Types of rubbish and recycling bins

Types of household and communal bins, bags and boxes in the Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland area and what to put in them.

Recycling bins and bags

You should make sure your items are clean, dry and have no food remnants on them as this can cause contamination.

Check the area you live in for what you can and cannot recycle.

If your items are reusable, you should consider donating or selling them. Find out where you can donate your items.

Barrow area: red recycling containers

Households in the Barrow area are entitled to one red recycling box and one red 240 litre wheelie bin.

The red recycling box is for mixed glass. There should be no drinking glasses or broken glass in this bin.

The red 240 litre wheelie bin is for: 

  • cans
  • foil
  • plastics
  • paper
  • card
  • cartons (often referred to as Tetra Pak)

Do not put these items in your recycling bin: 

  • takeaway pizza boxes or cardboard contaminated with grease
  • takeaway containers
  • plastic bags
  • crisp or biscuit wrappers
  • polystyrene
  • bubble wrap
  • sharps, and syringes.

If you need a new recycling bin, you can order one online.

Eden area: recycling green boxes and green canvas bags

In the Eden area, each householder is entitled to one green plastic box and two green canvas bags.

The green plastic box is for the collection of cans, tins and glass and aluminium foil.

One of the green canvas bags is for paper and card. 

The other green canvas bag is for hard plastics, such as: 

  • plastic bottles
  • yoghurt pots
  • plastic food trays
  • tubs and containers
  • cartons (often referred to as Tetra Pak)

Please do not mix paper and card with plastics. 

Do not put plastic bags or food wrappings in green bags. We will not empty bags that contain them.

If you need a new recycling bag, you can order one online.

South Lakeland: blue recycling boxes and bags

Households in the South Lakeland area are entitled to one blue recycling bag and two blue recycling boxes. 

One of the blue recycling boxes is for paper and card. 

The other blue recycling box is for glass bottles and jars. 

Make sure paper and card is put in a separate box from glass bottles and jars. We will not collect any boxes that have a mix of card, paper and glass in them.

In the blue recycling bag you can put:

  • plastic bottles
  • pots (but not flower pots)
  • tubs and trays
  • cans
  • aluminium foil
  • lids from bottles and jars
  • cartons (often referred to as Tetra Pak)

If you would like an extra blue recycling box, you can order a new bin.

Additional recycling

If you have additional recycling that won't fit into your bag or box then you should: