What can I recycle this Christmas?

Not sure which bin to put it in? Let us help!

We often produce more waste at Christmas time, so here are some of the items we're most commonly asked about whether they can be recycled.

Please remember, if it's glittery or greasy - keep it out of your recycling bins!

Check your bin collection days over the Festive period, some are early, some are late and some will be on a Saturday.

You can find opening times for the Household Waste Recycling Centres on the county council's website.
 

Advent calendars

You can recycle your advent calendar as long as it doesn't have any glitter or foil on it. The cardboard outer can go in your purple-lidded bin.

The plastic tray inside can go in your grey bin if it is not black or brown, if it is however this needs to go in your black bin.
 

Christmas cards

When it's time to take your Christmas cards down, you can recycle them in your purple-lidded bin as long as there is no foil, glitter or glue on the front.

If there is, you can take off the back and recycle that in the purple-lidded bin, and then put the front of the card in your black general waste.
 

Christmas crackers

Separate your crackers out once you've used them. Any cardboard and paper can be recycled in your purple-lidded bin, as long as it doesn't have any glitter or foil on it.

Other items, such as plastics, ribbons, or any foil or glittery card needs to go in your black general waste bin.
 

Wrapping paper

If it's glittery or has foil on it, it can't be recycled so needs to go in your black general waste bin. Plain wrapping paper can go in your purple-lidded bin and be recycled.

Why not bring two bags into your living room on Christmas morning; one for recyclable paper and one for the bin. But remember to empty the bag into your recycling bins - we can't recycle plastic bags!
 

Food waste and vegetable peelings

Any food waste needs to go in your black general waste bin, including vegetable peelings.

If you have a home composter, you can recycle vegetable peelings, eggshells, teabags and more in your compost bin - but these can't go in your garden waste recycling bin from the council.
 

Crisp packets and tubes

Crisp packets and crisp tubes (such as Pringles) can't be recycled and need to go in your black general waste bin.
 

Sweets, biscuits and chocolates

Sweet and chocolate wrappers cannot be recycled and need to go in your black general waste bin.

If you've had a box of biscuits - the cardboard can be recycled in your purple-lidded bin, and any plastic trays (as long as they're not black or brown) in your grey recycling bin, but the cellophane wrapper will need to go in your black general waste bin.

If you've had a tub of chocolates, like Celebrations or Heroes, the plastic tub can be recycled in your grey bin. Sometimes these can also come in bags - this would need to go in your black general waste bin.

If you've got ay foil-wrapped chocolate, mince pie foil tins, or even a metal chocolate tins - these can all be recycled in your grey bin as long as they're clean and dry.
 

Electrical items and batteries

Take old electrical items to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre. Batteries can be recycled there too, or you can often find battery recycling points in supermarkets.

Please do not put any electrical items or batteries in any of your bins, or in the general waste at the tip - it can cause fires.
 

Takeaway containers and pizza boxes

If you wash out plastic or foil tubs and they are clean, they can be recycled in your grey bin.

Pizza boxes and other cardboard, such as lids, will be too greasy and need to go in your black general waste bin.
 

Old clothes

If you're having a clear out to make way for your new stuff, you'll need to take old clothes to a Household Waste Recycling Centre, or to a clothes bank or charity shop near you.