Check what goes in your bins

Not sure what can go in which bin? Use this quick guide to make sure you’re recycling right and disposing of waste responsibly.

By putting the right items in the right place, you’ll help reduce contamination, keep collections running smoothly and make a positive impact on the environment.
 

Black wheelie bin or sack (including communal rubbish)

Your black bin, black sack or communal refuse bin is only for rubbish that can't be recycled or go in your food bin.

Don’t put these things in your black bin, black sack or communal refuse bin:

  • DIY waste – like bricks, tiles, or wood from home projects
  • electrical items – like old toasters, phones, or kettles
  • hazardous waste – like paint, batteries, or chemicals
  • garden waste – like grass, leaves, or branches

Place small electrical items like toasters, batteries (not car batteries) or old clothes in a plastic bag. Each type of item needs to be in its own bag or it will not be taken. Leave the bag next to your bin on your collection day. 

This happens every week. But if the bin truck is too full, your bag might not be taken. If that happens, just leave it out again next week. You don’t need to tell anyone.

If you use black sacks:

  • make sure the sack is tied up
  • don’t let rubbish spill out

Blue recycling bins and bags (including communal recycling)

Help the environment by putting the right things in your blue recycling bin or bags. These include:

Item What to do
Aerosol cans empty spray cans like deodorant, air freshener, or cleaning sprays. Take the lids off – they can't be recycled.
Aluminium foil clean foil and trays from food (like takeaways or ready meals). Don’t recycle foil pouches (like pet food pouches).
Cans and tins  Clean food and drink cans, like soup tins or fizzy drink cans. Pet food tins are okay too!
Cardboard Things like cereal boxes, toilet roll tubes, and fruit trays. Even boxes with plastic windows are okay.
Cartons Juice and milk cartons (like Tetra Pak). Take the lids off – they can't be recycled.
Glass bottles and jars  Clean bottles and jars from food and drinks. You can leave the lids on.
Paper  Newspapers, magazines, letters, envelopes (even with windows), greeting cards, clean wrapping paper, and shredded paper. Don’t put shredded paper in a bag – just loose.
Plastic bottles Bottles from drinks, shampoo, cleaning sprays, and even medicine. Leave the lids on if you can.
Plastic pots, tubs, and trays  Clean yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, fruit trays, and ready meal trays. Leave plastic lids on. Take off cling film or plastic wrap – that can’t be recycled.

See also how to recycle electrical items, batteries, clothes and textiles as part of your weekly collections.

Recycling tips

Wash it first: Before you put bottles, cans, or food containers in your blue bin, rinse them out so they’re clean.

Too much recycling? If your blue bin is full, you can put extra recycling in a clear bag or a cardboard box next to your bin on collection day. If you have big cardboard boxes, cut them down so they fit in the bin after it’s emptied.

Glass goes in the bin: Don’t leave glass bottles or jars next to your bin. Always put them inside the blue bin.

Take it to a centre: If you have a lot of recycling, you can take it to:

For more information about recycling, visit the Norfolk recycles website .  

There are small recycling points, known as bring banks, located throughout the city.  Many supermarkets also have recycling facilities available.

Find your nearest bring bank.

Food caddy

You can put the following items in your food caddy:

  • leftover food from your meals
  • eggs and eggshells
  • cheese and other dairy foods
  • fruit and vegetables (raw or cooked)
  • bread, cakes and biscuits
  • meat and bones (raw or cooked)
  • fish and fish bones (raw or cooked)
  • rice, pasta and beans
  • tea bags and coffee grounds
  • cooking oil and fat (put big amounts in a plastic bottle next to your bin)
  • pet food

Please don’t put these things in your food caddy:

  • any kind of packaging
  • glass
  • recycling like cans or paper
  • garden waste like grass or leaves
  • straw or animal bedding

How to use your food caddy

  • Line your small kitchen caddy with a bag. You can use compostable liners or clean plastic bags like bread bags.
  • Put all your food waste in the caddy. No packaging, please!
  • When it’s full, tie the bag and put it in your big food bin outside.
  • Put your outside food bin by the kerb on your collection day. It gets emptied every week.
  • If you need more liners, tie one to your outside bin on collection day. If the crew has some, they’ll leave you a new roll.

Request a replacement food caddy

Use this form if your bin is lost, damaged, stolen or broken.

Request it

Garden waste (brown) bin

You can put these things in your brown bin:

  • grass cuttings
  • leaves and small plants
  • hedge trimmings
  • twigs and small branches
  • cut flowers

Please don’t put these things in your brown bin:

  • big tree trunks or fences
  • stones or rocks
  • soil or dirt
  • paper or cardboard
  • plastic bags
  • food or kitchen waste (like fruit or veggie peels)
  • straw, sawdust, or pet bedding
  • DIY or building waste

Your bin won't be collected if it has the wrong things in it.
We also don't take extra garden waste left next to the bin.

Special rule for ash trees

  • if you have ash tree leaves or branches, don’t put them in your brown bin as they can spread a tree disease called ash dieback
  • instead, you can leave them where they are or burn them safely in your garden (if allowed). To learn more, visit the Forestry Commission website 
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