On the go? Please take your recyclables home!
Published: 09 August 2025
Up to 70 per cent of the things that are put in public litter bins could be recycled if taken home. Unfortunately, once recyclables are mixed with food waste and other rubbish in litter bins they can’t be recycled and must be thrown away.
This summer’s Take It Home campaign is delivering a clear message: — please take your empty bottles and cans home for recycling, instead of placing them into public litter bins.
On the go? Here’s what people need to know:
If you want to recycle, please take these items home and put them in your green bin instead:
- Empty cans and bottles*
- Plastic food containers*
- Newspapers and magazines
*please just give it a rinse first to ensure no mess gets in your recycling bin.
What’s suitable for public litter bins:
- Sandwich packaging – please ignore the label, these can be messy or include a mix of different materials which may not be recyclable
- empty crisp packets and chocolate wrappers
- fast food packaging
- disposable coffee cups
- film lids from food packaging
bagged dog waste
Cllr Sam James-Lawrie, Cabinet Member for Environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “To be recycled, items need to be kept away from potentially messy non-recyclable rubbish – most public litter bins don’t allow that and those that do often get misused. So, if it’s recyclable, please take it home and put it in your green wheelie bin. By doing so you’ll help us to cut down on unnecessary waste and help to protect the environment too.”
Cllr Hayleigh Gascoigne, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Climate Action and Nature Recovery at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “People are trying to do the right thing, but if a can or bottle goes into a public bin, it won’t be recycled. This campaign is about small changes that add up to a big difference. It will also mean there’s more room in bins for items that can’t be recycled, helping to avoid litter overflowing and ending up on the ground.”
The campaign supports the councils’ new
Rethinking Waste strategy, which focuses on reducing waste overall, improving recycling and supporting residents to make more sustainable choices.
To support the ‘Take it home’ campaign, the council already provides some street recycling bins in the towns and larger villages. However, they are often contaminated by food waste, liquids and dog mess bags which means that items cannot be recycled.
To make sure your empty bottles, cans and plastics are recycled – please take them home, give them a rinse and then put them in your recycling bin.