Dorset Council has issued the following advice about non-disposable glass, plastics and other items that must not be put in the recycle bin.

Non-disposable glass

Items including drinking glasses, candle pots, Pyrex, windowpanes and mirrors are treated with chemicals and melt at a higher temperature, so they can’t go in your glass-recycling box. Wrap all such items tightly with paper and put them in your rubbish bin.

Wrapping paper and greetings cards

Any wrapping paper that is foil or plastic-based cannot be recycled at the kerbside. Nor can any greetings cards with foil or glitter. Also, Dorset Council says no thanks to crisp packets being placed in the kerbside recycling.

Nappies and medical sharps

These items cause big problems when sorting and should NEVER be placed with your recycling. Nappies go in the rubbish bin, while needles should be kept in a sharps box and returned to your GP or a needle exchange service.

Plastics that can’t be recycled at the kerbside

Not all plastics are the same. Toys, flowerpots, and other hard plastics are made of different materials that Dorset Council can’t recycle at the kerbside. The same applies to polystyrene packaging.

Note: plastics that can be recycled such as food and drink pots, tubs, bottles and trays of any colour should be largely free of reside so empty and rinse them first. Take care when handling items that previously contained raw meat and fish.

If you have extra recycling that won’t fit in your recycling bin then you can always put it in a box of your own and place it next to your recycling bin on collection day.

Please put all paper and cardboard in your bin to ensure that it doesn’t get wet. Remember that foil, cartons and clothes can’t go on your kerbside recycling bin but they can be taken to Dorset Council’s local recycling centres or recycling banks in car parks.

To check which bin to use if you live in the Dorset Council area visit https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-litter/which-bin-do-i-use