bin | - | It’s plastic, and it’s a bottle, so it’s recyclable in Southampton! |
| Hand soap pump dispenser tops | General waste bin | - | - |
| Hard plastics | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | - |
| Hats and scarves | General waste bin | Textile recycling banks | Please consider donating hats and scarves to your local charity shop, especially useful for winter time |
| Hazardous waste | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Hazardous waste can be hazardous to your health and to the environment. It should never be put into any of your kerbside bins |
| Inhalers | Inhalers can contain harmful gases so please return these to your local chemist | - | Please take unwanted medicines back to your local chemist for disposal |
| Jars – glass | Grey/black glass recycling box | Bottle banks | Please ensure jars are rinsed out before recycling. Metal lids can be left on clean jars |
| Jars - plastic | General waste bin | - | - |
| Juice cartons | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | - |
| Juice pouches | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | - |
| Junk mail | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Kettles | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Electricals should always be recycled separately from household waste. Find out more at Recycle Your Electricals |
| Keys | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | Keys can be recycled in the mixed metals facility at most recycling centres |
| Kitchen roll | General waste bin | - | Kitchen roll must go into your general waste bin, however you can recycle the cardboard tube |
| Kitchen waste | General waste bin | Compost - see the Get Composting website | - |
| Laser printers | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | Electricals should always be recycled separately from household waste. Find out more at Recycle Your Electricals |
| Lead pipe | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | - |
| Leaves | Garden waste bin | - | There is an annual charge for a garden waste bin |
| Leftovers | General waste bin | Compost - see the Get Composting website | - |
| Lids and tops (metal) | General waste bin | - | - |
| Lids and tops (plastic) |
Plastic bottle tops can be loosely screwed onto their bottle and placed in the Recycling bin. |
- | Some organisations and charities will collect individual bottle tops which they sell in bulk to plastic recycling companies in order to raise funds for themselves. Individual bottle lids cannot be recycled as they can get wedged into and clog machinery |
| Light bulbs (energy efficient and fluorescent tubes) | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | These may contain hazardous waste that can not be placed in your general waste bin |
| Light bulbs (halogen) | General waste bin | - | - |
| Light bulbs (LED) | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | LED light bulbs should be placed in the small electrical appliances container |
| Magazines | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Margarine and butter tubs | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | - |
| Medicine | Please take unwanted medicines back to your local chemist for disposal | - | Inhalers can contain harmful gases so please return these to your local chemist |
| Milk bottles (plastic) | Recycling bin | - | Give it a wash! |
| Monitors | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Electricals should always be recycled separately from household waste. Find out more at Recycle Your Electricals |
| Nail varnish bottles | General waste bin | - | Some supermarkets and retailers now collect old make-up items |
| Nappies | General waste bin | - | - |
| Nespresso pods | These can be recycled through Nespresso | - | Pods from 11 major coffee brands can be recycled through the Podback scheme |
| Newspapers | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Office furniture | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | The council also runs a bulky items collection service | There is a charge for bulky items collection |
| Paint | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | - |
| Paper | Recycling bin | - | Never put shredded paper into the recycling bin! |
| Paraffin | You can't dispose of paraffin at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre - please search the web for options | - | - |
| Perfume and/or aftershave bottles | General waste bin | - | Empty glass perfume and aftershave bottles can be placed in your glass collection container |
| PET | PET which is bottle shaped can be recycled in your blue-lidded bin. For other shapes please put it in your green-lidded bin | - | If you're not certain that the item is made of PET, place it in your general waste bin |
| Pet waste | General waste bin | - | Please ensure your animal waste is bagged up before placing in your general waste bin |
| Petrol | You can't dispose of petrol at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre - please google options | - | Find your nearest hazardous waste disposal point |
| Photo paper | General waste bin | - | - |
| Pillows | General waste bin | - | Consider donating pillows to your local charity shop or homeless shelter |
| Pizza boxes | General waste bin | - | Food or liquids can leak onto paper and cardboard, meaning they cannot be recycled. Greasy cardboard such as pizza boxes, cannot be recycled for the same reason. |
| Plasterboard | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | There is a charge for disposing of plasterboard |
| Plastic bags | General waste bin | - | Many supermarkets support plastic bag recycling. See Recycle Now |
| Plastic bottles | Recycling bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | These can also be taken to many supermarkets and retailers for recycling |
| Plastic food trays and pots | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | If you’re recycling these out-of-home, please ensure they’re clear of any food waste or grease |
| Plastic packaging | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | - |
| Polystyrene | General waste bin | - | - |
| Postcards | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Post-it notes | General waste bin | - | - |
| Pringles™ tubes | General waste bin | - | Can also be recycled through the Terracycle programme at the University of Southampton Students Union. |
| Printer cartridges | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Electricals should always be recycled separately from household waste. Find out more at Recycle Your Electricals |
| Punnet | General waste bin | - | - |
| Roll on deodorants | General waste bin | - | Many supermarkets and retailers will take empty deodorant bottles back for recycling |
| Shoes | General waste bin | Textile recycling banks | Consider donating shoes to your local charity shop |
| Shampoo bottle | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Shower gel bottle | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Shredded paper | General waste bin | - | Shredded paper can cause issues to our waste facilities |
| Sponges | General waste bin | - | - |
| Sugar bags | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Straws | General waste bin | - | The best thing to do is avoid using plastic straws as they can not be recycled due to their small diameter |
| Take away coffee cups | General waste bin | Find an out-of-home recycling point at Recycle Now | Many coffee shops will allow you to return your coffee cup for recycling. The best option is to buy a reusable cup! |
| Telephones | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Electricals should always be recycled separately from household waste. Find out more at Recycle Your Electricals |
| Televisions | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Electricals should always be recycled separately from household waste. Find out more at Recycle Your Electricals |
| Tetra Pak | General waste bin | - | - |
| Textiles | General waste bin | Textile recycling banks | Textiles can also be donated to charity shops |
| Tissues | General waste bin | - | - |
| Tins | Recycling bin | - | Give it a wash! |
| Toaster | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | Electricals should always be recycled separately from household waste. Find out more at Recycle Your Electricals |
| Toilet roll tube | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Toys | General waste bin | - | Consider donating toys to your local charity shop, or hospital |
| Trade waste | Commercial waste service | - | - |
| Tyres | You can't dispose of car tyres at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre - please search the web for options | - | When having your new car tyres fitted, the garage will often dispose of your old ones for you. Tyre companies can also dispose of old tyres for you, for a small fee |
| Vegetable waste | General waste bin | Compost - see the Get Composting website | - |
| Vape | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | Electricals should always be recycled separately from household waste. Find out more at Recycle Your Electricals |
Vapes should never be placed in either of your household bins. Often, vapes can be returned to the retailer you purchased them from. Dedicated collection points are located at all HWRCs in Hampshire. Get advice to stop smoking. |
| Wallpaper | General waste bin | - | - |
| Washing machines | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | The council also runs a bulky items collection service | There is a charge for bulky items collection |
| Water filters | General waste bin | You can find your nearest recycling points for Brita filters on their website | - |
| Waxed cartons | General waste bin | - | Waxed cartons include coffee cups |
| Wine boxes | Please separate the box and put that in your Recycling bin. The inner plastic goes in your General waste bin | - | - |
| Wine glasses | General waste bin | - | Make sure it is wrapped up so nobody gets cut |
| Wires | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | - |
| Wood and timber | Household Waste and Recycling Centre | - | - |
| Wrapping paper | General waste bin | - | - |
| Yellow pages | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Yoghurt drink bottles | Recycling bin | - | - |
| Yoghurt pots | General waste bin | - | - |
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