A-Z which bin to put it in

What to Recycle

Download a poster to print and help you to remember which bin your recycling and rubbish goes in (PDF, 1MB, 1 page).

The following information will help ensure that your recycling, food waste and rubbish is collected on the right day and to help avoid confusion. We have also created a YouTube video that provides you with information about the new waste and recycling arrangements on the Isle of Wight. To view the video.

The following A-Z list should help you to decide which container to put your recycling and waste items in. If there is an item not listed here that you would like included in the A-Z list, use our online send a message to service form and we will update this page.

A

  • Aerosol cans (green bin/green gull sack)
  • Aluminium cans (green bin/green gull sack)
  • Aluminium foil (green bin/green gull sack) clean food trays, foil wrapping on biscuits and milk tops can be recycled. Important: This does not include foil wrapped crisp packets or pet food pouches.
  • Asbestos * Asbestos is classed as hazardous waste. HWRC (Lynnbottom only)
    * You must request a disposal permit from IW Council before disposing of asbestos. Learn more about this process and complete our application form.
  • Ash - cold (black bin/gull sack) Small amounts of cold ash or cinders from an open fire can help to keep slugs and snails off your vegetable patch once cooled. Never put hot ashes into a bin.

B

  • Baby wipes (black bin / black gull sack)
  • Batteries – car (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh HWRC) Car batteries may be taken to the HWRC for recycling. Do handle with care as car batteries contain acid. You can also ask the garage to take back the old one when you purchase a new battery.
  • Batteries – household (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh HWRC) Regular batteries can be recycled at Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre or many local supermarkets and shops. Instead of replacing batteries, why not buy rechargeable batteries? There is no need for disposal and you can use them again and again, which will save you money.
  • Bikes (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh HWRC) You can donate unwanted bikes for re-use or recycling. Please see a member of staff at Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre.
  • Blankets (kerbside collection service) Charity shops collect old blankets and duvets, or you can use the kerbside collection service. Otherwise, drop off at any HWRC.
  • Books (paper/card box/blue Gull Sack or Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh HWRC) You can take second-hand books to a local charity shop or donate them for re-use or at any HWRC.
  • Bric-a-brac (re-use if in good condition or General Waste if broken) Charity shops are always on the lookout for crockery, pictures, ornaments etc. And you might be able to make some money by selling items at a car boot sale. Otherwise, you can take these items to Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre.
  • Bubble wrap (black bin / black gull sack)
  • Building materials - domestic (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre) Building materials can be taken to Lynnbottom HWRC. You can recycle hardcore material such as rubble, concrete and soil. Commercial and trades persons will need to pay for disposal and under no circumstances can trade waste be disposed of in household waste disposal areas.
  • Bulky household items ​(re-use or Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre) The council and Amey offer a Bulky Waste pick-up service and will pick up quality items and give them a new home.
  • Buttons (re-use). Keep them yourself to update old clothes or donate them to your local charity shop.

C

  • Cans - food, drinks and pet food (green bin/gull sack)
  • Cardboard and card packaging (paper and card insert/blue gull proof sack) You can re-use large cardboard sheets in the garden as a weed suppressing mulch by covering them with compost. Shredded cardboard also makes great animal bedding.
  • Carpet (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Carrier bags (green bin/gull sack) You can re-use plastic carrier bags by keeping a stash of bags in your car boot or one in your handbag. Say ‘no’ to unwanted plastic carrier bags and use a bag for life instead. ‘Bags for life’ are readily available at most supermarkets and large chain stores, they come in a variety of styles and designs and can be used again and again.
  • Cat litter (black bin)
  • Catalogues (paper and card insert/blue gull proof sack)
  • CDs (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre) You can donate CDs for re-use at your local charity shop or why not use them as drinks coasters?
  • Chemicals – hazardous (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre) Important: You should ensure that container lids are secured, and if possible, that containers have a label.
  • Christmas trees – real (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre (these are also collected kerbside as part of the green garden waste subscription during the first two weeks of January)
  • Christmas Trees (artificial) (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Clothes (kerbside collection service) Place in a bag (not black) alongside your recycling bin. Lynnbottom HWRC provides textile banks where people can deposit their unwanted clothes, sheets and pairs of shoes. Clothing in good condition can also be taken to charity shops or taken or local jumble sales. You can also leave out any unwanted textiles for kerbside collection on recycling day in a coloured (not black, grey etc) or carrier bag next to your green bin.
  • Coat hangers (green bin/green gull sack)
  • Coins Foreign coins and out of date British currency can be taken to your local charity shop. Many banks will collect them too - ask your local branch for details.
  • Commercial waste (Lynnbottom Commercial Waste Centre)
  • Computers (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre) Why not ask your local school if they would like a computer donated to them? Alternatively, visit Donate a PC website or the Computers for Charities website. Be sure to clear your hard drive, etc. before donating your computer.
  • Cookers (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Crisp packets (black bin/black gull sack)

