What can be recycled in Dorset - explained

Residents may be left puzzling over today's news as new figures revealed the cost to taxpayers of erroneous items put out for collection.

As reported, last year local taxpayers in the Dorset Council area had to shell out £1.1 million to deal with waste wrongly placed in recycling bins.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs data shows 11,961 tonnes of waste collected by Dorset Council were rejected at the point of sorting in the year to March – more than the 11,117 tonnes rejected the previous year and the largest volume since records began in 2014-15.

Waste and recycling collection bins used in Dorset

So without further ado, here's a list of items that can - and cannot - be recycled in your kerbside collection, according to Dorset Council.

Plastic, paper and tins that can be recycled in Dorset

The below items can be placed in the green (/black with green lid) 240-litre wheelie bin.

Depending on your circumstances you may have two boxes instead of a large wheelie bin. 

List of items that can be recycled in your green wheelie bin in Dorset

Items that CAN go in your recycling 

Paper and cardboard including:

✔ wrapping paper (not foil or plastic-based)

✔ newspapers

✔ envelopes

✔ directories 

✔ magazines

✔ shredded paper (small quantities)

✔ cereal boxes

✔ greetings cards (not with foil or glitter)

✔ cardboard (including corrugated card)

Plastics

✔ Most hard plastics (any colour) from food, drink and household products, including:

✔ plastic bottles (including milk, soft drinks, shampoo, shower gel, cleaning products)

✔ plastic pots (including yoghurt, cream, soup)

✔ plastic tubs (including margarine, butter, ice cream)

✔ plastic trays (any colour, including fruit and vegetable punnets)

✔ plastic lids (they must be placed back on the plastic bottles, pots and tubs)

✔ tins and cans

✔ aerosols (including deodorant, hairspray, furniture polish)

Do I need to wash my recycling?

It's not necessary to thoroughly clean food packaging items. But the council does ask that you give them a rinse to remove excess food or liquid.

Items that can't be recycled in your green bin/box

The following items CANNOT be accepted 

❌ plastic/carrier bags (including compostable/biodegradable types)

❌ plastic film

❌ tissues and paper towels

❌ disposable nappies

❌ food and drink cartons (soup, juice etc)

❌Tetra Pak packaging

❌ paper cups

❌ glass (use green glass box)

❌ polystyrene 

❌ foil/foil trays

❌ commercial waste

❌ crisp packets

❌ clothes and textiles

❌ plant pots and seed trays

❌ food waste (use brown food waste bin)

❌ garden waste (the council provides a separate collection service)

❌ clinical waste (such as syringes/medical sharps)

❌ electrical items

❌ batteries (use battery bag)

❌ photos

❌ wood

❌ general rubbish

❌ PPE (e.g. gloves, face-masks and coverings)

Glass accepted in Dorset recycling collections

Green recycling box for glass items

These items are accepted in your green box for glass

✔ glass bottles and jars

✔ metal bottle/jar lids (left on the bottle or jar)

Glass items NOT accepted in your recycling:

❌ broken glass

❌ light bulbs

❌ oven-proof glass (e.g. pyrex)

❌ sheet glass and windowpanes

❌ plastic tops and lids

❌ general rubbish and recycling

Dorset Council asks residents not to overfill the glass recycling box. Items shouldn't be stacked up higher than the top of the box itself.

BUT you can use an extra glass will be accepted at the kerbside as long as it is placed in a sturdy container that can be easily lifted and emptied by one person.

Recycling batteries in Dorset

Battery recycling bags can be put out alongside or on top of your recycling bin

You can put household batteries, including AA, AAA, 'button' and rechargeable batteries in the red bags provided by Dorset Council. 

They should never be placed inside any bin.

The following cannot be recycled in your kerbside collection:

❌ mobile phone batteries

❌ car batteries

❌ laptop batteries

❌ tablet batteries

Dorset food waste collection items

Dorset's food waste is collected in brown bins

Compostable caddy bags or newspaper can be used to line your brown caddy. Kitchen caddy liners are available at most supermarkets and local shops.

These items CAN go in your brown food waste recycling bin:

All cooked and uncooked food, including:

✔ meat, fish and bones

✔ fruit and vegetable peelings

✔ cheese and dairy produce

✔ cakes, bread and pastries

✔ leftovers, including plate scrapings

✔ teabags and coffee grounds

✔ pasta, rice and eggshells

These items are NOT accepted in your food waste recycling:

❌ carrier bags/plastic bags

❌ food packaging

❌ garden waste

❌ pet waste

❌ liquids

❌ oil or liquid fats

❌ paper cups of any kind

❌ wooden sticks/skewers