Clear recycling bags
Clear recycling bags are provided to City of London residents and are delivered every six months.
They are also available from City Estate Offices, Shoe Lane Library, Barbican Library and Artizan Street Library.
Remember to empty and rinse all food containers, drinks bottles, foil etc as food can contaminate the bag content, so it cannot be recycled.
What can go into the recycling bag?
Paper
All kinds of paper can be recycled (except for tissues, kitchen roll, dirty or wet paper)
- office paper
- coloured paper
- newspaper and magazines
- envelopes (plastic windows are ok)
- catalogues such as Yellow Pages
Card
- cardboard boxes and packaging
- egg boxes
- cartons
- juice and milk cartons (please rinse)
Plastic bottles
All types of bottles can be recycled. Please keep the plastic bottle tops attached
- drink and milk bottles (please rinse)
- shampoo and detergent bottles (please rinse)
- cleaning product bottles
Plastic containers and other plastic
Please rinse these to remove the majority of food residue
- food trays
- yoghurt pots
- margarine containers
Household metal packaging
- food and drinks cans, both aluminium and steel (please rinse)
- empty aerosol cans
- metal bottle tops and jars lids
- aluminium foil and food trays (please rinse)
- metal biscuit or sweet tins
Glass
- glass bottles and jars (please rinse)
What CANNOT go in the clear recycling bag
These go in the rubbish bag:
- crisp packets and other flexible plastic packaging
- tissues/kitchen roll
- food waste
- polystyrene
- cling film
- plastic wrap e.g. bread bags, salad bags, wrapping from vegetables
- textiles
- nappies
- black bags
- ceramics
- other types of glass such as wine glasses
Confused by recycling symbols?
Identify how different types of packaging can be recycled at recyclenow.
Need more bags?
To order more bags between deliveries, call our Contact Centre on 020 7606 3110, choose Option Two and ask for some household recycling bags. Barbican residents should ask their cleaner for more bags.