What goes in my bins and boxes?

COVID-19 (coronavirus) update

Most of our waste and recycling collections are running as usual.

• The full wheelie box collection service for the Castle area recommenced on Monday 6 September 2021. You will need to sort your recycling differently. 
• Bryson recycling box collections are continuing as usual, but you need to sort your recycling differently (link opens in new window). 

To help our crews as much as possible, you should:

• not leave side waste or extra rubbish bags next to your bin, as we can’t collect them
• sort your recycling properly
• make sure you wash your hands, before and after handling your bins or recycling boxes
• wipe the handle of your bin and boxes down after you leave it at your usual collection point
• follow social distancing guidance (link opens in new window)
• make sure disposable gloves are placed into your black bin once you’ve finished using the
• visit nidirect for more advice on bin hygiene (link opens in new window)

You must not put items such as used tissues or disposable cleaning cloths into your recycling bins or boxes. This is very important.

Coronavirus waste

If you have suspected, or confirmed coronavirus, follow these instructions before putting items such as used tissues and disposable cleaning cloths in your black waste bin:

• double-bag them, tying the bags securely
• keep them separate from other waste for 72 hours before putting them into your black waste bin for collection

What goes in my bins and boxes?

General waste bin

For waste that you can't recycle including:

• Nappies and sanitary waste
• Bubble wrap
• Plastic cutlery
• Cellophane wrapping
• Takeaway drink containers
• Styrofoam
• Crisp bags and containers
• Plastic bags
• Broken glass

Recycling bin

• Aerosol cans
• Aluminium foil (clean)
• Biscuit tins
• Dry and clean cardboard
• Cardboard food boxes
• Food tins and drinks tins and cans
• Cartons (including TetraPak)
• Magazines or catalogues
• Paper
• Toilet roll tubes
• Soft back books
• Empty plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays

Compost bin

• Food waste
• Grass cuttings
• Plants and flowers
• Leaves, twigs and small branches
• Hedge trimmings
• Shredded paper
• Takeaway pizza boxes (torn up)
• Cold ashes
• Teabags and coffee grounds
• Egg shells
• Fruit and vegetable peelings
• Bones
• Paper napkins
• Wet paper and wet cardboard
• Bottle corks
• Weeds

Black or red recycling boxes*

Option one

• Food and drink cans
• Aerosol cans
• Food and drink cartons (for example, milk or juice)
• Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
• Clean aluminium foil

Option two

• Paper (no tissues)
• Cardboard

Option three

• Glass bottles and jars

Textiles - leave in a tied bag next to your recycling boxes.

What you can't put in your recycling boxes:

• Batteries
• Hand tools

Wheelie boxes (Castle area only**)

Top box

• Paper and cardboard (no tissues)

Middle box

• Cans
• Aerosol cans
• Plastics (bottles, pots, tubs and trays)
• Tetra Pak
• Tin foil

Bottom box

• Glass bottles and jars

Textiles - leave in a tied bag and place into any of your wheelie boxes.

What you can't put in your wheelie boxes:

• Batteries
• Hand tools

Wheelie boxes (all other areas)

Top box

• Paper (no tissues)
• Cardboard

Middle box

• Food and drink cans
• Aerosol cans
• Food and drink cartons
• Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
• Clean aluminium foil

Bottom box

• Glass bottles and jars

Textiles - leave in a tied bag next to your wheelie boxes.

What you can't put in your wheelie boxes:

• Batteries
• Hand tools

Green food waste bin

• Meat, fish and cheese 
• Fruit and veg 
• Bread, cakes and pastries 
• Rice, beans and pasta
• Teabags and coffee grounds
• Potato and vegetable peelings 
• Any other leftover food

Glass recycling box

• Glass bottles and jars

*If you only have one or two boxes please rotate the materials you present each week, for example put out paper and cardboard one week, and glass the next week.

**This applies to the wheelie box trial in the Castle area only.

If you have more recycling than will fit into your recycling boxes, you can leave a single additional tied bag containing one type of item next to your recycling boxes and we will collect it with the rest of your recycling.

To order additional recycling boxes go to order a bin.

Recycling your food waste

Tips to help you increase your recycling:

• remove all food packaging before putting the waste in your food waste bin
• remember to rinse and recycle the packaging, if possible
• only use the food waste bags we supply - they decompose with the food waste and we supply them free of charge
• if you need more food waste bags, please tie your last bag to your food waste bin.

If you don’t have a food waste bin or a kitchen food waste caddy, you can:

• order them online
• email wastemanagement@belfastcity.gov.uk

If you are waiting for a caddy and have a food waste bin, you can place food waste directly into your food waste bin or wrap it in newspaper.

Disposing of needles and other sharps

Sharps (needles, syringes and lancets) are clinical waste and must never be placed in a domestic bin of any type as they can cause injury to recycling and processing operatives. Sharps boxes can also be purchased from pharmacies.

Putting the wrong materials into your bins or boxes?

If you put the wrong materials into your recycling bins or boxes, we won't be able to collect them.  It can contaminate our collection and all waste in the lorry may have to go to landfill. 

We'll put a non-collection tag on it telling you why it wasn't collected.  Please remove the offending item, dispose of it correctly and put your bin or box out on the next collection date.