A to Z of reusing, recycling and waste disposal

You can take plasterboard* to your nearest recycling centre. Please put it in the container for plasterboard. Plasterboard is used as a soil conditioner and blended with organic waste in the manufacture of compost. *Restrictions apply for disposing of some types of rubbish at our household recycling centres including plasterboard. To find out more please see our guide to DIY waste disposal.

All the following types of plastic bottles found around the home can be recycled in your green bin: drinks bottles, cooking oil bottles, milk bottles, skincare and soap bottles, bleach bottles, washing up bottles.

Caps, lids, pumps and triggers can all be left on as they will be recycled too.

Remember to take out a shopping bag or few carrier bags with you so that you don't need to accept anymore. Save money by using carrier bags as bin liners at home. Carrier bags, bread bags and stretchy fresh or frozen fruit and vegetable bags can be recycled in your green bin.

Please try avoid using plastic cups by using drinking glasses instead. They can be put in your green recycling bin if the cups are made from plastic types 1 (PET/PETE), 2 (HDPE/PE-HD), 4 (LDPE/PE-LD) or 5 (PP).  These numbers can be found in a triangle on the cup. 

See also Plastic trays, Plastic bottles, Plastic yogurt pots. Please try to buy loose fruit and vegetables and meat and fish from shops that don't over-package their goods. A large proportion of plastic packaging is difficult to recycle. Carrier bags, bread bags, toilet and kitchen roll wrappers, and stretchy fresh or frozen fruit and vegetable bags can all be recycled in your green bin. Check out our plastic recycling page for all the other plastic items that can be recycled in Leeds. As a general rule, if a plastic bag or wrap is stretchy (rather than tear-able), then it can be recycled in your green bin. For example, the stretchy plastic wrap that comes around food tins and drinks cans multipacks is normally recyclable in your green bin, but the tear-able film lids from fresh fruit and veg trays isn’t recyclable and should go in your black bin. Please do not put any black or brown plastic in your green bin as this cannot currently be recycled.

All your plastic fruit, meat and vegetable trays (except those made of black or brown plastic) can be recycled in your green bin.

A large proportion of plastic wrap packaging is difficult to recycle as it is not clear which type of plastic it is. As a general rule, if plastic wrap is stretchy (rather than tear-able), then it can be recycled in your green bin. For example, the stretchy plastic wrap that comes around food tins and drinks cans multipacks is normally recyclable in your green bin, but the tear-able film lids from fresh fruit and veg trays aren’t recyclable and should go in your black bin. Large supermarkets now provide collection containers for a wide range of plastic packaging e.g. bags and film from pasta, dried fruit, paper products, salad, fruit and vegetable products etc. They will be recycled into new plastic products.

See yogurt pots.

Plastic products labelled as biodegradable or compostable cannot currently be recycled in your green recycling or brown garden waste bin. This type of plastic should be disposed of in your black general household waste bin. Biodegradable and compostable plastics must be dealt with separately to non-biodegradable plastics such as food containers, drinks and shampoo bottles, as they cannot be recycled in the same way. Although the garden waste from your brown bin is composted, compostable plastic bags do not break down quickly enough in the process, resulting in a poor quality compost.

You can put the following types of plastic in your green recycling bin - types 1 (PET/PETE), 2 (HDPE/PE-HD), 4 (LDPE/PE-LD) and 5 (PP). These numbers are be found in a triangle on plastic items. These items include plastic bags, plastic shampoo bottles, soft drink bottles, detergent bottles and plastic milk containers.

Caps, lids, pumps and triggers can all be left on bottles as they will be recycled too.

Please try to re-use polystyrene chips if possible or pass them on to someone who will. Polystyrene can’t be recycled, so dispose of small amounts in your black household waste bin. Larger pieces can be broken down or placed in the general waste skip at your local household waste recycling centre.

If your bottles are plastic or glass, you can wash them (squashing plastic ones) and put them in your green recycling bin.

Please remember that good condition baby clothes, toys and equipment can be passed on to friends, relatives, neighbours or donated to your local charity shop. Your local nursery or playgroup may also be pleased to receive them. If you are throwing out old baby clothes, toys and equipment, please donate them to a local re-use organisation or visit the Revive Leeds re-use shop at Kirkstall or Seacroft recycling centre. They will re-use them, helping those in need.

Please see inkjet cartridges