What you can and can't recycle ♻️

Recycling can be confusing, but we don't want it to be. What actually counts as recyclable? Where do pizza boxes go? What about takeaway containers?

We'll cover all of this for you, to make recycling easier, clearer and better for everyone in halls. 

What you can recycle

✅ Mixed glass bottles and jars – just make sure to take metal lids off and put them loose in your recycling

✅ Un-shredded paper, card, books and flattened cardboard boxes

✅ Kitchen foil (including yoghurt lids and chocolate wrapping) – scrunch into a ball before recycling

✅ Plastic bottles – squash them and keep the plastic lids on

✅ Plastic pots, tubs, trays and containers

✅ Food and drink cartons – squash and keep the plastic lids on

✅ Tetra Paks – squash and keep the plastic lids on

✅ Aluminium and steel tins and cans

Important: All items that contain food and drink have to be rinsed as no food waste will be accepted.

What you can't recycle 

❌ Food waste – use a dedicated food waste bin or caddy if you have one

❌ Plastic wrappers (including crisp packets and sweet wrappers) – you can recycle these at supermarkets

❌ Shredded paper

❌ Food-soiled packaging – like greasy pizza boxes

❌ Blister packs and pill packets – you can dispose of these at some Boots stores

❌ Polystyrene or styrofoam

❌ Paper towels, tissues and kitchen roll

❌ Plastic bags and bin bags – you can recycle these at supermarkets

❌ Textiles, clothes or shoes – there are local textile recycling banks for this (see the full list of locations)

❌ Hard plastics (like Tupperware, CD and DVD cases, coat hangers and plant pots)

❌ Aerosol cans

❌ Batteries – use dedicated battery bins at local supermarkets

❌ Games and toys – donate these to charity

❌ Mirrors

Want to get even more specific? Find out more on the Leicester City Council website. 

Now you know exactly what you can recycle, help us keep halls clean and green!