Blue bins and clear sacks are for household mixed recycling items only. We collect these every other week.
Top tips:
- all items must be clean and dry, this means free from liquids, food, glue, paint, glitter and metallics
- squash containers and boxes to save space
- pack contents loosely as we may need to inspect them and bins should empty easily
Paper and card
Paper and card items you can put in your blue bin and clear sacks include:
- art paper (white or coloured)
- books
- brochures and catalogues
- cardboard (boxes, labels and the tubes from toilet or kitchen rolls)
- greetings cards
- junk mail
- newspapers and magazines
- paper envelopes (with or without windows)
- shredded paper
- telephone directories
- wrapping paper
Food and drink packaging
Food and drink packaging items you can put in your blue bin and clear sacks incude:
- aluminium drinks cans
- biscuit and sweet tins
- cardboard egg boxes
- glass bottles and jars
- juice and milk cartons
- kitchen foil and foil trays
- food tins and drinks cans
- plastic drink and milk bottles (replace lids after squashing)
- soft plastic food pots, tubs and trays (including black plastic food trays)
Other recyclable plastics
Other plastic items you can put in your blue bin and clear sacks include:
- soft, stretchy, scrunchy plastic (such as bread bags and cling film)
- bubble wrap
- empty carrier bags (not black plastic)
- cleaning product bottles (not trigger spray tops)
- shampoo bottles
See How to recycle plastic at Oxfordshire.gov.uk
Additional recycling
If your blue bin is full, put extra recycling in a clear bag and place this either on top of your blue bin (lid closed) or at the side of it.
If you have clear sack collections, use as many as you need and put these out as usual on collection day.
If we find non-recyclable waste
If we find non-recyclable waste in your blue bin or clear sacks we won't collect them. We'll also, usually, attach an educational sticker.
We will empty it on your next collection date, as long as you've removed the non-recyclable waste.
The recycling plant can turn away entire loads when non-recyclable items are found. Recycling properly, all the time, helps to save costs and protect the environment.
Talking rubbish: What is a contaminated bin? (Video)
Every month about 3000 bins can't be recycled because they've got the wrong things inside them. Watch our video short to learn more.
Alternatively, watch 'What is a contaminated bin?' on YouTube (37 seconds)
Search for your item at the Waste Wizard
The waste wizard tool provides options for thousands of household and commercial recycling and waste items.
Go to the Waste Wizard at Oxfordshire.gov.uk
