Food and drink packaging

How you recycle or dispose of food packaging depends on the material.

Cardboard

  • Egg cartons and boxes can be recycled in your yellow recycling bin. 
  • Waxed or coated cardboard should be disposed of in your red landfill bin. 

Plastic - soft 

‘Soft plastic’ means flexible, scrunchable plastic packaging including grocery bags, bread and pasta/rice bags, snack wrappers, clear film and bubble wrap.

Dispose of in your red landfill bin.

Since 9 November 2022, REDcycle and soft plastic recycling was paused. REDcycle is a program to recycle soft plastics through supermarkets. The program has been suspended due to limited recycling options and end markets for their products. Keep updated with efforts to re-start the program.

Plastic - hard/rigid

Recycle plastic bottles and containers in your yellow recycling bin.

Wood

Skewers and icy pole sticks can be recycled in you home compost bin.

Lids

See Lids.

Glass

  • Recycle glass food jars and drink bottles in your yellow recycling bin.
  • Exchange eligible drink containers for a refund through the Container Deposit Scheme.
  • For other glass items visit Glass.

Foil

  • Recycle foil trays and used foil such as Easter egg wrappers (rolled into a ball) in your recycling bin.
  • Dispose of heavily soiled foil in your red landfill bin.

Food tins and drink cans

  • Recycle food tins and cans and in your yellow recycling bin.
  • Exchange eligible drink cans for a refund through the Container Deposit Scheme.
  • Scrape and rinse food out of the tin before placing in your recycling bin.

Cartons

Get information about long life and other types of cartons.

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