What goes in your containers

What goes in your containers

Blue recycling container

Our service is fully co-mingled, meaning that paper, cardboard, plastics, cans and glass can go in one container.

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  • Aluminium, aerosols and foil trays

    You can recycle

    • Aerosol cans
    • Aluminium foil (for example, for baking, covering food)
    • Foil trays (for example, takeaway trays)
    • Aluminium tubes (for example, tomato puree). Remove plastic caps.

    You can't recycle

    • Crisp and sweet packets or wrappers
    • Paint and solvent tins (full or empty)
    • General kitchen ware (for example, cutlery, pots and pans)
    • Metal items such as kettles, irons, pipes, white goods
    • Laminated plastic pouches (for example, baby food, cat food or coffee pouches).
  • Cardboard

    You can recycle

    All card from your business, including:

    • Boxes (for example - cereal, delivery, egg boxes)
    • Corrugated cardboard
    • Sleeves and tubes (for example - toilet and kitchen roll tubes)
    • Sandwich boxes (including plastic windows, if clean)
    • Delivery boxes and envelopes (remove all plastic inserts, polystyrene and packing tape)
    • Brown packaging paper.

    Helpful tips

    • Flatten cardboard boxes before recycling
    • Remove plastic inserts, polystyrene and tape.
  • Cartons (Tetra Pak)

    You can recycle

    • Drinks cartons (for example - juices and milk)
    • Food cartons (for example - soups)
    • Plastic tops and straws - leave them on, they will be removed and recycled.

    You can't recycle

    • Polystyrene (for example - cups and packaging)
    • Laminated plastic pouches (for example - baby food, cat food or coffee pouches)
    • Single-use coffee cups.
  • Food tins and drink cans

    You can recycle

    • Drinks cans
    • Food tins
    • Metal lids and tops
    • Biscuit/chocolate tins (including lids).

    You can't recycle

    • Paint and solvent tins (full or empty)
    • General kitchen ware (for example, cutlery, pots and pans)
    • Metal items such as kettles, irons, pipes, white goods
    • Laminated plastic pouches (for example, baby food, cat food or coffee pouches).
  • Glass bottles and jars

    You can recycle

    All glass packaging from around your business, including:

    • Bottles - any colour (for example - wine, beer, spirits).
    • Jars (for example - sauces, jam, baby food).
    • Other glass bottles (for example - perfume, aftershave, face/body cream).

    You can't recycle

    • Glass cookware (for example - Pyrex dishes, drinking glasses)
    • Vases and ceramics (for example - crockery or earthenware)
    • Mirrors and window glass (take to a Recycling Centre)
    • Light bulbs and fluorescent tubes (take to a Recycling Centre)
    • Nail varnish bottles
    • Microwave plates.

    Helpful tips

    • Labels can stay on
    • Empty containers before recycling - a quick rinse is enough.
  • Paper

    You can recycle

    • Magazines, brochures and catalogues
    • White paper (for example - printer paper and letters)
    • Junk mail (including leaflets and flyers)
    • Envelopes (including windows)
    • Shredded paper (place in a paper bag or envelope to stop it blowing away)
    • Brown paper and envelopes.

    You can't recycle

    • Paper towels and tissues
    • Cotton wool/make-up pads
    • Cleaning wipes
    • Disposable nappies
    • Parchment/baking paper
    • Wallpaper
    • Padded envelopes (for example - Jiffy bags)
    • Sticky papers (for example - Post-it notes, sticky labels and paper tape).
  • Plastic bottles

    You can recycle

    • All clear and coloured plastics bottles.
    • Cleaner and detergent bottles (for example - bathroom cleaners, washing up liquid, bleach - leave trigger sprays on)
    • Toiletry bottles (for example - soap dispensers)
    • Drinks bottles (for example - juice, squash, milk).

    You can't recycle

    • Plastic bottles containing chemicals (for example - anti-freeze). Check the bottle for disposal instructions.

    Helpful tips

    • Make sure bottles are empty
    • Leave lids and labels on.
  • Plastic pots, tubs and trays

    You can recycle

    • Pots (for example - yoghurt, soup)
    • Tubs (for example - margarine, ice cream, chocolates, biscuits)
    • Trays and punnets (for example - meat trays, takeaway trays, fruit/veg trays, including black plastic). Remove film lids and absorbent pads and put these in your general rubbish.

    You can't recycle

    • Rigid plastics (for example - toys and hangers)
    • Medicine pill packets (for example - blister packs)
    • Polystyrene (for example - cups and packaging)
    • Soft plastics, such as:
      • Plastic bags (for example - carrier, compostable, bread, salad, fruit/veg, frozen food bags)
      • Crisp and sweet packets or wrappers
      • Film lids from pots or trays
      • Laminated plastic pouches (for example - baby food, cat food or coffee pouches).
      • Cling film.

