Types of waste we accept
Find out what types of waste we accept at our recycling centres.
Search our A to Z
Use keywords to see types of waste we accept including potential costs. For example 'bike' or 'cardboard'.
The list will change to show relevant results when you enter a keyword.
We couldn't find what you were looking for. Check you have spelled the keyword correctly or enter a different one.
Item | Including | Info | Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Aerosol cans (empty) | Accepted. You can also put them in your kerbside recycling bin | Free | |
Aerosol cans (full or part-full) | Only accepted on hazardous waste days | Free | |
Air conditioners | Accepted | Free | |
Antifreeze |
| Only accepted on hazardous waste days | Free |
Asbestos | Not accepted. More information on asbestos disposal. | ||
Ash | Not accepted, as it's a fire risk. When the ash is completely cold you can put it in your kerbside waste bin. | ||
Audio Visual |
| Accepted. Put them in the non-recyclables container. May also be accepted at reuse shops. | Free |
Batteries |
| Accepted. Household batteries are also accepted at retail outlets and supermarkets. Batteries may be a fire hazard if you put them in your household rubbish bin. Please recycle responsibly. | Free |
Beer barrels or kegs | Not accepted. Contact Keg Watch on 0808 100 1945 | ||
Bicycles | Accepted. Put unusable bicycles in the scrap metal container. Good bikes may be accepted at reuse shops | Free | |
Blades |
| Accepted. Let a member of staff know you are disposing of them. Wrap them safely, label them and put them in the scrap metal container. You can also wrap them safely and put them in your kerbside rubbish bin. | Free |
Books | Accepted. Put them in the cardboard container May be accepted at reuse shops | Free | |
Brake fluid | Only accepted on hazardous waste days | Free | |
Business and trade waste |
| Accepted at some recycling centres, for a charge. | Business and trade waste charges |
Bubble wrap |
| Accepted. Put it in the non-recyclables container. Some online recycling groups or websites will accept bubble wrap that's in good condition. | Free |
Cans/tins/foil (washed) |
| Accepted, but these can go in your kerbside recycling bin. | Free |
Card and cardboard |
| Accepted, but these can go in your kerbside recycling bin. | Free |
Carpets and underlay |
| Accepted. These go in the non-recyclables container. Laminate is classed as DIY waste. More about DIY waste. | Free |
Chemicals (listed) |
| Only accepted on Hazardous waste days | |
Christmas trees | Accepted. Real Christmas trees can go in green waste container. Fake trees may go in the non recyclable, metal or electrical container. Please check with staff. Fake Christmas trees and decorations in good condition are accepted at reuse shops. | Free | |
Clinical waste |
| Not accepted. Your local district, borough or city council might offer a collection or disposal service, but may charge. You could also contact a reputable private waste disposal contractor. Ask to see a waste carriers licence and find out where they will dispose of the waste. | |
Clothes | Accepted. See textiles for more information. | ||
CO2 canisters | Only accepted on Hazardous waste days. Or contact Keg Watch on 0808 100 1945. | ||
Coat hangers (wire and plastic) | Accepted. Put plastic in non-recyclables and metal hangers in metals. Or offer to reuse shops. | Free | |
Cooking oil | Accepted | Free | |
Cushions |
| Accepted. Put them in the non-recyclables container. Or donate good quality cushions at reuse shops. | Free |
Electrical items (large, non-commercial) |
| Accepted. Your local district, borough or city council may offer a collection service for large electrical goods but might charge you. Reuse shops may take some items. Check with staff. | Free |
Electrical items (Small, non-commercial) |
| Accepted at recycling centres. May be accepted at reuse shops. It is your responsibility to remove all personal data from your electronics before you recycle them. Some items may go on to be reused. More information on deleting your data. | Free |
Engine oil (used) | Accepted. Please bring engine oil in a reusable container. Empty containers cannot be disposed of at the recycling centre. | Free | |
Explosives, boat flares, fireworks, fire arms/BB guns and ammunition | Not accepted. Read our advice on disposing of explosives. | ||
Facemasks | Not accepted | ||
Fibreglass | Accepted. Classed as non-recyclable DIY waste. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. | More about DIY waste | |
Fire extinguishers | Only accepted on hazardous waste days. Maximum 2 per household. Some extinguisher supply companies also offer a disposal service - check the label. | Free | |
Flat glass (DIY waste) |
| Accepted. Classed as non-recyclable DIY waste. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. | More about DIY waste |
Flat glass (free standing) |
| May be accepted at reuse shops. | Free |
Flooring |
| Accepted. Goes in the non-recyclables container. Laminate is classed as DIY waste. More about DIY waste. | Free |
Foil (clean) |
| Accepted. You can also put it in your kerbside recycling bin. | Free |
Food waste | Accepted in small amounts. Needs to be double-bagged and labelled. Goes in the non-recyclables container. Also goes in kerbside rubbish bin or food caddy in some areas. | Free | |
Fuel |
| Not accepted | |
Furniture (free standing) |
| Accepted at recycling centres. May be accepted at reuse shops. Fitted furniture is classed as DIY waste. More about DIY waste. | Free |
