Foil
Recycle at home
Recycle out of home
Yes, Foil can be recycled at some out of home recycling points.
Which foil or aluminium items can be recycled?
As well as foil, you can recycle aluminium items, just remember to rinse them so they are clean of food residue, grease or oil and remove any film lids or other packaging.
Foil trays, barbeque trays and takeaway containers;
Kitchen foil, aluminium pot lids and wrappers;
Drinks cans;
Milk bottle tops;
Freezing trays;
Cigarette and tobacco foil;
Screw top lids from wine bottles – recycle with the lids left on.
How to recycle foil or aluminium
- 1
Foil must be clean, unstained and free from food, grease and oil. Please place any dirty or stained foil in your bag or bin for non-recyclable waste;
- 2
Foil must be free from other packaging types such as plastic film lids. Please remove these items and place them in your bag or bin for non-recyclable waste;
- 3
Wipe or dip foil trays in washing up water to remove any crumbs or food residue;
- 4
Leave aluminium screw top lids on glass jars and wine bottles.
How to check if your foil is recyclable
Items such as crisp packets can look like aluminium foil but are actually made from metallised plastic film. This type of material is currently not recycled and should not be put in your recycling bin.
Good to know
An easy way to find out if an item is foil or metallised plastic film, is to do the scrunch test. Simply scrunch the item in your hand - if it remains 'scrunched' it is foil and can be recycled; if it springs back it is probably metallised plastic film and not recyclable.