    Helpful tips

    • Leave lids and labels on
    • Empty and rinse food packaging - a quick rinse will do
    • Firm lids are recyclable. Plastic film goes in the general rubbish bin
    • Separate cardboard, polystyrene and paper from plastic before recycling
    • We accept black plastic trays.

Brown-lidded food waste container and kerbside caddy

Please remove all packaging before putting food into your brown-lidded food waste container or caddy.

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  • Items we collect
    • Uneaten food and plate scrapings
    • Raw/cooked meat and fish (including bones)
    • Fruit and vegetables (raw, cooked and peelings)
    • Baked goods (bread, cakes and pastries)
    • Out of date or mouldy food
    • Rice, pasta, beans
    • Tea bags and coffee grounds
    • Dairy products, such as cheese
    • Eggs and egg shells
    • Solid fats and oils (no liquids).
  • Items we can't collect
    • Packaging - (such as cellophane, polystyrene, nets, pots, tubs, trays or jars). Soft plastic bags can be used as caddy liners
    • Flowers and house plants
    • Liquids - for example, milk, fats and oils.

How to keep your container and caddy free from smells and pests

Avoiding smells

  • Use a liner
  • Clean your brown-lidded container and kerbside caddy regularly.

Preventing flies and maggots

  • Keep the lid on your brown-lidded container and kerbside caddy closed
  • Seal liners tightly before putting them in your container or kerbside caddy
  • Clean your container and kerbside caddy regularly, especially in hot weather.

Yellow container

Your yellow container is for all other non-recyclable business waste. That means:

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  • No recyclables

    Recyclable materials should go in your blue recycling container.

  • No food waste

    All food waste should either go into your brown-lidded food waste container or kerbside caddy.

    If you put food waste into your yellow container, it will break down in landfill creating methane, a harmful greenhouse gas.

  • No clothes or textiles

    Textiles must not be put in your yellow commercial waste container. Find out more about clothes and textiles.

    You must hire a licensed waste carrier to collect clothing and textiles for recycling or disposal.

  • No electricals

    Working electrical items - Donate to a local charity or community group.

    Broken electrical items - Must be collected by a licensed waste carrier.

    Do not put electricals in your grey bin. Toxic chemicals, such as mercury and lead, can leak into the soil and water, harming people and wildlife living nearby.

  • No construction waste

    Do not use the yellow commercial waste container for construction waste or rubble.

    You must hire a licensed waste carrier to collect construction waste for recycling or disposal.

  • No Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

    POPs are harmful chemicals that break down slowly and can contaminate the environment.

    The following items of upholstered domestic seating are classed as containing POPs:

    • Sofas
    • Office chairs
    • Armchairs
    • Kitchen and dining room chairs
    • Stools and foot stools
    • Futons
    • Bean bags, floor and sofa cushions
    • This includes any part made of/or containing leather, synthetic leather, other fabric, or foam.

    You must not put these items in your yellow waste container

    If POPs are found in your container we will not collect it. You will need to remove these items before your next collection.

    You must use a licensed waste carrier to dispose of POPs safely.

  • No hazardous waste

    Waste is hazardous if it (or the substances in it), can harm people or the environment.

    Examples of hazardous waste:

    • Asbestos
    • Chemicals - such as brake fluid, print toner, pesticides, solvents
    • Batteries and battery acid
    • Oils - non-edible ones such as car oil
    • Equipment with ozone-depleting substances - such as old refrigerators
    • Used fluorescent tubes
    • Clinical waste - for example, from hospitals
    • Paint and thinners

    You must hire a licensed waste carrier to collect hazardous waste.

Contamination

If your container contains the wrong items, we won’t empty it. Our crew will leave a note and record the issue. You must remove the items before your next scheduled collection. We will not return to empty contaminated containers.

Help prevent fly-tipping

You should only use a licensed waste carrier to dispose of waste.

Protect yourself against rogue waste collectors by following the SCRAP code:

  • Suspect all waste carriers - ask for proof they are legitimate. A professional waste carrier should be happy to answer reasonable questions.
  • Check their waste carrier’s registration details on the Environment Agency website. Note their vehicle details.
  • Refuse unexpected offers to take your rubbish away. Report anyone you suspect of illegally disposing of waste to the Environment Agency.
  • Ask what is going to happen to your rubbish and request evidence of proper disposal.
  • Paperwork - always get an invoice, waste transfer note or receipt. This should give a description of the waste and provide the waste carrier’s contact details.

Find out more about the SCRAP code and fly-tipping.

Contact us

For any questions about commercial waste services:

Email: commercial.waste@dacorum.gov.uk 

Page Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 March 2025 at 04:21 PM