Recycling and waste for students and new residents

Your waste and recycling service

All houses have a black bin for general waste, and use orange bags for recycling – find out how to get orange bags.

What can be recycled?

We can recycle a wide range of materials in Leicester including plastic bottles and plastic food containers (like margarine tubs, ready meal trays and yoghurt pots), drink cans, empty aerosols, food tins, foil and foil trays, glass bottles and jars, paper, cardboard, and drink/food cartons (for example, Tetra Pak). Check our full list of items that can be recycled.

When is our collection day?

Waste and recycling is collected weekly on the same day. Use the postcode tool to find your waste and recycling collection day. You need to put your bins and bags at the edge of your property the night before collection, or by 7am on the day. Keep all bins and bags on your property at all other times.

Furniture, appliances and large items

If you have large items you want to get rid of, such as furniture, electricals or even extra bags of waste, we can collect them from your house. To find out more or to book a collection go to our bulky waste page.

Batteries, clothing, electrical items, ink cartridges and reusable items

These items should not be placed in orange recycling bags or bins.

• Batteries should be recycled at a battery bank – most shops that sell batteries have one of these.
• Clothing and shoes can be taken to a charity shop or a textile bank (even if they’re broken/damaged).
• Electricals (any item with a plug or battery) must be taken to one of our Recycling Centres (tip) for recycling.
• Ink cartridges can be taken back to certain large retailers or sent back to the manufacturer for recycling - check their website for details.
• Any items that are still usable can be donated at a charity shop or to the Reuse Shop at Gypsum Close Recycling Centre.

Waste and recycling from University of Leicester owned halls are run by a private contractor. Please see the University of Leicester website for information about the waste and recycling services from residential halls.

Your waste and recycling service

You’ll have bins for both recycling and general waste in a designated area (some small flats may still use orange bags).

Make sure all your waste is inside the correct bin.  Waste or recycling found next to your bin won’t be collected and will be treated as fly-tipping.  It may also stop your bins being emptied.

What can be recycled?

We can recycle a wide range of materials in Leicester including plastic bottles and plastic food containers (like margarine tubs, ready meal trays and yoghurt pots), drink cans, empty aerosols, food tins, foil and foil trays, glass bottles and jars, paper, cardboard, and drink/food cartons (for example, Tetra Pak). Check our full list of items that can be recycled.

Furniture, appliances and large items

If you have large items you want to get rid of, such as furniture, electricals or even extra bags of waste, we can collect them from your house.  To find out more or to book a collection go to our bulky waste page.

Batteries, clothing, electrical items, ink cartridges and reusable items

These items should not be placed in orange recycling bags or bins.

• Batteries should be recycled at a battery bank – most shops that sell batteries have one of these.
• Clothing and shoes can be taken to a charity shop or a textile bank (even if they’re broken/damaged).
• Electricals (any item with a plug or battery) must be taken to one of our Recycling Centres (tip) for recycling.

• Ink cartridges can be taken back to certain large retailers or sent back to the manufacturer for recycling - check their website for details.

• Any items that are still usable can be donated at a charity shop or to the Reuse Shop at Gypsum Close Recycling Centre.

If you live in an area outside of Leicester City, you will need to visit your local council's website for information about their waste and recycling services.