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.

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

We've published information about what you can and cannot put in your recycling containers and bins, depending where you live. 

Recycle Now has more information about what you can recycle and get refilled. This includes where to take items that we cannot take, such as: 

  • batteries 
  • blister packs for tablets 
  • plastic bags and food wrapping 

What you cannot put in your recycling

Do not put the following items in your recycling bags or containers:

  • garden waste 
  • takeaway pizza boxes or cardboard contaminated with grease
  • takeaway containers
  • plastic bags
  • crisp or biscuit wrappers
  • polystyrene
  • bubble wrap
  • sharps, and syringes
  • drinking glasses 
  • broken glass

We cannot take batteries. You can find more information about this in the following places:  

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 box is for mixed glass. The wheelie bin is for:

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

You can request new recycling bins and boxes in the Barrow area.

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
  • glass 
  • 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 to, you can order a new recycling bag or box  in the Eden area.

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)

You can order new blue recycling boxes for the South Lakeland area.

Additional recycling

If you have additional recycling that will not fit into your bag or box then you should: