Below are the details of what can be recycled in Bath and North East Somerset:
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.
Bath and North East Somerset Council collect three recycling types in green boxes:
- Type 1: Metal cans, empty aerosols, clean foil, plastic bottles, tubs and trays. (No polystyrene, black plastic, crisp packets, plastic bags or wrapping.)
- Type 2: Glass bottles and jars. Labels and lids can be left on. (No broken glass, drinking glasses, or glass cookware.)
- Type 3: Paper. (No tissues, kitchen towel, or wrapping paper.
The Council also collects batteries, clothing and textiles, small electrical items, used engine oil and filters with your green box recycling. Please place these items in a tied carrier bag on top of your green box.
Engine oil must be in sealed engine oil containers. Drain and wrap oil filters in plastic bags to avoid leaks. We can only accept clothing and textiles that are clean, dry, and in a reusable condition. We can't take uniform, quilts, duvets, pillows, cushions, rugs or curtains.
For more information on what we can and cannot accept, check our Recycling A-Z.
We will only collect small electrical items which fit into a tied carrier bag (hairdryers, mobile phones (including batteries and chargers), kettles, toasters etc.)
Cardboard - This will only be collected if it is broken down and placed in your blue bag, any large cardboard boxes left by the side of your recycling will not be taken.
Food Waste
Using your kitchen caddy and food bin
Take note of the following guidelines for using your smaller kitchen caddy (5 litres) and larger food bin (23 litres).
- line your kitchen caddy with a plastic carrier bag, compostable liner or newspaper (no black bags or bags for life)
- ensure food waste is not loose inside your food waste bin or caddy
- empty your kitchen caddy into your larger food bin outside before it gets too full, if you have one (if using newspaper to line your kitchen caddy, wrap up your food when you empty it into your food bin outside, so it doesn't get stuck when we collect it)
- lock your kitchen caddy or food bin by pulling the handle forward to keep out animals
- rinse your caddy and bin regularly.
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
- don't put out large or hazardous items
Getting a Replacement Recycling box/bag
You can order the following items using the online form here:
- Green recycling box with or without a lid. You can order more than one. (55 litres; 35cm x 41cm x 36cm)
- Blue recycling bag (91 litres; 45cm cubed)
- Food recycling bin (23 litres, 40cm high) with a lockable lid to put your food waste out for collection
- Food recycling kitchen caddy to store your food waste in the kitchen, or use instead of a food bin if you have less storage space (5 litres, 20cm high)
- Roll of green recycling sacks for dry recycling in some areas of Bath