D

  • DIY waste (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)

E

  • Egg cartons - paper/Card (paper and card insert/blue gull proof sack) Cardboard egg cartons can be re-used for compost to provide aeration; playgroups and schools can use them for craft projects; and they can also be used as seed pots and planted straight into the ground as they are biodegradable.
  • Egg Cartons - polystyrene (black bin/black gull sack)
  • Eggshells (Food caddy) Cleaned and crushed eggshells can be added to your compost as they contain lime, which helps to reduce acidity in the soil.
  • Electrical items (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre) Any electrical item, large or small, can be recycled. If your large electrical items, such as washing machines, are still working and in a usable condition, your local re-use organisation may be able to refurbish them and give them a new lease of life and a new home. Some electrical items, like iPads and iPods can also be sold online. Electrical items should not be disposed of in your general waste.
  • Energy saving lightbulbs (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Engine oil (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Envelopes (paper and card inserts/blue gull proof sack) Envelopes in good condition can be re-used by putting a re-use label over the old address and writing the new postal address on. If you remove the plastic windows from envelopes, they can be home composted.

F

  • Fax junk mail (paper and card inserts/blue gull proof sack)
  • Florescent tubes/bulbs (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Foam/polystyrene chips (black bin/black gull sack or HWRCs) Did you know you can re-use them? They are useful for packaging, beanbags or drainage in plant pots.
  • Foil (green bin/green gull sack)
  • Food (Food caddy)
    Food waste that can be recycled at home includes:
    • Cooked and uncooked food
    • Raw and cooked fruit and vegetables
    • Meat and fish, including bones and skin
    • Cheese and other dairy products
    • Eggs and eggshells
    • Bread, cake and pastries
    • Teabags and coffee grinds
    Find out how to waste less food by visiting the Love Food Hate Waste website.
  • Foreign currency - foreign coins and out-of-date British currency can be taken to your local charity shop. Many banks will collect them too - ask your local branch for details.
  • Fridges and freezers - domestic (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre) If your large electrical items are still working and in a useable condition, your local re-use organisation may be able to refurbish them and give them a new lease of life.
  • Furniture (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre or re-use collection from home) You can donate quality furniture for re-use at a number of charities across the island but check they will take delivery first. A free collection service for re-useable items such as tables, chairs, beds, fridges and freezers is available to book, or you can pay £25 to remove up to four bulky items per order.

G

  • Garden Waste
    Loose garden waste should be placed in your brown lidded garden waste bin.
  • Gas cylinders (Return to retailer or HWRCs) These should be returned to the issuing company. Their address is usually shown on the label on the cylinder.
  • Glass (plate) (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Glass (Pyrex) (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Glass bottles and jars (green bin/green gull sack)
  • Greeting cards (paper and card inserts/blue gull proof sack) You can recycle greetings cards in your paper and card recycling bin at home. But why not re-use the front of your best cards for gift tags?

H

  • Hazardous waste (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre) Hazardous waste is any form of waste which can harm human health or the environment or is difficult to handle. Each of the items on the list below is classed as hazardous waste:
    • TV and computer monitors
    • Fridges and freezers
    • Fluorescent light tubes
    • Infectious clinical waste
    • All waste containing asbestos
    • Waste oils
    • End of life vehicles
    • Lead acid (automotive) batteries
  • You must separate out any hazardous waste from your general household waste before taking it to the HWRC. Ask advice and do not put any hazardous waste in with the general waste skips.

I

  • Ink cartridges and toners (re-use) There are many charities which welcome unwanted ink cartridges including The Footprint Trust. You can also find local stores who will refill ink cartridges so you can re-use them.

J

  • Jewellery Unwanted jewellery can be given to charity shops. Or if you want to make some extra cash you could try selling it online.
  • Junk mail (paper and card inserts/blue gull proof sack) paper and card can be put into your mixed recycling bin.

