Under the Simpler Recycling changes, councils will collect food waste separately, along with paper and card, other dry recycling such as plastic, metal and glass packaging and there’ll be a general rubbish stream for non-recyclable waste.
Homeowners face fines if they repeatedly ignore the new rules, so it’s worth knowing how to stay on the right side of them.
![Overflowing wheelie bins]()
Some items can still be recycled but will need to be taken to recycling centres or supermarkets (Image: Getty)
37 items to be banned from household recycling wheelie bins from spring 2026
Waste experts at Wheeldon Brothers have shared the full list of items that cannot be recycled at home under the new rules in England.
Glass
- Candles
- Drinking glasses
- Flat glass
- Glass cookware such as Pyrex
- Light bulbs and tubes
- Microwave plates
- Mirrors
- Vases
- Window glass
- Ceramics such as crockery or earthenware
Metal
- Laminated foil such as pet food pouches and coffee pouches
- Electrical items and batteries
- Kitchenware such as cutlery, pots and pans
- Kettles
- Irons
- Pipes
- Metal packaging that contained white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreeze
Plastic
- Compostable or biodegradable plastics, including some coffee pods
- Plastic bottles that contained white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreeze
- Bulky rigid plastics such as garden furniture, bins and plastic toys
- Polystyrene packaging, such as packing beads
- PVC packaging
Paper and card
- Fibre-based composite cartons for food and drink
- Absorbent hygiene products (e.g., nappies, period/incontinence products)
- Cotton wool or makeup pads
- Tissue or toilet paper
- Wet wipes
Can you get fined for putting bins out early?
Food waste
- Compostable or biodegradable plastics, including some coffee pods
Garden waste
- 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 unless cut down to meet local guidance
Why are these 37 items being banned from recycling at home?
Household recycling collections are built around packaging and core materials that can be sorted and processed efficiently.
Items outside that scope can jam machinery, contaminate loads and reduce how much ends up being recycled.
“These rules are designed to stop over-recycling, where well-meaning households put the wrong items in the recycling, and the whole load becomes harder to process,” the waste experts said.
They added: “Cleaner recycling means more can actually be recycled.”
How to get rid of banned items
The team at Wheeldon Brothers said most of the banned list can still be recycled, but only if it is taken to the right place.
“People hear banned and assume it must go to landfill, but that is not the case for most of these items,” the waste experts said.
They added: “The key is knowing what your household bins are designed to handle, and using supermarkets and recycling centres for everything else.”
Is it illegal to take items from a skip in the UK?
The team at Wheeldon Brothers described supermarkets as being a “gamechanger” for recycling and advised homeowners to “check the label, keep it clean and dry” and recycle it when you next go food shopping.
How to avoid being fined for recycling banned items
“Household bins are for core materials, not every item that looks recyclable,” the waste experts said.
“If you sort it properly and use the right disposal route, you can avoid fines and keep far more waste out of landfill.”
Can you recycle pizza boxes?
The Wheeldon Brothers team reminds homeowners that if the cardboard is greasy or heavily soiled, it should go in the general rubbish.
If the lid is clean, you can often tear it off and recycle that section.
“Card and paper do not cope well with food contamination, so greasy pizza boxes are better in general waste,” the waste experts added.
How to check if something can be recycled at home
Ryan Kalia, a waste and recycling expert at Kingfisher Direct, has shared a few tips for making sure your household waste can be recycled.
Ryan explained: “Check your council’s website. This is the first place you need to check, as recycling is still enforced locally.
“This means that what’s accepted and how it’s accepted in Manchester City Council may differ slightly from Kent County Council, etc.
“To avoid any problems, check to see if your council has a A-Z recycling tool, and make sure to check their individual guidance on food waste (especially from March).
“Make sure you follow preparation instructions carefully.”
![An overflowing food waste caddy]()
Homeowners will need to follow the new rules to avoid fines (Image: Getty)
He also said that homeowners should read packaging correctly to avoid errors: “Don’t just rely on the word ‘recyclable’ when it’s on packaging Just because packaging says ‘recyclable’, doesn’t always mean that it can be recycled at home.
“Instead, it often means that it can be recycled somewhere else, such as at supermarkets or external recycling centres, or that is simply recyclable in theory.
“If the packaging or item doesn’t clearly match your council’s accepted list, it doesn’t belong in kerbside recycling at home, and shouldn’t be recycled.”
Whilst you get used to the new rules, Ryan advised: “Set up a clear sorting system inside, as well as outside.
Recommended reading:
“This will help with staying compliant with the new and current rules, avoiding potential fines.
“Inside, make sure to separate food waste into a small food waste caddy, your recycling in a separate bin, and your general waste in another bin.
“Separating items as soon as possible is key in staying compliant with the new rules.”
Do you think the new rules will encourage more items to be recycled? Let us know in the comments.
