6 recycling items councils do not have to collect under new law

6 recycling items councils do not have to collect under new law If you put these out for recycling they may not necessarily be collected. The UK government has listed several common household items that councils in England are not obliged to collect for recycling if left outside people's homes on bin day. They include several common products like different types of glass, metals, plastic and paper and card — things you may have assumed would be recycled. The government has also pushed back for three years a rule that had been due to come in early next year. From March 2027 all English local authorities were expecting to have to collect plastic bags and film from every household. These are currently only recycled by a small number of councils and most people have to take them to a supermarket to get them recycled. However, the government has decided to defer the implementation of mandatory plastic film collections for workplaces and households to April 2030. England's new Simpler Recycling regulations took effect in March 2026. They made it clear that local authorities must now collect the following types of waste separately: - food and garden waste - paper and card - all other dry recyclable materials (glass, metal and plastic, including cartons) - residual waste (non-recyclable waste that is sent for energy recovery or to landfill). The reason for the new rules was to standardise waste collection across the country and boost recycling rates. The government said it wanted to end the "muddled and confusing patchwork of approaches to bin collections" that came from different local councils having different rules, causing widespread confusion about what could be recycled in different areas. They were also designed to ensure more products are recycled and high quality recycled material can be sourced domestically. It is worth remembering that, despite the new rules, there may still be variations in what different councils are able and unable to recycle so check your local council rules if in doubt. What waste do councils not have to collect for recycling? There are several items local authorities do not need to collect for recycling, which can be split into six broad categories. When it comes to glass, they do not need to collect any glass not used as packaging. This includes: - candles - drinking glasses - flat glass - glass cookware (like Pyrex) - light bulbs and tubes - microwave plates - mirrors - vases - window glass - ceramics, such as crockery or earthenware They do not need to collect the following metal products: - laminated foil, like pet food pouches and coffee pouches - electrical items and batteries - general kitchenware like cutlery, pots and pans - kettles - irons - pipes - metal packaging that has contained white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreeze They do not need to collect the following plastic products: - any plastic packaging or non-packaging items labelled as ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’, including coffee pods - plastic bottles that have contained white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreeze - bulky rigid plastics such as garden furniture, bins and plastic toys - polystyrene (expanded and high impact) packaging such as packing beads - polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging. They do not need to collect the following paper and card products: - food and drinks cartons made of a fibre-based composite (these should be collected with plastics) - absorbent hygiene products including nappies, period products and incontinence products - wet wipes, cotton wool or makeup pads - tissue or toilet paper They do not need to collect the following food products: - any plastic packaging or non-packaging items labelled as ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’, including coffee pods. They do not need to collect the following garden waste products: - animal bedding - bulky waste (including garden furniture and fencing) - garden tools or other gardening equipment - plant pots - plastic - sand - sawdust - stone, gravel or bricks - tea bags or coffee grounds - branches and trees over a certain size may have to be cut into smaller pieces to follow local guidance.