K

  • Knitting needles (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre) An organisation called Tools for Self-Reliance send knitting needles and crates of sewing machines to developing countries. To find out more about how you can help this charity visit the Tools For Self Reliance website.

L

  • Lightbulbs (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)

M

  • Magazines (paper and card inserts/blue gull proof sack) You can share your magazines with friends and family or donate them to your local doctor, dentist, or hairdresser.
  • Mattresses (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Medicines and tablets Medicines and tablets are classed as hazardous waste. If you have any leftover medicines, you should consult your local chemist, pharmacy, or hospital to find out how best to dispose of them.
  • Metal scrap (Lynnbottom or HWRCs)
  • Mobile phones (re-use or HWRCs) Many of the main supermarkets and chain stores provide Freepost envelopes in store so you can post old mobile phones for recycling. Most mobile phone providers will also do this when you upgrade your handset or purchase a new phone. There are also many charity collections operating or you could sell your old mobile phone online.

N

  • Nappies (black bin/black gull sack) Real nappies are a much more environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative.
  • Newspapers (paper and card inserts/blue gull proof sack)

O

  • Oil (cooking) (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Oil (engine) (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Organic waste (Food caddy) Food waste that can be recycled at home includes:
    • Cooked and uncooked food
    • Raw and cooked fruit and vegetables
    • Meat and fish, including bones and skin
    • Cheese and other dairy products
    • Eggs and eggshells
    • Bread, cake and pastries
    • Teabags and coffee grinds
  • Find out how to waste less food by visiting the Love Food Hate Waste website.

P

  • Packaging - many items we buy come with lots of packaging. You can reduce packaging waste in lots of ways, for example, by buying loose products or products with minimal, reusable or recyclable packaging. Check individual items to see if they can be recycled using your at-home recycling service, or at HWRCs.
  • Paint (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre) Old paint can be re-used. If you have a community project, the recycling centres may have discarded paint you can use.
  • paper (paper and card insert/blue gull proof sack)
  • Pet bedding (black bin/black gull sack)
  • Plasterboard * (Lynnbottom only) * You must obtain a disposal permit from IW Council before disposing of plasterboard. Learn more about this process and complete our application form.
  • Plastic bags (green bin/green gull sack) "Shop smart" and say no to unwanted plastic carrier bags; use a bag-for-life instead. These are readily available at most supermarkets and large chain stores. They come in a variety of styles and designs and can be used repeatedly.
  • Hard plastics (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre) Hard plastics include:
    • Milk and beer crates
    • Packing crates
    • Car bumpers
    • Children’s toys and games
    • Pipes
    • Buckets
    • Hard plastic containers and patio furniture
    • Polystyrene/foam chips (black bin/black gull sack)
    • Why not re-use them where possible, for example, for packaging, beanbags or drainage in plant pots.
    • Pottery (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
      Some charity shops will take certain pottery items. Or you can re-use broken pottery in the bottom of plant pots for drainage.

S

  • Scrap metal (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)
  • Spectacles (re-use) Some opticians and charity shops will accept old spectacles for repair and shipment to developing countries.
  • Stamps (re-use or paper and card insert/blue gull proof sack) Many charities accept used stamps as they can benefit from re-using them.

T

  • Telephone directories (paper and card insert/blue gull proof sack)
  • Textiles (re-use, kerbside collection or HWRCs) Clothes in good condition can be re-used. Clothes can be passed on to friends and relatives, taken to charity shops or to a jumble sale, or you may be able to sell clothes online.
  • Tissues (black bin/black gull sack) Tissues can be put in home compost bins
  • Tools (re-use or HWRCs)
  • Toys and games (re-use or HWRCs) Unwanted toys and games can be donated to your local doctor's surgery or community centre where they can be re-used. Many games console stores will also trade older computer games for new ones and then sell them on to new customers. Most charity shops will also accept donations of toys and games.
  • Tyres (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)

V

  • Vending cups (green bin/green gull sack) Wash out and re-use vending cups for parties or picnic or put a hole in the bottom and use them for growing seedlings.
  • Video cassettes (Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Recycling Centre)

W

  • Wrapping paper – paper based (paper and card inserts/blue gull proof sack)

Y

  • Yellow Pages (paper and card inserts/blue gull proof sack)
  • Yoghurt pots (green bin/green gull sack) If you do not want to throw them away, you could clean them and re-use them as mini storage containers or planters for kitchen herbs.

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