BinMate
Check which container your council uses for glass bottles and jars. Do not put every object made of glass into that stream.
Bottles and jars versus other glass
Food and drink containers are different from ovenware, drinking glasses, mirrors, windows and lamps. Use a specific disposal route for those items. Recycle Now’s contamination guide explains why non-container glass should be kept out of bottle/jar recycling.
Prepare accepted containers
Empty the contents and follow local rinsing and lid instructions. Do not force your hand into a narrow or damaged jar to clean it. Keep containers free from leftover liquids before placing them in the approved collection.
Metal jar lids may be accepted on the jar, while other loose components can have a separate rule. Do not use an “always remove every lid” instruction for all materials. Check the council’s current guide.
If a bottle breaks, use our broken-glass guide and the local rule rather than assuming it is automatically accepted or banned everywhere.
Kerbside collection or bottle bank?
Use the route offered for your address. If visiting a bottle bank, follow any colour separation, opening-hour and noise instructions. Do not leave bottles beside a full container; find another approved point or take them home until space is available.
Find local options through the recycling locator.
Do I need to remove paper labels?
Follow your collection’s instructions. Do not confuse a paper label with a removable non-glass insert or leftover food.
Does a new recycling rule mean my collection has changed?
Check your council’s actual service announcement. National policy is not a replacement for the container and date information at your address.
