Green recycling box

Find out what goes in your green recycling box and what doesn't, when it's collected and what you can do to help us collect your recycling.

We collect your recycling every week (except for your chargeable garden waste which we collect every other week). Find out when your next collection day is using our collection day finder.

What goes in your green recycling box

WarningBatteries are a known fire risk to our vehicles and recycling plant. Batteries must be placed in a tied bag on top of your box. Never leave them loose in your recycling box or place them in your rubbish.

If you have two green recycling boxes (55 litres), please separate your recycling as detailed below. If you live in a flat, you may have communal recycling bins instead of a green recycling box.

Green box 1 - plastic and metal packaging 

Yes: Metal cans, empty aerosols, clean foil, aluminium tubes, plastic bottles, lids and caps, tubs and trays.

These items can be mixed as the metals are separated using a magnet later in the recycling process.

No: Polystyrene, black plastic, crisp packets, plastic bags or wrapping.

Green box 2 - glass and paper 

Yes: Glass bottles and jars (labels and lids can be left on), paper, magazines and newspapers.

No: Broken glass, sheet glass, drinking glasses, or glass cookware (Pyrex), tissues, kitchen towel or wrapping paper.

Please separate glass and paper within the box. This enables our crews to collect efficiently.

If glass and paper are mixed with the cans and plastics it may not be collected by our crews.

Why we no longer collect wrapping paper

Unfortunately we cannot accept any wrapping paper for recycling, the reason for this is that whilst our paper has always been recycled in the UK, large amounts of paper from the UK has historically been exported abroad and over recent years as the demand for recycling in the UK has increased, so has the required level of quality of the material that we send to the paper mills.  Wrapping paper, particularly at Christmas is normally contaminated with glitter, tape, bows or tags where people do not or can’t remove them all prior to recycling, in addition a lot of wrapping paper is also made from low grade paper whereas the paper mills prefer higher quality paper.

If we send loads for recycling that contain too much wrapping paper, they could reject the whole load so none of it is recycled, which is why we have said not to recycle any wrapping paper to reduce the risk of this happening. 

Other items we collect in tied carrier bags

Please place the following items separately in tied carrier bags on top of a green box:

• Batteries and e-cigarettes (vapes)
• Clean, dry clothing and textiles in reusable condition. We can't take uniform, quilts, duvets, pillows, cushions, rugs or curtains
• Small electrical items: hairdryers, mobile phones, chargers, kettles, toasters etc.
• Used engine oil and filters. Engine oil must be in sealed engine oil containers. Drain and wrap oil filters in plastic bags to avoid leaks
• Printer cartridges

For more information on what we can and cannot accept, check our Recycling A-Z.

Putting your recycling out

To help us collect your recycling box, please take note of the following:

• put your recycling boxes at the front edge of your property where we can see them
• put your recycling boxes out by 6am on your collection day (or no earlier than 8pm the night before)
• bring your emptied boxes back in on your collection day as soon as you can
• if you live in the city centre of Bath, don't leave your boxes on railings or steps
• don't put out large or hazardous items

WarningWe can fine you for leaving your boxes out after your collection day or for blocking pavements.

Moving home

If you move, you must leave your green recycling box at your old home.