What you now can and can’t recycle as new Greater Manchester rules are announced – full list

The move means residents in Bury, Bolton, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford will now be able to recycle a wider range of plastic items in their household mixed recycling bin. Previously, only plastic bottles could be recycled at home.

Specifically plastic pots, like yoghurts, soup, and cosmetics; plastic tubs, like margarine, laundry powder, and chocolates; and plastic trays, including black plastic trays, for raw and cooked meat and fruit and veg punnets can now be recycled.

Already, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, food tins, drinks cans, aerosols, and foil could be recycled. But items with plastic films like crisp packets, bread bags, pet food pouches and carrier bags, still cannot go in the recycling bin.

Bosses say they made the change to ‘help protect the planet and reduces our carbon footprint’.

“This is just one of the many improvements we’ve made to waste services in Greater Manchester in recent years, including increased recycling rates, a near-zero landfill rate, and an innovative reuse project at the Greater Manchester Renew Hub,” added sub-contractor Suez’s Greater Manchester chief, Daniel Carolan.

But it’s also prompted them to release a full list of what can go in all the different household bins. Here’s what can go in each bin from now on.

Paper and Cardboard bin

• Newspapers and magazines
• Cardboard boxes
• Cardboard packaging (e.g cereal boxes, ready meal sleeves)
• Junk mail
• Envelopes
• Tetra Pak (drink cartons)
• Pizza boxes (no food)
• Books
• Greetings cards, wrapping paper (no glitter)

Food and garden waste

• Grass cuttings
• Hedge trimmings 
• Small branches and twigs
• Flowers and plants
• All food waste (cooked and raw), including plate scrapings.
• Teabags and coffee grounds
• Fruit and vegetables
• Meat and fish including bones

General Waste

• Nappies and sanitary products
• Soft plastics like bread bags, salad bags, film
• Crisp packets
• Pet food pouches
• Carrier bags
• Compostable or biodegradable packaging
• Tissues and kitchen roll
• Cat litter
• Hard plastic such as plant pots