Plastic Recycling in Leeds – A Guide from Leeds City Council

bins waste and recycling

Plastic recycling can be confusing! Here’s our guide to recycling plastics in Leeds.

Recycle plastic types 1, 2, 4 and 5 in your green bin!

Look for the triangle with a number in it

  • Type 1 – pop bottles, fruit punnets
  • Type 2 – milk bottles, cleaning product bottles
  • Type 4 – frozen veg bags, bubble wrap, bread bags (any stretchy plastic bag)
  • Type 5 – yoghurt pots, margarine tubs

Pesky plastics – put these in your black bin

  • Type 3 – toothpaste tubes, clingfilm, PVC pipes
  • Type 6 – polystyrene, clothes hangers, DVD cases
  • Type 7 – other plastics like acrylic
  • “compostable” or “bio-plastic” isn’t actually plastic
  • Black or dark brown plastic even if it’s type 1, 2, 4 or 5

Do the stretch test!

Lots of stretchy plastic bags say “not commonly recycled” or “recycle at a supermarket” on them. If a bag stretches you can recycle it in your green bin, if it tears you can’t.

 

Not sure about a specific item?

If you’ve come across something not on this list and want to know what to do with it drop us a message on Facebook www.facebook.com/leedsrecycles