Collection changes
Some bin collection days will change at Christmas, due to bank holidays. We will list the new dates on this page later in the year.
Cardboard (including boxes)
Cardboard and paper should be put in your blue recycling bin. Please ensure you crush down boxes and large bits of cardboard to fit as much in your bins as possible.
Please remove all plastic packaging, bubble wrap and polystyrene first, and put those items in your grey general waste bin.
Wrapping paper and greeting cards
You can recycle most greetings cards and wrapping paper in your blue paper and card bin. You can also recycle them at your local tip / recycling centre.
But:
- You can only recycle greetings cards and wrapping paper if they’re entirely made out of paper. To find out if the wrapping is made of paper, try to scrunch it into a ball. If it stays scrunched, it can be recycled
- Some wrapping paper is made out of foil, has a plastic coating, or includes non-paper decorations like glitter, gold or silver coloured shapes, and other plastics. None of these can be recycled. You can tear off any glittery parts or non-paper decorations and put them in your grey general waste bin
- Make sure you also remove any bows or ribbons before recycling your wrapping paper.
Food
Your Christmas food leftovers, including meat bones, can be put in your green bin, container or box. Please make sure all packaging is removed.Don't forget that the foil trays from pies can be recycled with any other foil in your brown recycling bin. Read more advice on food waste.
Plastic tubs and trays and glass bottles
In your brown bin or container you can recycle many Christmas related items, including:
- Empty plastic tubs - including those used for chocolates
- Empty plastic trays - including those used to hold meats, fruit and veg punnets
- Empty foil and foil trays, including those used for takeaway food
- Drinks cans and glass bottles
- Glass food jars
There are some plastics that we can't recycle including plastic film, carrier bags, crisp packets or pet food pouches. You should put these in your grey non-recyclable waste bin.
Real trees (artificial trees can't be recycled)
You can recycle your real Christmas tree in January, after removing any lights, decorations, stands and/or wooden bases.
Nearer to Christmas, we will list all the options for collections and dropping trees off.
You can chop your real tree up and put the pieces in your GREEN bin for collection on any green bin day in January.
If your Christmas tree hasn't been collected, please report it here: Report a missed Christmas tree collection
You can take your tree to your local tip / recycling centre.
If you live in a flat or apartment, please speak to your caretaker or building manager.
Electrical items can't be recycled
- Christmas tree lights, cables and other electrical items should be taken to your local tip / recycling centre
- Batteries should not be placed in any of your bins. They can be taken to tips/ recycling centres, most supermarkets and recycling shops.
Tips (recycling centres)
Any items that you can't fit in your bins can be taken to a tip / recycling centre. Get more information on tips / recycling centres, including locations.
Recycling and zero carbon
By recycling as much as possible, we can help Manchester to become a zero carbon city by 2038. Read more about Zero Carbon Manchester.