What can I recycle in MK?

                    Most people are putting at least one thing they shouldn’t into their recycling. Please remember, just because something is recyclable does not mean we can recycle it in Milton Keynes
                

Graphic showing recycling bags and bin outside a house — MK recycles

What goes in the clear sack
What goes in the blue box
What goes in the green wheeled bin
What goes in the yellow bag
What goes in the black bin bag
What goes in the pink communal bin
What goes in the black communal bin

Alternatively see our A to Z of recycling in MK.

New Rules of Thumb

Are you recycling correctly image — Let's get recycling right

Let's get recycling right. Follow our 5 rules of thumb to help you recycle correctly:

Update your recycling knowledge. Just because it looks recyclable, doesn’t mean we can recycle it here in Milton Keynes.
If in doubt, leave it out. Being a good recycler is as much about what you leave out of your recycling as what you put in. If you’re unsure about anything, check the listing below, ask us or put it in your black sack.
No food or drink at all should ever go in your recycling. Rinse out containers as food, dry or wet, can ruin paper for recycling.
Make sure items are empty, clean and dry. Wet and dirty items can spoil other recycling while it is being processed.
Nothing else goes in your recycling. If you’re struggling with too much waste or aren’t sure how to recycle, get in touch and we can help.

What goes in the clear recycling sack or communal pink Eurobin
Paper and cardboard allowed in MK	Paper and cardboard not allowed in MK
Newspapers Shredded paper Paper envelopes, including window Envelopes Leaflets Cards Cardboard, broken down so fits in the bag Catalogues Clean pizza boxes Milk and juice cartons	Padded envelopes Tissues, kitchen roll or cotton wool Wet wipes or cleaning wipes Nappies (disposable or biodegradable) Disposable or compostable coffee cups Polystyrene Laminated paper PPE disposable face masks
Plastics allowed in MK	Plastics not allowed in MK
Drinks and milk bottles – wash, squash and lid back on Plastic bottles with pumps and triggers Cleaning product bottles Loose plastic lids from bottles and jars Plastic pots, tubs and trays, including black plastic Ready meal containers Disposable plastic cutlery	Items with food or drink still inside Plastic bags or cling film Bubble wrap Fruit nets Crisp, biscuit or sweet packets or wrappers Hard plastics e.g. toys
Metals allowed in MK	Metals not allowed in MK
Food and drink cans Pet food tins Sweet and biscuit tins Loose metal lids from bottles and jars Empty aerosol sprays cans Clean tin foil or foil food trays	Coffee capsules/pods Pet food pouches Metal pans or tools
	Other items not allowed: Clothes, fabric or rags Broken glass or china

Clear sack frequently asked questions

Order clear sacks

Alternatively contact our Customer Services on 01908 252570.

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What goes in the blue box
Glass allowed in MK	Glass not allowed in MK
Glass bottles and glass jars only (lids removed – place in recycling sack)	Broken glass (this can cause injuries) Drinking glasses or pyrex (this melts at a different temperature to glass bottles and jars so can’t be recycled by our plant) Any other glass item such as perfume bottles, light bulbs or mirror

Blue box frequently asked questions

Order blue box

Alternatively contact our Customer Services on 01908 252570.

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What goes in the green wheeled bin
Food and garden waste allowed in MK	Food and garden waste not allowed in MK
All food waste, including: Raw or cooked meat, fish or bones Fruit and vegetables including peelings Tea bags and coffee grounds Bread, baked goods Dairy products Mouldy or out of date food Plate scrapings Pet food
Grass Plants Weeds Leaves Twigs Dead flowers Windfall fruit Small branches up to 15 cm in diameter	Soil Branches over 15cm in diameter Japanese knotweed Plant pots
Compostable cups and caddy liners stamped with the standard EN13432 or display the 'Seedling logo'	Other items labelled ‘biodegradable' (our plant cannot recycle these items) All animal waste Nappies (disposable or biodegradable)

MK council supplies free grey kitchen caddies to residents to assist with the collection of food waste.

Green bin/grey caddy frequently asked questions

Order a green bin or grey kitchen caddy

Alternatively contact our Customer Services on 01908 252570.

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What goes in the yellow bag
Batteries allowed in MK	Batteries not allowed in MK
Household batteries Mobile and laptop batteries	Leaking batteries Car batteries (recycle at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre instead)

Once full, place the yellow battery bag on top of your green wheeled bin on your bin collection day. Once collected a replacement yellow bag should be left under the lid of your wheeled bin.

Yellow bag frequently asked questions

To order a free yellow battery bag please email customerservices@milton-keynes.gov.uk or call 01908 252570.

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What goes in the black bin bag or communal black Eurobin
Most common items that cannot be recycled by MK Council
Disposable nappies Animal waste, including dog poo, cat litter, hamster/gerbil bedding, etc. Broken glass or china - please wrap to avoid injury Wet wipes and sanitising wipes Sanitary products PPE disposable facemasks Crisp packets Biscuit wrappers Sweet wrappers Plastic film, e.g. clingfilm Fruit nets Disposable coffee cups All tissues and kitchen towel Greasy pizza box Laminated paper Mixed materials, e.g pill packets, padded envelopes, Pringles tubes Pet food pouches Bubble wrap Polystyrene Poor quality clothes If not listed as recyclable, everything else goes in the black bin bag*

* All animal waste must be double bagged and/or sealed before it is put in your black sack with your other non-recyclable waste. If it’s on its own and not double bagged, it might not be collected by our crews.

Black bin bags are not supplied by MK Council.

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Last Updated: 17 May 2022

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What can I recycle in MK?

New Rules of Thumb

What goes in the clear recycling sack or communal pink Eurobin

What goes in the blue box

What goes in the green wheeled bin

What goes in the yellow bag

What goes in the black bin bag or communal black Eurobin