Garden/green waste |
| Accepted - apart from ash trees, and leaves and prunings, and injurious or invasive weeds. Read our information about garden or green waste for more information about what we will and will not accept. We also provide advice on how to deal with garden waste that we do not accept. | Free |
Gas bottles and cylinders (empty) | Accepted at all recycling centres. There are sometimes delays with our gas bottle collections so occasionally we may not be able to accept them. This will be listed at the top of the web page for individual recycling centres. We recommend that you return them the supplier. We do not accept full or partially full bottles or cylinders. These must be returned to the supplier. | Free | |
Gas bottles and cylinders (full or part full) | Not accepted, under any circumstances. We recommend that you return them to your supplier. | ||
Glass bottles and jars (washed) | Accepted - put them in the glass containers. They can also go in your kerbside recycling bin. Flat glass is classed as DIY waste. An example of flat glass is a window pane. More about DIY waste. | Free | |
Glue | Not accepted | ||
Heating oil | Not accepted | ||
Household bin waste (including food waste) | Accepted. Please separate any recyclable materials out beforehand then bag any remaining waste. We might ask you to open the bags at the recycling centre. This is so that we can recycle as much as possible. | Free | |
Incontinence pads | Accepted - but incontinence pads should usually be wrapped and put in your kerbside rubbish bin. We will accept one bag of pads per household, per week. The pads must be double-wrapped and clearly labelled, to reduce human contact with them. | Free | |
Kitchenware |
| Accepted. Please don't put heatproof glass (Pyrex) into bottle banks. May also be accepted at reuse shops. | Free |
Lawnmowers |
| Accepted at recycling centres. Please empty fuel tanks completely for petrol lawnmowers. | Free |
Lightbulbs/fluorescent tubes (household) | Accepted. For large quantities, or for commercial collection/disposal, contact Recolight (charges apply). | Free | |
Litter (bagged) | Accepted. We'll take up to three bags, but you need to let us know before you arrive. Find out how to drop off litter. | Free | |
Liquid cartons/Tetra Paks (washed) | Accepted. Put them in the cardboard container. They can also go in your kerbside recycling bin. | Free | |
Loft insulation | Accepted. Classed as non-recyclable DIY waste. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. | More about DIY waste | |
Mattresses | Accepted. Put them in the non-recyclables container. | Free | |
Medicines and medical equipment |
| Not accepted. Never place leftover or expired medicines or medical equipment in your kerbside rubbish bin or flush them down the toilet. Your local GP or pharmacist will help you dispose of them safely. | |
Metals (household) |
| Accepted. Non-ferrous metals are separated out (copper, brass, stainless steel and aluminium). Also see foil. | Free |
Mobility equipment |
| Accepted for recycling. Not accepted for reuse. Do not bring any items that belong to the NHS or NRS, return these to the provider. | Free |
Nappies | Accepted - but nappies should usually be wrapped and put in your kerbside rubbish bin. We accept one bag per household, per week of disposal nappies. They must be double-wrapped and clearly labelled, to reduce human contact with them. | Free | |
DIY non-recyclables |
| Accepted. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. | More about DIY waste |
Oil tanks (empty) |
| Accepted as long as they are fully drained. They are classed as DIY waste. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. Oil tanks will not fit in the bins whole. They must be broken up into smaller pieces that can be carried up steps if necessary. We suggest you visit your recycling centre before you bring the item and discuss it with site staff. Or consider hiring a tank removal company. | More about DIY waste |
Oil tanks (full or partially full) | Not accepted. Look for specialist waste disposal contractors in your local telephone directory or online. Remember to ask to see a waste carriers licence and find out where the waste will be disposed of. | ||
Paint cans (empty or dried out) | Accepted. Empty metal paint cans go in the metals container, plastic cans go in the non-recyclable bin. Dried out or empty cans also go in your kerbside rubbish bin. | Free | |
Paint cans (full or part full containing liquid paint) | Only accepted on hazardous waste days. Do not put liquid paint into your kerbside bin. Mix in cat litter or soil to completely dry out the paint first. | Free | |
Paper |
| Accepted - but can go in your kerbside recycling bin. | Free |
Pets/animals bedding and housing |
| Accepted. We accept up to 2 bags of vegetarian pet bedding per week (from rabbits, guinea pigs etc). Please double-bagged it and label it clearly. Think about home composting it instead. We also accept household fish tanks/aquariums and animal housing. Put filters or lights in the small electrical appliances container. Good, clean items may also be accepted for reuse shops. | Free |
Pets/animals waste |
| Not accepted, for hygiene reasons. If you have a small quantity, wrap it and put it in a plastic bag in your kerbside rubbish bin. | |
Pillows and duvets | Accepted. Pillows and duvets go in the non-recyclable bin. Pillow cases and duvet covers go into the textile bins. | Free | |
Plant pots | Accepted at recycling centres. Ceramic pots can go in the rubble container.
