Which bin does it go in?

Let’s sort it out!

Most homes in Wakefield have three household bins – a green bin and two brown. Sorting your rubbish into the correct bin is important. It means that items are recycled properly and reduces the need for creating new raw materials. This helps lower our carbon impact and the amount of rubbish we have to dispose of.

We can recycle and reuse up to 95% of items (including from your green bin), but only if you sort your rubbish at home.

Visit the Where I Live page to check your bin collection days.

Electrical items, textiles, clothes, wood and paint do not belong in any bin - they need to be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Here are some helpful tips on sorting your rubbish into the correct bin. This is not a complete list of items but covers the most popular items.

You can also view our helpful A to Z list of waste, to get the most out of the way you recycle your rubbish. 

What goes in the brown recycling bin?

Everything you put into your brown recycling bin should be clean and free from food or drink. And to help you save space, you should squash cardboard boxes. 

If your brown recycling bin gets full, you can use clear plastic bags to leave extra recycling at the side of the bin. Or flatpack cardboard into one cardboard box and place next to your bin. Do not put plastic bags inside your bin. 

These items belong in your brown recycling bin

• all plastic bottles, pots, tubs, tubes and trays (including non-black plastic plant pots). This includes clean food packaging, yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and fruit or vegetable punnets
• steel cans - soup, beans, dog food and so on - remember to give them a quick rinse
• aluminium drinks cans
• paper and card - including paperback books,newspapers, magazines and envelopes
• glass bottles and jars (rinse and put the lids back on)
• empty cartons for food, drink and other liquids – including juice cartons or milk substitute cartons (remember to rinse and put the lids back on)
• aerosol cans (that are empty) - for example deodorant bottles, air fresheners and furniture polish

These items do not belong in your brown recycling bin 

Items that shouldn’t go in your brown recycling bin include:

• soft plastic packaging
• windowpane glass, drinking glasses and Pyrex dishes – or any broken glass or crockery
• shredded/ waxed/ greaseproof paper
• card with food on it, for example, takeaway pizza boxes
• any metal items other than cans and tins
• electrical items
• batteries

What goes in the green household waste bin?

Remember, not everything can go into your green household waste bin. Some things like electric items, batteries, paint, wood and clothing must be taken to either: 

• a household waste recycling centre (HWRC) 
• a local bring site – usually found near
• supermarkets
• a donation bank

Extra general rubbish if left in a bag outside of your bin, will not be taken. You should take it to a household waste recycling centre. 

We can recycle some items from your green bin too, so make sure you put these items in this bin.

These items belong in your green household waste bin

• food – including leftovers, eggshells, rotten fruit and vegetables
• pet food, bedding and waste
• wood shavings
• plastic bags or any soft plastic packaging
• nappies, wipes, sanitary products and tissues – never flush these
• crisp packets and wrappers
• polystyrene and greasy food packaging (takeaway cartons and pizza boxes – even if they say they can be recycled)
• broken glass and crockery
• Garden recycling bin

These items do not belong in your green household waste bin

• anything that can be recycled or any garden waste
• electrical items - anything with a battery or plug socket
• batteries – including for power tools or small batteries. Always take these to a recycling point
• paint, solvents or anything flammable – always take this to a HWRC
• wood, rubble or stone – always take this to a HWRC
• any textiles – such as clothing, bedding or cloths

What goes in the brown garden bin?

We collect garden waste from March through to November. It is turned into soil improver which residents can then collect from their nearest HWRC. 

These items belong in your brown garden bin

• flowers and plants
• bark, twigs and branches
• leaves
• hedge trimmings and pruning’s
• grass cuttings
• weeds

These items do not belong in your brown garden bin

• food, fruit or vegetables
• soil, turf or compost
• pet waste and cat litter
• bones and eggshells
• vacuum contents and hair
• planks of wood or large branches
• rubbish or recycling

Extra general rubbish including garden waste if left in a bag outside of your bin, will not be taken. You should take it to a  Household Waste Recycling Centre. 

Download the Biffa free app (available on Google Play and App Store) for information. Including advice on what goes in each bin, tips on how to recycle and dispose of your rubbish correctly and locating your nearest recycling centre.

What should I take to the household waste recycling centre?