Please put your bins out by 7am on your collection day
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Make sure your bin lid is closed, otherwise it will not be emptied
From 31st March 2026, everyone living in Sheffield City will be able to recycle even more items from their homes!
These changes to your recycling collection are part of the new Simpler Recycling legislation, which aims to make recycling collections across the country more consistent so that everyone can recycle the same core materials wherever they live in England.
The government has introduced Simpler Recycling as a way to improve recycling rates across the country, to reach the 65% recycling target by 2035. By recycling, we are able to keep materials such as paper and metal in use for longer.
From 31st March, all Sheffield residents will be able to include the following empty and clean items in their brown recycling bins alongside those items already accepted:
- Aluminium foil e.g. kitchen foil, foil trays
- Cartons (including Tetra Pak) e.g. milk, juice, soup, sauce, plant-based drinks
- Plastic and metal tubes e.g. toothpaste and cosmetic tubes and tomato puree tubes
- Aerosols e.g. deodorant, hairspray, shaving foam and air fresheners
- Plastic pots, tubs and trays e.g. yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and fruit punnets
Please make sure that all items put in recycling bins are clean, as we cannot recycle wrong or dirty items.
All houses in Sheffield have blue and brown bins for recycling and a black bin for general household waste.
Other types of recycling, including textiles, can be taken to a Recycling Site to be recycled.
Here's a handy guide of how to use your bins
Your blue bin is for paper and card
Your blue bin is for paper and card only.
- Your recycling should be placed loose inside your recycling bins
- Your blue bin is for clean and dry paper and card only. Items such as greasy pizza boxes or nappies should be placed in your black bin.
- Save space and flatten your boxes before putting in the bin.
- You can place a small bundle of paper and card next to your bin - just make sure it’s neatly tied and no bigger than your bin.
Your brown bin is for tins, cans, foil and aerosols; plastic pots, tubs, trays, bottles and tubes; cartons and Tetra Pak® and glass
Your brown bin is for tins, cans, foil and aerosols; plastic pots, tubs, trays, bottles and tubes; cartons and Tetra Pak® and glass.
- Your recycling should be placed loose inside your recycling bins
- Remember to empty, rinse and replace tops. Labels can be left on.
- Tops and trigger sprays can be recycled.
- Squash bottles and cans to save space.
Your black bin is for general waste
Your black bin is for general waste.
- Your black bin is for general waste that cannot be recycled.
- Tins, cans, foil and aerosols; plastic pots, tubs, trays, bottles and tubes; cartons and Tetra Pak® and glass should be placed in your brown bin.
- Clean and dry paper and card should be placed in your blue bin.
- Batteries cannot be recycled and should be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.
During the summer months, you may wish to bag or wrap any food waste before placing in your black bin to reduce unpleasant smells and the risk of maggots.
Chargeable Garden Waste Recycling Service
Your green bin is for garden waste only.
We offer residents across the city a seasonal, chargeable Garden Waste Recycling Service.
Save yourself trips to the Household Waste Recycling Centre - we will collect your green bin garden waste directly from your home every two weeks between March and November.
When will my bins be emptied?
One of your bins will be emptied each week. Your black bin is emptied every 2 weeks and your brown bin and your blue bin will be emptied every 4 weeks. Find your collection day.
Top tips:
- You can apply for help if there is no one in your household able to present your bins for collection due to an age-related or medical reason.
- If you live in a large household and your bin is not big enough, you can apply for extra capacity.
- You can put your house number on your bins so they don’t get lost after collection.
- If you move house your bins must remain with your old property.
- If your black bin is too big, contact us to order a free smaller replacement.
We are working closely with Sheffield Housing Services to put in place a recycling option for those currently without a full service.
