Yes
- all clean paper
- magazines
- newspapers
- window envelopes
- catalogues
- writing paper
No
- dirty paper
- greasy paper
- mouldy paper
- laminated or waxed paper
- paper with glitter, glue or ribbons
- tissues
- shredded paper
Recycling
On this page you will find information about your green recycling bin. Recycling is collected every 2 weeks. Find out your next recycling collection day.
What can go in my green recycling bin?
Only place the following in your recycling bin/box:
Yes
- all clean cardboard
- cardboard boxes
- cereal boxes
- ready meal card sleeves
- loo roll inserts
- cardboard egg boxes
- cardboard packaging
- plain greetings cards
No
- cardboard stained with food, grease, liquids or paint
- wet cardboard
- mouldy cardboard
- cardboard with glitter, glue or ribbons
- Tetra Pak cartons
Yes
- all empty bottle-shaped plastics
- drinks bottles
- cleaner/detergent bottles
- toiletries/shampoo bottles
- vitamin bottles
There’s no need to check the plastic type. Squash the bottle and put the lid back on (loose lids are too small for processing).
No
- non-bottle shaped plastics (regardless of their plastic type)
- bottles with liquids in
Yes
- all food tins and drinks cans
- biscuit and sweet tins
No
- cans of paints (even empty)
- aluminium foil
Yes
- empty aerosols such as air fresheners
- spray deodorants
- hair spray cans
No
- aerosols that aren’t empty
Everything must be:
- Clean (no food stains, grease, dirt on…)
- Dry (no wet item or items with liquids in)
- Loose (don’t bag them, and don’t put items inside each other)
What else can I recycle from home and around Portsmouth?
Visit the following pages to find out how you can recycle more from your doorstep and around the city.
From home
Around Portsmouth
- Local Recycling Points (including glass, mixed plastics, cartons, textiles, books, CDs/DVDs)
- Portsmouth Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC)
What if I can't put my recycling out?
If you have a medical condition that prevents you from putting your recycling out please contact us to request an assisted collection.
- Complete the online form to request an assisted collection
- Email recyclingandrubbish@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
- Telephone 023 9284 1105
Where it goes and what happens to it
The recycling lorry takes the waste to the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF). Inside the MRF, the waste is emptied and sorted into the different types of material. These sorted materials are then sent to factories to turn the old waste into new items:
For answers to frequently asked questions about recycling in Portsmouth, check out our mythbuster page.
How to put your bin out
For details on how to put your recycling bin out for collection, please read our guidelines online.
If your recycling bin wasn't emptied this week
- If there is a red hanger on your recycling bin, please read more about what this means
- If you think your waste collection has been missed, you can let us know by completing our online form.
If your recycling bin has been replaced with a smaller bin or box
Before your green wheelie bin was replaced with a smaller bin or box, you would have received a warning letter through your letterbox to explain bins are only allowed on the pavement on the day of collection and the evening before, after 7pm.
What happens now:
Please note, we will not replace your current container for a bigger one.
You can use your new recycling container(s) straight away and hope you find the smaller container will be more practical to take off the pavement at the end of your collection day. If you feel it is still too big, you can go online to request we replace your container with a smaller one (Request a recycling bin)
If you can’t fit all your recycling in your new container, you can:
- Place additional recyclable items in a cardboard box (not in bags) next to your recycling container on collection day; or
- Order a recycling box on our website to use alongside your recycling bin.