Ceramic plant pots may be accepted at reuse shops. | Free | |
Plasterboard |
| Accepted at Caister, Dereham, Hempton, King's Lynn, Norwich North, Norwich South and Thetford. Plasterboard is classed as DIY waste. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. Cost is per item or 50 litre bag. | More about DIY waste |
Plastic |
| Accepted. Things like toys and plant pots go in the non-recyclable container. They may be accepted at reuse shops. We're not able to recycle rigid plastic as we need to ensure we have a secure market for the material. We are searching. Bottles, tubs and trays can go in your kerbside recycling bin. | Free |
Plastic film | Accepted. It goes in the non-recyclables container. Find places to recycle plastic film. | Free | |
Polystyrene | Accepted. It goes in the non-recyclables container. | Free | |
Printer ink cartridges (including laser ink toner cartridges) | Accepted. Put them in the ink cartridges bin. | Free | |
Roofing Slates | Accepted | Free | |
Rubble |
| Accepted. Classed as DIY waste. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. Cost is per item or per 50 litre bag. | More about DIY waste |
Scrap metal |
| Accepted | Free |
Septic tanks | Not accepted. Anglian Water may be able to help you. | ||
Soil and turf | Accepted. Classed as non-recyclable DIY waste. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. | More about DIY waste | |
Sports equipment |
| Accepted. Working items may be accepted at reuse shops. | Free |
Storage heaters | Might be accepted if it does not contain asbestos. If the storage heater contains asbestos then we cannot accept it. Check your make and model on the Armco Asbestos Consultants website. See more information on asbestos disposal. If it does not contain asbestos, we will accept it as DIY waste. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. | More about DIY waste | |
Sweet/chocolate/biscuits tins | Accepted. Tins go in the scrap metal container and plastic containers go in the non-recyclables container. | Free | |
Textiles |
| Accepted. Put clean items in bags and place them in the textiles banks for recycling. If the banks are full we may ask you to hold on to items until we have a collection. Put soiled, damaged or torn items in the non-recyclable container. | Free |
Thermometers | Not accepted | ||
Timber/wood |
| Accepted. Classed as DIY waste. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. | More about DIY waste |
Tools |
| Accepted. Power tools are classed as small electrical items. Tools are not classed as DIY waste. Tools in good condition may also be accepted at reuse shops. | Free |
Turf/soil | Accepted. Classed as non-recyclable DIY waste. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. | More about DIY waste | |
Tyres | We accept car tyres for a charge of £6 a tyre at these sites: Caister, Dereham, Hempton, King's Lynn, Norwich North, Norwich South and Thetford. We will take a maximum of five tyres per household per month. We accept bicycle tyres for free at all recycling centres. We do not accept agricultural or industrial tyres. | ||
Vehicles and parts |
| We do not accept cars and caravans. Get a list of vehicles and parts (including tyres) that we do accept at our recycling centres. | |
Wallpaper |
| Accepted. Unused wallpaper goes into the cardboard container. Used/stripped wallpaper goes into the non-recyclables container. | Free |
Water filters | Accepted. These go in the non-recyclables container. These may also be accepted at retail outlets, electrical retailers and in supermarkets. | Free | |
Weeds (invasive) |
| Not accepted. Treat them where they are growing. Don't move them,to reduce the risk of them spreading. | |
Wood (DIY waste) |
| Accepted. Classed as DIY waste. Charges apply after the DIY waste free allowance. | More about DIY waste |
Wood (free standing) |
| Accepted at recycling centres. | Free |
Wrapping paper | Accepted. Paper goes into the cardboard container, or your kerbside recycling bin. Shiny or foil type paper goes into non-recyclables container or your kerbside rubbish bin. | Free |