There are lots of plastics you can recycle, but there are also some that you cannot.
If you are on the trial and wish to order more blue bags, please email us at wasteandrecycling@north-herts.gov.uk. Please include your address so we can confirm you are part of the trial and we will get more bags delivered to you as soon as possible.
Plastics you can recycle in your mixed recycling bin
Please make sure all of your plastics are clean and empty before putting them into your mixed recycling bin.
| Type of plastic | Examples |
|---|---|
| Washing products | Washing-up liquid bottles Fabric softener bottles |
| Food trays and containers | Yoghurt pots, food 'pots/tubs' for soup, noodles and cakes Meat trays Margarine tubs Ready-meal containers Punnet-style containers that hold fruit / vegetables, such as mushrooms or grapes |
| Health and beauty | Hair gel containers Facial or body cream pots Shampoo and Conditioner bottles Sun cream bottles |
| Bottles | Milk bottles Squash bottles Water bottles |
| Cleaning Products | Tubs for cleaning products, such as stain remover and detergent Detergent bottles Cleaning fluid bottles Bleach bottles |
| Garden and garage | Fertiliser and lawn care bottles Pesticide and pest care bottles Weed killer bottles |
Don't forget to also recycle cardboard, cartons, glass, cans, aerosols and clean foil.
Plastics that cannot be recycled - put them in your purple bin
| Plastic carrier bags | Plastic bread bags |
| Bubble wrap | Plastic bags from breakfast cereals |
| Clingfilm | Plastic wrappers from multipacks of cans and plastic bottles |
| Crisp packets | Plastic wrappers from toilet roll and kitchen towel |
| Food and drink pouches | Plastic freezer bags |
| Film lids from food trays | Plastic magazine (home delivery) and newspaper wrap |
| Any non-Polyethylene film (e.g. PP, PVC, others) | Plant pots (greater than 9cm in diameter) |
| Buckets | Paint tins |
| Toys | Lipstick |
| Pressed powder containers | Toothpaste tubes |
Plastic carrier bags
Please do NOT put plastic carrier bags into your mixed recycling bin. Most local supermarkets offer plastic bag recycling facilities.
Putting these types of plastics in the recycling can cause problems with the machinery at the recycling centre. This might mean that all the recycling can’t be recycled and will end up in landfill.
Plastics you can recycle at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre
| Hard plastics from the home and garden |
| Plastic toys |
For more information on locations and opening times of your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre, visit www.wasteaware.org.uk.