Recycling and rubbish collections
On average people in the UK now produce around seven times their own weight in waste a year!
It’s now easier than ever to recycle in Bristol. We are now recycling and composting 39% of our waste.
If you recycle your old newspaper and magazines they could be back on the shelves as new newspapers and magazines in as little as seven days.
You should have a black box and food waste bin for your recycling, you can also put your cardboard out for recycling next to your food waste bin.
You will also have a black wheeled bin for anything that cannot be recycled.
Your weekly waste collection
Black box
- Metal food and drinks cans
- Glass bottles and jars
- Paper
- Aerosol cans
- Aluminium foil
- Yellow Pages
- Household batteries
- Shoes
- Old spectacles
For more information visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/blackbox
Food waste bin
- Fruit and vegetables
- Meat, fish and bones
- Cooked and uncooked food
- Bread, pasta, cereal and rice
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Dairy products and eggshells
For more information visit: www.brisotl.gov.uk/foodwaste
Cardboard
All types of cardboard – please put your cardboard out next to your kitchen waste bin / or your garden waste bin, as these are collected by the same vehicle.
Optional garden waste collection
This is a chargeable collection, for more details visit www.bristol.gov.uk/gardenwaste
Black bin collection
- Your black wheeled bin is for all waste that cannot be recycled.
- Your black bin is collected every other week.
- If you don’t have a black bin put up to four bags of rubbish out on your collection day.
- No extra bags of rubbish will be collected.
If your bins are not emptied please report it at: www.bristol.gov.uk/missedcollection
What should I do if my bin gets stolen?
Order a new bin at: www.bristol.gov.uk/newbins
Depending on the circumstances you may be charged for a new wheeled bin for rubbish. You can however request extra black boxes and food waste bins for recycling free of charge.
Top tips
- Line your food waste bin with and / or wrap your food waste in paper. For a list of food waste bin liner stockists visits: www.bristol.gov.uk/foodwaste
- Place your cardboard out for collection beside your food waste bin, or put small amounts inside the bin.
- Put your rubbish and recycling out by 7am on your collection day.
- Please bring your bins back in as soon as possible after your collection.
Recycling if you live in a flat
If you live in a block of flats you should have a Mini Recycling Centre (MRC) where you can recycle paper, cans and glass. For more information visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/mrc
Recycling your plastic bottles
There is an extensive network of 50 plastic bottle banks in Bristol. Find your local plastic bottle bank at: www.bristol.gov.uk/recyclingcentrefinder
Recycling other items
There are over 70 recycling centres around Bristol where you can recycle plastic bottles, drinks cartons, shoes, textiles books etc.
There are also two Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) where you can recycle batteries, electrical appliances, gas bottles, scrap metal, tyres, used engine oil, wood, garden waste and more.
For more information and locations visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/hwrc
Useful recycling websites
Useful reuse websites