Summer is the season of BBQs, picnics, festivals, holidays and spending more time outdoors. Whether you’re enjoying a family barbecue at home, organising a workplace summer event or simply making the most of the sunshine, it’s easy to generate more waste than usual.
The good news is that many common summer items can be recycled, but not all of them belong in your recycling bin.
Here’s our guide to 15 of the most common summer items and how to dispose of them correctly.
1. Sunscreen Bottles
Usually Yes
Most empty plastic sunscreen bottles can be recycled, provided they’re empty. If possible, remove any excess product before placing them into your recycling.
2. Ice Cream Tubs
Usually Yes
Clean plastic ice cream tubs are widely accepted in mixed recycling collections. Simply give them a quick rinse before recycling.
3. Plastic Drinks Bottles
Yes
Whether you’ve finished a bottle of water in the garden, at the gym or during a work event, plastic drinks bottles are widely recyclable. Empty the contents, squash the bottle if possible and replace the lid before placing them into your recycling.
4. Glass Bottles
Yes
Glass bottles can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. Whether it’s soft drinks at home or bottles from a summer party or workplace BBQ, simply empty them and place them in your dedicated glass recycling collection.
5. Drinks Cans
Yes
Aluminium drinks cans are infinitely recyclable and can be recycled time and time again using far less energy than producing new aluminium.
6. Pizza Boxes
It Depends
Whether it’s a Friday night takeaway at home or pizzas for the office, clean pizza boxes can usually be recycled. However, if they’re contaminated with grease, oil or leftover food, they should be placed into your general waste bin.
7. Food Waste
Yes – In Your Food Waste Recycling Bin
Whether it’s leftover salad from a family BBQ or food waste from your workplace canteen, food waste should always be placed into a dedicated food waste recycling bin where available.
Food waste collected separately is transformed into renewable energy through Anaerobic Digestion, helping to power homes and businesses while reducing waste.
Businesses should also be aware of the Simpler Recycling legislation, which requires organisations with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees to separate food waste for collection. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees must comply from 31 March 2027.
8. Balloons
No
Latex and foil balloons cannot usually be recycled through standard recycling collections and should be disposed of responsibly.
9. Disposable BBQs
No
Disposable BBQs should be allowed to cool completely before disposal and are not normally accepted in standard recycling collections.
10. Paper Coffee Cups
Not in Your Standard Recycling
Whether you’re grabbing a coffee on your morning commute or providing refreshments in the workplace, most takeaway paper cups contain a plastic lining, meaning they cannot be recycled through standard mixed recycling collections.
However, businesses can introduce a dedicated paper cup recycling service, allowing used cups to be collected and recycled separately. If your workplace uses large numbers of disposable cups, Evolve can help you implement the right recycling solution.
11. Paper Plates & Napkins
It Depends
Clean paper plates and napkins may be recyclable, but if they’ve been contaminated with food, grease or liquids they should be placed into your food waste or general waste, depending on your local collection arrangements.
12. Food Packaging
It Depends
Many cardboard and plastic food containers can be recycled if they’re clean and free from food contamination. Always remove leftover food before placing packaging into your recycling.
13. Crisp Packets
Usually No
Most crisp packets are made from multiple layers of plastic and foil, making them unsuitable for standard recycling collections. Some supermarkets and specialist recycling schemes do accept them, so it’s always worth checking locally.
14. Glass Jars
Yes
Jam jars, sauce jars and similar glass containers can all be recycled after being emptied and given a quick rinse.
15. Plastic Straws
It Depends
Most plastic straws are too small to be recycled through standard recycling collections and should usually be placed in general waste. Better still, consider reusable metal or bamboo alternatives when enjoying summer drinks.
♻️ Top Summer Recycling Tips ♻️
✔ Give containers a quick rinse before recycling.
✔ Never place recycling in black bags unless your collection service specifically asks you to.
✔ Separate food waste wherever possible.
✔ Flatten cardboard boxes to save space.
✔ Check your local recycling guidance, as accepted materials can vary.
✔ If you’re organising a workplace BBQ or summer event, make sure separate bins are available for recycling, food waste and general waste.
💡 Did You Know?
Glass and aluminium are infinitely recyclable, meaning they can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality.
Food waste doesn’t have to go to waste either. When collected separately, it can be transformed into renewable energy through Anaerobic Digestion, while many recyclable materials are turned back into new products through advanced sorting and reprocessing facilities.
Looking to Improve Recycling at Home or Work?
Understanding what can and can’t be recycled is one of the simplest ways to reduce waste and protect the environment.
If your business is looking to improve recycling rates, reduce waste management costs or ensure compliance with the latest legislation, the Evolve team would be delighted to help.
At Evolve, we support businesses of every size, from independent SMEs to national multi-site organisations and blue-chip companies, providing tailored waste management solutions backed by one of the UK’s newest waste collection fleets, industry-leading reporting and exceptional customer service.
Get in touch with the Evolve team today
📞 03330 477 077
